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When Jimmy Garoppolo went down with a torn ACL during Week 3 of the 2018 season, the last thing on the quarterback's mind was the good that might come from the injury.
The San Francisco 49ers went on to win just four games that season. As the weeks passed, Garoppolo turned the injury into an opportunity. He used the time to study hard, become more familiar with Kyle Shanahan's offense, go through plays in his head while on the sideline, and improve "from the neck up," as general manager John Lynch once put it.
Another good thing that came out of last season's mounting losses was that it allowed the 49ers to earn a high draft pick, which they used on defensive end
Nick Bosa.
Now, San Francisco is in the NFC Championship Game, knocking on the door of the Super Bowl, thanks to players like Garoppolo and Bosa.
"Things have a way of working out," Garoppolo told reporters on Wednesday. "I always told myself it was a blessing in disguise, you know, the ACL and everything. We got Bosa out of it, so that's a pretty good trade-off, I guess.
"Things have a way of working out, I guess. This ride is crazy. You've just got to roll with the punches."
Shanahan's first thought after watching his franchise quarterback being carted off the field probably wasn't, "At least we'll get a high draft pick." The 49ers head coach pushed on, trying to win, and, like his players, continuing to fight.
Over a year later, though, he can look back and acknowledge that, in the long run, the situation helped the 49ers improve.
"It definitely helped," Shanahan said. "I mean, everything happens for a reason, and you need to get good players in, some difference-makers, and Bosa has definitely been a difference-maker. I'm very glad we have him. I don't wish 4-12 on anybody, but after going through it, it's nice what it brought us."
Bosa had a feeling early on that San Francisco might be his destination, especially after reports of the Arizona Cardinals' infatuation with quarterback
Kyler Murray surfaced.
Teams drafting in the top 10 are typically doing so because they lack talent. That wasn't the case for the 49ers, Bosa thought. The rookie knew, at the time, that San Francisco was a better team than its record indicated. How did he know that?
"Just being a football fan, last year, knowing what kind of players they had on the roster," Bosa answered. "I didn't know to this extent how good the depth was and stuff like that, but I just knew, of the top teams picking, this was definitely the most playoff-ready team."
The San Francisco 49ers are set to host their local pro day this Wednesday afternoon, offering numerous draft prospects a prime opportunity to display their skills before the team's coaches, scouts, and front-office personnel.
However, it won't be just draft hopefuls on the field in Santa Clara. According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, several others, including a former third-round draft pick, quarterback Kellen Mond, will try out for the team.
Maiocco's report also names tight ends Curtis Hodges, Hunter Kampmoyer, and Tommy Sweeney among those expected to attend.
In addition those invited to
The San Francisco 49ers are holding their local pro day today at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The team has released the full roster of participants.
An NFL local pro day is an event hosted by teams to allow prospects with ties to the local area to showcase their skills in front of team personnel. These prospects typically hail from nearby colleges or have some other connection to the region where the team is based. Head coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch, and a contingent of coaches, executives, and scouts will be on hand to evaluate prospective draftees during the 49ers' local pro day.
The event aims to give the team a closer look at these local talents who may have received less attention during the regular scouting process. It will allow the
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
