Jimmy Garoppolo Dec 4, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) before the game against the Miami Dolphins at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Don’t expect Jimmy Garoppolo to be ready for the NFC Championship Game.

While the San Francisco 49ers quarterback returned to practice in a walking boot earlier this week, he’s not nearly ready enough to go yet. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the media and provided a new update on the injured quarterback. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that Garoppolo had X-rays but isn’t expected to be with the team.

“49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Jimmy Garoppolo had X-rays and he does not expect to have him this weekend. No surprise, given he’ll only be eight weeks out from his broken foot on Sunday,” Rapoport tweeted.

So Garoppolo will have to wait at least another year if the embattled quarterback wants to improve his 1-1 record in NFC Championship Games. Last season didn’t go so well, as he and the Niners allowed the rival Los Angeles Rams to come from behind and win to snap a winning streak the team had over their SoCal foes. Jimmy and the Niners, of course, defeated the Green Bay Packers in impressive fashion three years ago en route to appearing in Super Bowl LIV.

Instead, the spotlight will still be on Brock Purdy. 2022’s Mr. Irrelevant has become one of the best stories in the sport. He’s undefeated as starter since Garoppolo broke his ankle, and is riding high as can be.

[Ian Rapoport]

About Chris Novak

Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022