Kyle Shanahan was 'crushed' despite the San Francisco 49ers winning on Sunday, as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo broke his foot and will be out for the rest of the season.
The 49ers beat the Miami Dolphins 33-17 on Sunday, although it was Brock Purdy that was in the quarterback position for the majority of the game. In the first quarter, Garoppolo was sacked by Jaelan Phillips and Jerome Baker, and his left foot became trapped as he fell awkwardly to the ground.
Garoppolo was carted off and did not return, and head coach Shanahan confirmed after the game that he had indeed broken his foot and would require season-ending surgery. It's a huge blow for the 49ers who lost Trey Lance to injury at the start of the year, and they were nicely balanced with Garoppolo at 8-4 heading towards the post-season.
"Just hearing it is pretty crushing," Shanahan said in the post-game interview. "We know what Jimmy's been through, how hard he's worked at this, I got that news in the second quarter, so it was a little different for me. Even with how happy we were with that game.
"That was a really cool game just as a team and all the stuff that went on throughout the game and just to be able to overcome some things and it was such a special win, but definite mixed emotions hearing about Jimmy. I told the guys right after the game, so I know that gave them some mixed emotions fast too, but it was a hell of a job by [QB] Brock [Purdy] coming in, stepping it up."
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Before the season started it looked almost certain that Garoppolo would leave the 49ers, after he said goodbye to his team-mates after they lost the NFC Championship game to the Los Angeles Rams in January. "I'll miss you guys. Thank you guys again," Garoppolo said to his 49ers team-mates at the start of the year.
"Faithful, thank you very much for everything. It's been crazy, man. Comebacks at Levi's, comebacks on the road, ups and downs, it's been a hell of a ride, guys. I love you guys. So. See ya."
But the trade market froze up, and incredibly after everything Garoppolo ended up sticking around in San Francisco. Lance was named as the starting quarterback, with Garoppolo looking on from the bench.
But incredibly, after just five quarters of NFL action, Lance was carted off with a broken angle, and suddenly it was Garoppolo back in his old slot. Since then, the 49ers and Garoppolo haven't looked back, and they have even been tipped as an outsider for Super Bowl success.
However, Garoppolo will no longer play a part of any action on the field this season, and Shanahan feels crushed. The 49ers head coach claimed that losing his quarterback is a huge blow, but thanked Garoppolo for his efforts, and emotionally stated how he was grateful to still have him in San Francisco.
"Obviously, when it's the quarterback of your team it affects it more, affects guys a little bit more, but you just look at it as the way we're built to win," Shanahan said. "Jimmy's a hell of a player and like I said last week we're so fortunate to have him here."
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