Jimmy Garoppolo news suddenly restores potential fallback option for Rams

Jimmy Garoppolo may, after all, be an option for the Los Angeles Rams in their evaluation of potential backup QBs. The 12-year veteran is reportedly "open" to bypassing retirement, per NFL insider Mike Garafolo, after considering it earlier in the offseason. If the Rams find themselves in need, Garoppolo should be the first quarterback they call. 

Perhaps they already have, just to test the waters and see where the former Horns backup is at regarding a possible return. Ideally, either Stetson Bennett or Ty Simpson would emerge as a capable QB2 during training camp, but right now, that doesn't seem so likely. 

The update on Garoppolo may have given the Rams a bailout option they thought was gone.

Jimmy G is still a safer bet than Rams' current options

It's worth noting that Garafolo's report does not suggest Garoppolo is itching to come back regardless of setting. Rather, he would consider it "in the right situation." 

The Rams can certainly present themselves as such considering that Garoppolo made his home here for two seasons. If they had to call on him due to the dreadful prospect of a Matthew Stafford injury, Garoppolo would inherit an offense stacked with playmakers. In other words, his job would be easy. 

What he considers ideal circumstances also depends, however, on the role he wants to play. If Garoppolo is going to retie the laces, does he want to have an actual shot at competing for reps? In Los Angeles, he appeared in one game, the meaningless regular-season finale in 2024, in which he did anything other than take a knee.

It's not clear that a larger role would be available for the 34-year-old passer on any team. The last time he held a starting job was during a seven-game stint in 2023 with the Raiders (six starts). 

Perhaps Garoppolo, who led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2019, simply wants to add a ring to his finger before he hangs it up for good. The Rams would definitely offer him a decent chance at that. 

It's not like Garoppolo would just be a tag-along on the roster. On the contrary, even if he never took a snap, he would fill an important function on the team as an experienced backup. That's precisely what he did from 2024 to 2025.

If neither Bennett nor Simpson looks ready to be on standby when Week 1 rolls around, maybe Garoppolo would be willing to do the Rams a favor and sign on for one last ride. 

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