Former LA Rams nemesis, Jimmy Garoppolo, may be waived by the Raiders before he ever gets started
By Bret Stuter
The LA Rams likely have no love lost for the departure of starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the NFC West. His career chapter with the San Francisco 49ers was incredibly puzzling. While Garoppolo started and had success with the 49ers' offense, he was a prime example of the right guy in the right scheme.
He was the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers from 2017 through 2022, playing in 57 of the possible 98 contests over that time frame. He was a solid performer, a guy who know how to get the most out of the 49ers' offense that did not ask much of him, but did expect him to deliver. And he often did exactly that.
He held a seven game consecutive regular season winning streak over the LA Rams, which was only broken once in the 2021-22 NFC Championship Game. Still, he was the type of player who could appear as though he didn't belong in the NFL for weeks, but as soon as the LA Rams showed up, he would play like an NFL Pro Bowler.
After losing to the LA Rams in the NFC Championship Game, the 49ers expected second year QB Trey Lance to take over the team. But Lance struggled and was injured, forcing the 49ers to resume Jimmy Garoppolo as the starter in 2022. Garoppolo was injured, which prompted the team to turn over the job to seventh round addition, rookie quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy handled the job well enough to be penciled in as the 49ers projected starter in 2023.
Jimmy Garoppolo to the Raiders? Perhaps
Meanwhile, now free agent Jimmy G signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. In theory, that should be the end of the story. Surprisingly, that is where this story begins. You see, although he has agreed to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders for a significant amount of money, Jimmy Garoppolo has yet to pass his physical with the team. Until he passes that physical, his contrac won't take effect.
Clearly, not passing a physical is not how Jimmy Garoppolo nor the Raiders want this story to end. For now, few expect Garoppolo to fail his physical when the NFL season starts. But the entire Jimmy G. to Raiders is at a standstill.
Had the 49ers released Garoppolo in 2022, the LA Rams were rumored to have significant interest in signing him to backup starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. While that never happened, it does create the likelihood of a new storyline if he is unable to compete for the Raiders this season.
If Jimmy Garoppolo hits the NFL Free Agency market again, will the Rams consider signing him to back up Matthew Stafford again? Stay tuned . . .