Three interceptions in season-opening loss

Garoppolo completed 15 of 33 passes for 261 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions in the 49ers' 24-16 loss to the Vikings on Sunday. He also rushed twice for six yards.

Analysis: Garoppolo actually compiled more passing yardage than may have been expected against a stingy Vikings secondary, but Minnesota ball hawks still victimized him to the tune of three interceptions. The fifth-year pro also lost Marquise Goodwin to a quadriceps injury for a portion of the contest, although he displayed a strong connection with both George Kittle and rookie Dante Pettis. Given the adverse circumstances of a road matchup against an elite defense, Garoppolo's afternoon wasn't a total…read more

Done with preseason games

Garoppolo will sit out of Thursday's preseason finale against the Chargers, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports.

Analysis: Garoppolo brought an instant spark to the aching 49ers last season and is a lock to be their Week 1 starter, so there's no use in pushing him further. He played in three exhibition contests, completing 22 of 37 passes for 307 yards, one touchdown and one interception. C.J. Beathard will start in his place.

Connects with top wideouts versus Colts

Garoppolo completed nine of 19 passes for 135 yards during Saturday's 23-17 preseason loss to the Colts. He also gained eight yards on his only carry.

Analysis: Garoppolo made some impressive throws and hung tough in the pocket on several occasions, but he managed a pedestrian 7.1 yards per attempt and completed just 47 percent of his passes. He nearly threw a pair of interceptions in the red zone but was lucky enough to see the passes deflected to the ground. Perhaps most notably, Garoppolo displayed a solid rapport with top receivers Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin, who combined for five catches (on seven targets) for 102 yards. The fifth-year pro…read more

Should play through second quarter Saturday

Garoppolo and his fellow healthy starters on offense figure to play up to halftime in Saturday's preseason game against the Colts, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Analysis: Garoppolo is thus an option in DFS formats this week before he sees little-to-no action in the 49ers' preseason finale on Aug. 30. Garoppolo's status as the team's franchise QB was cemented by his lucrative offseason contract extension, and optimism regarding his 2018 fantasy prospects abound due to his strong finish last year after being gifted to the 49ers from the Patriots. Looking ahead, Garoppolo will be supported by a revamped running attack led by Jerick McKinnon (calf) and a…read more

Piles up yards early

Garoppolo completed 10 of 12 passes for 136 yards with a touchdown and an interception during Saturday's preseason game in Houston.

Analysis: Garoppolo's two drives covered 21 snaps and 119 yards, with penalties and a poor running game forcing the quarterback to make some tough conversions on third and fourth downs. His interception bounced off the hands of Dante Pettis, who appeared to operate as the No. 4 receiver behind Marquise Goodwin, Pierre Garcon and Trent Taylor. That trio accounted for six catches, 85 yards and a touchdown on Garoppolo's two drives, making up for the absence of George Kittle (shoulder), Jerick McKinnon…read more

Won't play much again Saturday

Garoppolo will play at least one series during Saturday's preseason game in Houston, Matt Barrows of The Athletic Bay Area reports. "I see it [his playing time] pretty similar to the first game," coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday. "We'll feel it out. But he'll probably go a little more. I wouldn't expect much more."

Analysis: Garoppolo was contained to one series last Thursday against the Cowboys, completing three of six passes for 34 yards. Among the attempts, three were directed at Marquise Goodwin, who has developed into Garoppolo's favorite target in his first training camp with the 49ers. With regard to this next exhibition, Garoppolo won't have three key members of the offense -- running backs Jerick McKinnon (calf) and Matt Breida (shoulder), plus tight end George Kittle (shoulder) -- at his disposal, so…read more

Has quiet preseason debut

Garoppolo completed three of six passes for 36 yards during Thursday's preseason opener against the Cowboys.

Analysis: Garoppolo completed passes to three different receivers, but only one of those went for more than nine yards as the first-team offense mustered a short drive before punting. His night was over after that initial series, but there isn't much for the organization's brass to see with the star signal caller. Garoppolo should play more next week against the Texans and will look to make a bigger splash as he inches closer to his first full season with the 49ers.

Starting preseason opener

Garoppolo is scheduled to start Thursday's preseason game against Dallas, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Garoppolo will adhere to the usual pattern for a starting quarterback, playing into the second quarter in the second preseason game and then handling the entire first half in the third game (he'll sit out the preseason finale). While many teams now hold their top quarterback out for the opener, the Niners understandably want Garoppolo to get plenty of live reps in preparation for his first full season as a starter.

Garoppolo has been building chemistry with a healthy Pierre Garcon (neck) throughout the offseason, Keiana Martin of the 49ers' official website reports.

