With organized team activities in progress, the Las Vegas Raiders find themselves without their newly acquired quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, on the field. According to a report by The Athletic’s Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur, Garoppolo underwent foot surgery in March after transitioning from the San Francisco 49ers to his new team.
The 31-year-old quarterback arrived at the Raiders’ team headquarters on March 16 to finalize his contract, but the signing was delayed due to concerns identified during his physical examination.
Garoppolo suffered a foot fracture in December during a game against the Miami Dolphins. While the 49ers medical staff initially believed that surgery was not necessary and that a two-month recovery period would suffice, the Raiders’ doctors held a different opinion. They recommended the surgical procedure, which Garoppolo underwent after joining the Raiders.
The timeline for Garoppolo’s recovery remains uncertain, but head coach Josh McDaniels does not seem overly concerned. McDaniels indicated that Garoppolo might be held out until the start of training camp in July, emphasizing the team’s preference not to rush his return.
Managing Garoppolo’s injury history will be a delicate task for the Raiders, as he has faced various injuries throughout his career. However, when healthy last season, Garoppolo demonstrated the level of production that the Raiders will rely on for the upcoming campaign. In 11 games, he threw for 2,437 yards, 16 touchdowns, and four interceptions while completing 67.2% of his passes. He also amassed a 7-3 record as a starter.
Following Garoppolo on the depth chart, the Raiders have Brian Hoyer as a backup option, and they drafted Aidan O’Connell in the fourth round of the recent NFL Draft. The team likely hopes O’Connell will have time to develop before seeing significant playing time, which will depend on Garoppolo’s health.
In conclusion, the Las Vegas Raiders are currently without Jimmy Garoppolo on the field due to his foot surgery. While the recovery timeline remains uncertain, the team is taking a cautious approach, and head coach Josh McDaniels does not anticipate rushing Garoppolo back. The Raiders will need to manage Garoppolo’s injury history carefully, as his performance will be crucial for the team’s success in the upcoming season.
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