The San Francisco 49ers have been dealt a major blow as their starting quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, has been ruled out for their upcoming game against the Oakland Raiders. The news was announced on Wednesday, just days before the two teams are set to face off in what could be a pivotal matchup in the NFC West.
Garoppolo, who has been the starting quarterback for the 49ers since 2017, suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2 against the New York Jets. He was able to play through the injury in Week 3 against the New York Giants, but was unable to practice this week and has been ruled out for Sunday’s game.
The 49ers will now turn to backup quarterback Nick Mullens to lead the team against the Raiders. Mullens, who has been with the team since 2018, has seen limited action in his career, but has been praised for his poise and accuracy when called upon. He will have a tough task ahead of him as he goes up against a Raiders defense that is ranked in the top five in the NFL in yards allowed per game.
The loss of Garoppolo is a major blow to the 49ers, who are already dealing with a number of injuries on both sides of the ball. The team will need to rely on their defense and running game to carry them against the Raiders if they want to come away with a win.
It remains to be seen how long Garoppolo will be out, but it is clear that the 49ers will have to find a way to win without their starting quarterback. The team will need to rally around Mullens and hope that he can lead them to victory on Sunday.