The San Francisco 49ers put up a good effort against what looks to be the best team in the NFL in the Kansas City Chiefs. But a late comeback effort might cost them their franchise quarterback.
Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo left Sunday’s Week 3 matchup against the Chiefs after taking a big hit along the sideline inside the game’s final quarter. Trailing 38-27, Garoppolo scrambled down the field but looked to find more yardage by cutting back toward the middle of hte field. Instead, he was met by a defender who laid a huge hit on the quarterback.
Defensive back Steven Nelson lined Garoppolo up and crushed Garoppolo along the left sideline. There was no flag on the play, which looked to be a hard hit up high.
Jimmy G just got CRUSHED. (No flag) pic.twitter.com/BUC9nSmhMW
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) September 23, 2018
It’s clear that Garoppolo took a shot in the head or shoulder area, but the concern appears to be his knee, which he had planted in the turf when he tried to cut back up the field.
Noooooo Jimmy G knee injury pic.twitter.com/S7CZ78LB8E
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) September 23, 2018
And, indeed, shortly after the game went final it was reported that Garoppolo might have suffered a non-contact knee injury on the play and the Niners were fearing a serious injury to his ACL.
The #49ers fear a serious knee injury for QB Jimmy Garoppolo, I’m told. That’s what it appeared, as well, a non-contact knee injury that saw him carted off.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 23, 2018
#49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said QB Jimmy Garoppolo will have more tests on his injured left knee and will know more tomorrow. But “the fear is an ACL.”
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) September 23, 2018
It’s a crushing loss for the 49ers, who acquired Garoppolo last season and awarded him a huge contract in the offseason.