The San Francisco suffered two losses today, and the 38-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs was far from the worst one.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team is “fearing an ACL” tear for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo will have an MRI tomorrow.
The injury came with about six minutes left in the fourth, as the 49ers were mounting a comeback after an awful first half. Garoppolo was at the end of a 13-yard run when his knee seemed to buckle before being hit hard by Chiefs’ cornerback Steven Nelson. He was eventually carted off the field.
If Garoppolo is indeed out, Shanahan said C.J. Beathard becomes the starter and Nick Mullens his backup.
“I just talked to [Garoppolo] in the training room,” Beathard said after the game. “I told him I’d be praying for him and I love him, and he told me to lead these guys.”
More Injuries
Cornerback Richard Sherman left the game in the second game with a calf injury and did not return. Per Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee, Sherman will have an MRI tomorrow. Free safety Adrian Colbert also left the game with a hip injury.
Matt Breida, Reuben Foster and Mike Person all came out at points but were able to play.
The Game
Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes continued his offensive tear with five first half touchdowns, bringing him to a record-setting 13 in the first three games of the season.
The 49ers were down 35-10 in the first half, due in large part to nine penalties for 106 yards and multiple missed tackles. Mahomes is clearly a talented quarterback with a plethora of weapons at his disposal but the 49ers did little to help themselves.
Garoppolo and company drove down the field for an 11-yard touchdown to open the second half. The Niners were able score again on a three-yard TD run by running back Alfred Morris that they capped with two-point conversion. After the Garoppolo injury, Beathard came right in and threw a touchdown pass to George Kittle but it was called back due to a questionable offensive PI penalty on Kyle Juszczyk.
It really was not their day.
With or without their franchise QB, the 49ers need to clean up the penalties and inability to tackle or it’s going to be another long season in Santa Clara.