49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is undergoing offseason surgery, but not for the thumb injury that forced him to miss a Week 17 game against the Houston Texans.
According to a report from ESPN, Garoppolo will have shoulder surgery to repair an injury suffered in San Francisco’s Wild Card Game victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Ahead of the 49ers’ Divisional Round matchup with the Green Bay Packers, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Garoppolo sprained his shoulder against the Cowboys.
ESPN reported that Garoppolo will resume throwing around July and that his trade status is not expected to be impacted by the procedure.
The news that Garoppolo will need shoulder surgery and not thumb surgery came as a surprise after NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport said Garoppolo will have reconstructive surgery to repair his UCL “as soon as it can be scheduled,” following the team’s NFC Championship Game loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
It’s widely anticipated Garoppolo will be traded this offseason and a deal can officially be completed on March 16, which is the start of the new league year. The 49ers can still agree to a deal to move Garoppolo within the next two weeks, but no trade can be completed until the quarterback’s trade exemption officially expires.
“The full four years, it’s crazy,” Garoppolo said in a press conference two days after the NFC Championship Game loss. “I created a lot of friendships along the way. Since I’ve gotten here, it’s been about me wanting to leave the place better than when I got here.”
