Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse for the San Francisco 49ers, it just got a whole lot worse.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to be out a minimum of six weeks with a high ankle sprain. If surgery is required, Garoppolo will miss even more time.
Backup quarterback Nick Mullens will be the starter for the time being. Mullens played well filling in for Garoppolo earlier this season, posting a 128.4 quarterback rating and throwing two touchdowns.
Mullens has played well when he’s seen the field. While starting he has a 4-6 record, 65.9 completion percentage, 3,129 yards passing, and 17 touchdowns to 13 interceptions.
This will be an opportunity for Mullens to also showcase his talents to other teams and show that he deserves to be a full-time starter possibly somewhere else.
To make matters even worse, All-Pro tight end George Kittle could be out for the season after discovering there is a broken bone in his foot. He is expected to be sidelined for at least eight weeks.
The dynamic tight end missed two games earlier this season as well with a sprained MCL in his left knee. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is hoping that tight end Jordan Reed will be good to go, but he is also recovering from a sprained knee.
Luckily Kittle signed a five-year $75 million extension back in training camp.
Injuries have practically erased the 49ers chances at defending their NFC title in 2020. So far, they’ve lost Nick Bosa to a torn ACL, Richard Sherman to a strained calf, Deebo Samuel to a strained hamstring, Raheem Mostert to a high ankle sprain, and Tevin Coleman to a knee injury.
Nothing seems to be going right for Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
San Francisco is expected to host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, but have also shut their facility down with a positive COVID-19 test.
With a 4-4 start and injuries all around Kyle Shanahan will have to pull off a miracle to get the 49ers back to the postseason.
More from The Woody Paige Sports Network:
- Woody Paige: That time I played blackjack with Michael Jordan in Monte Carlo
- ‘Most losses in 2020’ prop bet offers NFL bettors huge value
- It’s time for the NFL to go to a limited bubble approach
- In new world, there’s nothing wrong with knowing point spreads and rewarding your backers
- Woody Paige: Broncos need Drew Lock to prove he’s THE guy
- Lewis Black rants on Dan Snyder — the worst owner in pro sports
- Denver Broncos GM John Elway, CEO Joe Ellis test positive for COVID-19
