Jimmy Garoppolo's knee brace is garnering a lot of attention during training camp. Fans recently noticed that a video featuring the San Francisco 49ers quarterback showed him without the brace that he wore on his left leg all of last season. Of course, that video was from the team's walk-throughs.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk later confirmed that his quarterback didn't wear the brace during those walk-throughs. That, of course, made a few headlines.
On Saturday, Garoppolo and his teammates took part in the team's first practice of training camp. The quarterback was once again wearing the brace, and the media took notice. It was news to head coach Kyle Shanahan, though, who hadn't even thought to check whether or not Garoppolo was wearing the protective piece.
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"If you need it, where it, is my philosophy," Shanahan told reporters on Saturday via a video conference call. "I think it's funny. I didn't know there was a lot of talk about his knee brace. The reason I know about it is because (VP of Communications) Bob (Lange) told me he didn't wear one.
"I got updated by Bob before I came in here, so I know that he wore one today because Bob told me he did, and I know he didn't wear one in walk-through because Bob told me he didn't because Juice said it. So I think that shows my philosophy on it. That's not much of my concern.
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"If he was coming right off his ACL, I'd probably be like, 'Why aren't you wearing one?' But players, after they get through it, that's up to a player.
"Some guys feel like it can hurt them more. Some people think it helps. But I'm not going to pretend that I know that. That's his body, that's his knee, and everyone's different."
