Raiders remain confident in probable starter Jimmy Garoppolo
Las Vegas Raiders free agent signing, Jimmy Garoppolo, believes he will be ready to do his job Week 1 of the NLF season.
Apparently, for those that have asked around, the Las Vegas Raiders are remaining confident that free agent signing and former starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, Jimmy Garoppolo, will be ready to play come Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season.
The Athletic's Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed reported as much recently.
"The Raiders’ new starting quarterback hasn’t played football since December, had foot surgery in March, and wasn’t an on-the-field participant during OTAs," Tafur and Reed wrote. "The Raiders say they expected that when they signed Garoppolo, which is why they added a provision into his contract allowing them to back out of the deal entirely in a worst-case scenario. But, according to league sources, they remain confident he’ll be fully healthy in time for the start of the 2023 season.
"The big question that remains with Garoppolo is whether his body can hold up throughout the entire season. He’s played a full season just once in his career and suffered three season-ending injuries in six seasons with San Francisco. The injuries have been varied — a torn ACL, ankle sprain, torn shoulder capsule, and broken foot — but his inability to stay available has been consistent. The Raiders can’t take a step forward after a disappointing 2022 campaign if Garoppolo can’t stay on the field."
Recently, Las Vegas inserted language into his contract tied to the foot injury he originally suffered during the 2022 campaign.
If the injury prevents him from passing another physical before Week 1, then his three-year, $72.8 million pact can be ripped up entirely.
And even more recently, Head coach Josh McDaniels told reporters on June 1, he has "no anxiety" about whether Garoppolo will be available for training camp.
As of right now, Brian Hoyer and Aidan O'Connell are the other options for the Raiders.
So though the Raiders moved on from Carr, the team still has far more questions than answers at the quarterback position moving forward.
Feature image via Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports.
