Jimmy Garoppolo remains in concussion protocol, but attending team meetings
Sep 27, 2023, 3:39 PM
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 13: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the Las Vegas Raiders talks with quarterback Brian Hoyer #7 before a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on August 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Quarterback Aidan O'Connell #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders walks by at left. The Raiders defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-7. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was placed in the league’s concussion protocols following the team’s 23-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The move came as a surprise because Garoppolo finished the game for the Silver & Black. According to NFL.com, he didn’t exhibit “concussion symptoms until after the game.”
On Wednesday, coach Josh McDaniels provided an update on his quarterback’s condition and what the team is doing as they prepare for the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend.
“He’s already moving through it. Again, it doesn’t mean that we know what the ultimate end result will be, but he’s doing good so far,” McDaniels said, confirming that Jimmy G is still in the protocol. “And that’s out of my jurisdiction, so we’ll just find out when they tell us.”
The Raiders are preparing both backups, veteran Brian Hoyer and rookie Aidan O’Connell, if Garoppolo is not able to play. McDaniels said Garoppolo is still attending meetings and is present as he works his way through the return process.
“The two guys that haven’t played yet have done a tremendous amount of preparation for the first three games, and that won’t change this week. To me, if they’re preparing the right way nothing should change just because they may have a better chance to potentially play than they would have the first three games,” McDaniels said. “We’ll give the guys reps in practice, and they usually get reps anyway to some degree. It would be a little bit more obviously if Jimmy’s not out there today. We’re just kind of taking it one day at a time, doing the best we can and preparing them as hard as we can for today, and then we’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
In his 16th year, Hoyer has plenty of NFL experience. He also has spent plenty of time with McDaniels from their time together in New England, but that doesn’t make him the automatic starter.
“Experience is valuable. And at the same time, we’ll try to play the right person based on what the situation is and how practice goes, if that’s what it comes to you. I think everybody is going to get ready to go and I think sometimes experience is a good thing, it doesn’t mean that it’s going to determine how it’s going to go for one guy versus another,” McDaniels said. “I mean, there’s a lot of guys that don’t have a lot of experience that can play well because they’re prepared, and they do the right thing to get ready. And ultimately what matters is how they perform, not how long they’ve been in the NFL, or how many games they’ve played in or what have you.”
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