San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch met with the media on Thursday, and he offered some stunning and entirely unexpected news about the rehab process for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and running back Jerick McKinnon. Lynch told the 49ers media at the Senior Bowl that both players are doing “exceptionally well” and are on pace to be on the field when training camp opens later this summer.
I’m trying to remember the last time a general manager said a rehabbing player was not on or ahead of pace. I know it has happened when a GM is confirming already reported news, but when there isn’t new information out there, I don’t recall ever hearing a GM offer bad news about the situation.
Earlier this week, Lynch mentioned seeing Garoppolo throwing the ball with McKinnon on the practice field in Santa Clara. He talked about that on Thursday, saying it fired him up and that both players are “working incredibly hard” in the rehab process.
The 49ers kick off their offseason workout program in mid-April, with OTAs in May and minicamp in June. Lynch said Garoppolo could get some work in OTAs, similar to what Kyle Shanahan said back in October. In the meantime, at least we know things are going “exceptionally well.”