Analysis: Flush with cap space, the 49ers passed on the likes of Sammy Watkins and Allen Robinson this offseason, instead locking in Garoppolo on a five-year, $137.5 million contract and signing RB Jerick McKinnon and G/C Weston Richburg. The team then used its first two draft picks on offensive players, selecting RT Mike McGlinchey at No. 9 overall and WR Dante Pettis at No. 44. While not the most exciting approach for fantasy purposes, it makes perfect sense if the team is confident in the continued…read more

Signs long-term deal with San Francisco

Garoppolo and the 49ers agreed Thursday on a five-year, $137.5 million contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: It was a foregone conclusion that San Francisco would extend Garoppolo to a long-term deal after he led the team to a 5-0 record as starter following his midseason acquisition from New England. Over his six appearances with the team, Garoppolo threw for seven touchdowns and five interceptions while averaging a robust 8.8 yards per attempt. Despite having only seven career starts to his name over his four NFL campaigns, Garoppolo's late-season success with the 49ers resulted in him being…read more

Nearing long-term deal with San Francisco

Garoppolo and the 49ers have gained significant momentum in negotiations on a long-term contract extension and could strike a deal in the near future, a source informed Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: A long-term deal with the 49ers always seemed to be in store for Garoppolo after he was acquired from the Patriots prior to the trade deadline, and San Francisco's interest in extending him likely only intensified after the quarterback guided the team to a 5-0 record in his starts while completing 67 percent of his passes for 1,542 yards and six touchdowns. Per Rapoport, Garoppolo's new contract is expected to place him among the upper echelon of quarterbacks in terms of average annual salary.…read more

Garoppolo completed 20 of 33 pass attempts for 292 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions in Sunday's 34-13 victory over the Rams.

Analysis: The 26-year-old cruised to his fifth straight victory against a Rams squad that rested 17 of its starters with nothing left to prove during the regular season. While the scoreboard displayed a lopsided result, Garoppolo endured uncharacteristic stints of inaccuracy against a defensive unit that was without standouts Aaron Donald, Mark Barron, and Lamarcus Joyner; most notably on his second interception of the game where he sailed a pass way over his intended target that landed safely in Kevin…read more

Garoppolo completed 21-of-30 passes for 242 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against Jacksonville on Sunday. He added a third touchdown on the ground.

Analysis: Despite facing off against what might be the best pass defense the NFL has seen in years, Garoppolo took a meager supporting cast and led his team to 44 points against the Jaguars. In taking down a Jacksonville defense featuring both the league's strongest pass rush and top corner rotation, Garoppolo continues to vindicate San Francisco's decision to trade a second-round pick to acquire his rights. He gets a tough Rams pass defense next week, but it's a more favorable draw the Jaguars by any…read more

Garoppolo completed 31 of 43 pass attempts for 381 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 25-23 win over the Titans.

Analysis: Garoppolo completed 72 percent of his pass attempts, spreading the ball around to nine different receivers. He averaged a healthy 8.9 yards per attempt as he eclipsed his previous career high in passing yardage. Perhaps most impressively, he led four scoring drives in the fourth quarter, including one that put Robbie Gould in position to hit the game-winning 48-yard field goal as time expired. Garoppolo's acquisition has gone swimmingly for the 49ers, as he's averaged 336 yards per game while…read more

Garoppolo completed 20 of 33 passes for 334 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 26-16 win at Houston.

Analysis: Garoppolo was intercepted in Houston territory during the first quarter but led a scoring drive capped by a Carlos Hyde run in the second. He added a six-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Celek late in the third quarter after hitting the tight end for a 61-yard gain earlier in the drive. While the former Patriots quarterback hasn't moved the needle much in terms of fantasy production himself, his presence under center has instilled some life into San Francisco's other offensive players. That…read more

Will start again Sunday

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan has named Garoppolo the starting quarterback for this Sunday's game against the Texans, ESPN's Nick Wagoner reports.

Analysis: Garoppolo threw for nearly 300 yards while completing over 70 percent of his passes in Sunday's first start for the 49ers. That production coupled with the fact he led San Francisco to just its second victory of the season makes Shanahan's decision a no-brainer, despite any admiration rookie C.J. Beathard's effort has garnered thus far. Now with the keys to his new team's offense, Garoppolo will look to build on his promising full debut, and this weekend's matchup versus the Texans appears…read more

Garoppolo completed 26 of 37 pass attempts for 293 yards and one interception in Sunday's 15-14 win over the Bears. He also ran four times for eight yards.

Analysis: While he was unable to lead a touchdown drive on the day, he did lead five drives that ended in a field goal, and it was just enough for the victory. More importantly, the 26-year-old acquitted himself well in a tough matchup. It is hard to believe that the 49ers would go back to the ineffective C.J. Beathard after this performance, but the team has been stubbornly loyal to him while Garoppolo gets comfortable with the offense. If Garoppolo does get the call, he will be in line for a juicy…read more

Will make first start as 49er

Head coach Kyle Shanahan named Garoppolo the 49ers' starting quarterback for Sunday's game at Chicago.

