Raiders’ Jimmy Garoppolo (back) on track to start vs. Lions
HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who sat out Sunday’s loss at Chicago Bears with a back injury suffered the week before against the New England Patriots, returned to practice Thursday and, barring any setbacks, is on track to start Monday night at the Detroit Lions, Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said.
Garoppolo declined to get into the specifics of the injury, saying only that it was “different” than any of his previous ones. The Raiders feared an internal injury at the time and sent him via ambulance to an area hospital to get scans of his back.
Garoppolo has already missed 2½ of the Raiders’ first seven games, as he also sat out Las Vegas’ Week 4 loss at the Los Angeles Chargers with a concussion. He said the start-stop-start-stop nature of his first season with the Raiders has been “different.”
“Every season’s kind of unique. I’ve learned that, just throughout the years,” he said. “It’s never going to go perfect, but you got to make the best of the situation. So that’s what I’m trying to do. Just got to roll with the punches, man.”
Garoppolo has thrown for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns with eight interceptions while completing 68.0% of his pass attempts in 4½ games after signing a three-year, $72.75 million free agent contract with the Raiders.
Rookie Aidan O’Connell, a fourth-round draft pick from Purdue, and Brian Hoyer, a 15-year veteran, have both started in place of Garoppolo, resulting in losses at the Chargers and Bears, respectively.
The Raiders are 3-4 heading to the Lions, who are 5-2.
All-Pro receiver Davante Adams was enthusiastic about Garoppolo’s return.
“For us right now, it’s about working with whoever’s in there, but definitely having Jimmy, he’s somebody that’s had the most experience with this offense so far of any of the other quarterbacks,” Adams said. “So it definitely does something for us and we had a good practice today and definitely excited to have him back in the lineup. We’re going to go out there and try to make the most of every opportunity to get going into the season.”
The oft-injured Garoppolo has missed at least 17 regular-season and playoffs games since 2020 due to injury. He underwent surgery on his left foot in March and was not able to take the field until the start of training camp.
Garoppolo did not travel to Los Angeles for the Chargers game but was on the sideline for the Bears game.
“Well, you’re in it,” he said. “You get the feel of what’s going on, the situation of the game.
“But it’s a weird feeling. I don’t enjoy it, by any means, but it is what it is. And like I said before, you’ve got to make the best of the situation. So that’s what I was trying to do, help the guys out in any way I could. Now, trying to get ready for Detroit and it’s a big one this week for us.”
Heading into their matchup against the Detroit Lions, the Las Vegas Raiders received some positive news regarding their starting quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo, who missed the previous game against the Chicago Bears due to a back injury suffered against the New England Patriots, returned to practice on Thursday and is expected to start on Monday night.
Garoppolo did not provide specific details about his injury but mentioned that it was different from his previous ones. The Raiders initially feared an internal injury and took precautionary measures by sending him to the hospital for scans. Fortunately, the scans revealed no serious damage, and Garoppolo has been making progress in his recovery.
This season has been a challenging one for Garoppolo, as he has already missed 2½ of the Raiders’ first seven games. In addition to the back injury, he also sat out the Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Chargers due to a concussion. Garoppolo acknowledged the stop-start nature of his season but remained optimistic about making the best of the situation.
In the games that Garoppolo has played, he has shown promise, throwing for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns with eight interceptions. He has completed 68.0% of his pass attempts, showcasing his ability to lead the Raiders’ offense. However, the team struggled in his absence, with rookie Aidan O’Connell and veteran Brian Hoyer filling in as starters and resulting in losses against the Chargers and Bears, respectively.
The Raiders currently hold a 3-4 record heading into their matchup against the 5-2 Detroit Lions. The return of Garoppolo is expected to provide a boost to the team, especially for All-Pro receiver Davante Adams, who emphasized Garoppolo’s experience with the offense. Adams expressed excitement about having Garoppolo back in the lineup and highlighted the importance of making the most of every opportunity to succeed.
Garoppolo’s injury history has been a concern for the Raiders, as he has missed a significant number of games since 2020 due to various injuries. He underwent surgery on his left foot earlier this year and had a delayed start to training camp. Despite these setbacks, Garoppolo remains determined to contribute to the team’s success and help his teammates in any way possible.
While Garoppolo did not travel with the team for the Chargers game, he was present on the sideline for the Bears game. Although being on the sideline provided some insight into the game’s situation, Garoppolo admitted that it was a strange feeling and not something he enjoyed. However, he remains focused on preparing for the upcoming game against the Lions, recognizing its significance for the team.
In conclusion, the return of Jimmy Garoppolo as the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders is a positive development for the team. Despite facing injury setbacks throughout the season, Garoppolo’s experience and leadership will be crucial in guiding the Raiders to success. As they prepare to face the Detroit Lions, the Raiders are optimistic about their chances with Garoppolo back in the lineup.