San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan sat next to general manager John Lynch on Friday for their annual press conference to kick off training camp. Shanahan confirmed that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo would be medically cleared to be a full participant during practices, which begin on Saturday. As will new linebacker Kwon Alexander.
Update: Garoppolo confirmed on Friday that he has officially been cleared to practice.
Shanahan was initially asked if either would play during the preseason and the head coach said they would not.
"Yeah, those two won't play," he said.
Shanahan later clarified that Garoppolo and Alexander will not play during Week 1 of the preseason — an August 10 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. The team will re-evaluate the situation after that.
"We haven't eliminated anyone from the (entire) preseason," Shanahan later said.
Both are coming off ACL injuries. Garoppolo's occurred during Week 3 last year while Alexander's occurred during Week 7. Garoppolo took part in the 49ers' offseason program but was held out of 11-on-11 team drills until one play on the final drive during June's minicamp.
Alexander was signed to a four-year deal in March worth up to $54 million.
"He's looked great," Shanahan said of Alexander. "He's been here in the offseason working out, in rehab. But anyone coming off an injury like that, especially at his position and as late as it was — he was a little bit later than [Jerick McKinnon] and Jimmy — we'll definitely ease him in."
As for Garoppolo, Shanahan is well aware that his quarterback hasn't played a lot of football. Garoppolo has just 10 career NFL starts under his belt. The head coach is excited to get his quarterback on the field.
"I'm just so pumped that he's healthy again, that now we can start practicing fully, and start trying to prepare him for that moment n Week 1," Shanahan said.
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