Garoppolo Raiders Energized By Niners Reunion With “My Brothers”

Not with the Niners defense rushing at him.

First play, Dre [Greenlaw] “Those are my brothers,” Garoppolo said with a laugh, referring to the 49ers linebacker. “I love these guys. We had such a good time competing.”

In fact, Garoppolo, who joined the 49ers in a deal with the New England Patriots on Halloween 2017, was asked about his latest star-studded month in Santa Clara.

After being on the trading block during the 2022 season, he became the starter after Trey Lance was injured in Week 2 and led the Niners to a 7-3 record before suffering a left foot injury at the Miami Dolphins in Week 13. He never fit in with the 49ers again. , although there was speculation that he would have been ready for the Super Bowl had the Niners beaten the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC title game. Instead, San Francisco lost Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson to injury in the final 31-7 defeat.

“It was fierce, man,” Garoppolo said of his final weeks in San Francisco. “I was doing my thing, trying to get my feet ready. It didn’t work out the way I hoped it would, but these guys who’ve gone through three quarterbacks and still made it to the NFC Championship Game, I mean, that’s impressive for the Niners, you know. They have a great team and everything. We had a great time.

“She’s in Vegas now, but yeah, I appreciate those times. Those were the good times.”

Garoppolo signed a free three-year, $72.75 million contract with the Raiders on March 17, but had foot surgery shortly thereafter and had to sign a waiver/release in the event he could not pass a physical.

It seems like he put his future in Las Vegas at risk, but he’s physically finished before camp and has been on a rehab schedule with the occasional day off and shortening the reps on occasion, having sat out all the field work during OTAs and mini-camp.

Garoppolo’s play has been uneven lately as he threw a combined seven interceptions in two tackles last week, before he bounced back with his strongest drill on Wednesday and looked fine against the 49ers with no intelligence.

He said, “I’m just starting to get my feet under me, both literally and figuratively. We’re starting to find our groove here.”

Sophomore Raiders coach Josh McDaniels, who was Garoppolo’s offensive coordinator for New England, impressed with his work on the field despite missing a lot of time.

When it’s your seventh day [of practice] “Since November of last year, I don’t really look at it in that short window,” said McDaniels. Playing midfield is a very difficult position to play and excel in and a lot of times, especially when you’re with a bunch of new people in a new scheme, they’re coming off something that’s coming out of it, I think there’s just a time element, there’s no short cut to it.

“I expect him to get out there and do his best every day, and that’s what he does. He learns from every period, good or bad. I think he has a great approach, great attitude, great mentality and I expect him to keep improving.”

He noticed the Raiders defense.

“Jimmy is getting better and better and better,” said Max Crosby Raiders rusher The Edge. “Because of the injury, it’s not going to happen overnight. Jamie’s confidence is only growing. I saw that today. The last two days, really.

“He believes in himself, and that’s really what it comes down to. It’s a mind game… I’m so happy for him.”

As he did with the Niners, Garoppolo quickly beat the Raiders locker room, which lost a nine-year start when Derek Carr was cut in February.

Garoppolo was asked how he liked his new teammates.

“I think to be honest, just be yourself, you know, own it,” he said. “I think that’s a big part of it because we get to spend a lot of time together there, and we spend more time with these guys than you do with your family. So, guys are going to see what’s fake. I think it’s just being authentic, being yourself and wanting to win in the end.” Today, that’s what people expect.”