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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) – Jimmy Garoppolo went out of his way to try and play through an injured right calf before eventually stopping it at halftime.
Now Garoppolo faces another injury early in the season that could force him to run out of time.
“I thought I could empty it. I tried to do it in the first half, ”Garoppolo said after the San Francisco 49ers lost 28-21 to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
“It’s just hard, man. I’ve been in this situation too many times. It’s getting really old. It’s just one of those things that is part of business.”
Garoppolo started the season as a starting quarterback five times in his career and now got injured before the end of Game 4 in four of them.
He injured his shoulder in Week 2 of 2016, when he was supposed to start the first four games with suspended Tom Brady in New England. He then blew his knee in Week 3 of his first full season as a starter in San Francisco in 2018, suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2 last year and is now injured again and said he hoped it was only for a few “weeks.”
If Garoppolo is forced to run out of time, his return may depend in part on the play of rookie Trey Lance. The Niners (2-2) traded three first-round picks to take Lance third in the draft and are counting on him to take the spot at some point.
“I thought he managed the ball well, that he made a few passes, obviously missed some passes,” said coach Kyle Shanahan. “He was in a tough spot there when we lost two points. He did a good job moving the chains a few times with his legs, but it looked like a typical first game.”
Garoppolo’s performance was a bit shaky and he struggled to get into his throws after injuring himself. He threw a Ross Dwelley 21-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive but couldn’t lead San Francisco to another score and finished 14 for 23 for 165 yards, a TD and an interception.
Lance, who only played seven snaps in the first three weeks, took over in the second half when Garoppolo couldn’t continue. He was off target on his first two assists in opening practice, but made a few plays after that.
“I would say after the first practice he’s kinda calmed down and you can see he’s pretty good and mobile with his feet, so when the game goes down he’s able to be mobile and to move the ball for us, ”said receiver Deebo. Samuel, who caught two touchdown passes from Lance.
Lance finished 9 for 18 for 157 yards, two touchdowns and 41 rushing yards. He took advantage of a blown blanket to hit Samuel for a 76 yard score late in the third quarter, then led an 80-yard late practice that was capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass to Samuel.
But San Francisco didn’t get through the midfield and had just two first downs on the other four drives with Lance in the game.
“I think there were games, good and bad, throughout the half,” he said. “I missed some big, easy, checkdowns. Just definitely a few coins that I want to grab. I’m going to go back and watch it tonight and I think I’ll learn a lot from it.
The loss is the second in a row for the Niners, who now find themselves two games behind Arizona in the ultra-competitive NFC West heading into next week’s game against the Cardinals.
But the Niners see no reason to panic just four games into the season.
“I am still very excited. The sky is not falling, there are no bears in the building, ”said tight end George Kittle. “I thought we played really really well throughout the first half. And then we had a few turnovers that you can’t give to a Seattle Seahawks team like this one with Russell Wilson.
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