Analysis: Shanahan's decision was likely influenced by the health of C.J. Beathard, who sustained a knee contusion and hip strain in the waning minutes of Sunday's loss to the Seahawks. With 1:07 remaining, Garoppolo took over the offense at the Seattle 23-yard line and drove the 49ers to their sole touchdown of the day on the backs of a four-yard scramble and two completions for 18 yards. His first chance to lead from the get-go comes against a Bears defense that has allowed 233.1 yards passing per game…read more

Not getting boost from late TD

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Garoppolo's performance in the waning seconds of Sunday's 24-13 loss to Seattle won't carry any weight in the team's quarterback decision for Week 13 in Chicago, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Analysis: The team won't even have a decision to make if C.J. Beathard's leg/hip injury turns out to be serious. The rookie struggled in Sunday's loss, but Shanahan said he never considered benching Beathard prior to his injury with 67 seconds remaining. Garoppolo came in for the final three snaps, picking up four yards on a scramble and completing both of pass attempts for 18 yards and a touchdown. Beathard is scheduled to have an MRI on Monday, but given how poorly he played in Sunday's loss, the…read more

Garoppolo completed both of his pass attempts for 18 yards and a touchdown and added a four-yard run during Sunday's 24-13 loss to Seattle.

Analysis: Is it Garoppolo time in San Francisco? It looks that way after the trade-acquisition was pushed into action after C.J. Beathard took a rough hit. Garoppolo promptly scrambled around and hit Louis Murphy for a 10-yard score as time expired. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has been very patient with Garoppolo given the complexity of San Francisco's offense, but it'll be tough to keep him out of the lineup even if Beathard is OK given how well he played in very limited opportunities on Sunday.

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that the 49ers are comfortable using their franchise tag on Garoppolo next season, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. "He does not have to play (this season)," Shanahan said. "It's not that we're coming to this deadline and we've got to decide our future, ours and his, for both sides. We've got six games left and we're going to have next year, also. I know you have to franchise a quarterback to keep him, but quarterbacks are expensive. And that is not that big of a deal to us."

Analysis: Shanahan's comments support the notion that the 49ers view Garoppolo as a long-term solution at quarterback, despite the 26-year-old having yet to take a snap with his new team, who acquired him Oct. 30 for a 2018 second-round pick. C.J. Beathard will retain starting duties Sunday against the Seahawks, but it's expected that Garoppolo will make his debut at some point down the stretch as the team looks to get a clearer evaluation of him heading into the offseason. The one-year tag -- which…read more

The 49ers named C.J. Beathard (thumb) their starting quarterback over Garoppolo for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Analysis: With the 49ers returning from a bye, it seemed Week 12 was the most likely date for Garoppolo's first start with his new team. Beathard threw a hitch in that timeline, however, when he amassed 288 passing yards and accounted for three touchdowns in a 31-21 win over the Giants in Week 10. It would still be surprising if the 49ers don't start Garoppolo at least once or twice before the end of the season, but it apparently won't happen this Sunday.

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan hasn't decided whether Garoppolo or C.J. Beathard will start Week 12 against the Seahawks, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Analysis: With the 49ers on bye in Week 11, the Nov. 26 game against Seattle has always seemed like the logical date for Garoppolo to make his first start. Beathard's excellent performance in Sunday's 31-21 win over the Giants might encourage Shanahan to wait a bit longer, though one strong outing against a terrible team doesn't make up for the three consecutive ugly starts that preceded it. If the Niners don't switch quarterbacks right after the bye week, it'll likely be the product of a desire to get a…read more

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday that C.J. Beathard will start Sunday's contest versus the Giants, ensuring Garoppolo remains a reserve, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: At some point, the 49ers will want to learn about the investment made in Garoppolo, but that day won't come Sunday, at least at the outset of the game. Garoppolo's initial snap with the 49ers will be his first since Week 17 of last season with the Patriots.

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan expects C.J. Beathard to start Sunday's game versus the Giants, relegating Garoppolo to backup duties for the second straight week, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Analysis: Following his trade from New England to San Francisco last week, Garoppolo is eventually expected to get a look as the team's starting quarterback, but a change under center looks like it will be delayed until after the 49ers' Week 11 bye. Shanahan seemingly hinted Wednesday that a change would be afoot, stating that he wants Garoppolo to play "hopefully sooner than later." In the meantime, though, Garoppolo will continue to brush up on the playbook in preparation for eventually unseating…read more

Garoppolo will be serve as the No. 2 quarterback for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Analysis: San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that he can't promise Garoppolo will play this season, emphasizing that Tuesday's trade was made with a focus on 2018 and beyond. Regardless, the team's recent acquisition will be active Sunday, as the 49ers are only carrying two quarterbacks on their roster. Despite what Shanahan said earlier in the week, it's seemingly only a matter of time before Garoppolo replaces struggling starter C.J. Beathard. The 49ers presumably will want to get a…read more