Jimmy Garoppolo Trending Now: What’s Behind the Buzz and What’s Next for the NFL QB

The Los Angeles Rams’ decision to keep Jimmy Garoppolo on ice this preseason has amplified speculation that the 33-year-old veteran could see meaningful snaps as soon as Week 1. Head coach Sean McVay confirmed that Garoppolo will not play in any exhibition game, a move designed to preserve an insurance policy behind Matthew Stafford while also signaling trust in the former 49ers starter’s command of the offense<sports.yahoo.com/article/rams-jimmy-garoppolo-decision-tells-165534823.html />. Garoppolo, who re-signed with L.A. on a one-year, $11 million deal in March<sports.yahoo.com/players/jimmy-garoppolo/news />, was already getting occasional first-team reps during camp as Stafford nurses what team officials insist is “normal veteran maintenance.” Observers at last week’s joint practice with the Cowboys noted crisp timing on intermediate routes and two red-zone touchdowns thrown to newly acquired receiver Davante Adams, rekindling a rapport formed during their brief time in Las Vegas<www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-rams-joint-practice-with-cowboys-jimmy-garoppolo-and-davante-adams-lead-strong-day-for-offense-defensive-line-and-quentin-lake-set-tone-for-defense />. The Rams’ quarterback depth became a national talking point after Stafford missed five games last season, forcing McVay to cycle through three different starters. By keeping Garoppolo off the preseason field, the coaching staff is avoiding the injury risk that derailed their 2024 campaign. The strategy mirrors the approach used with Stafford in 2021 before the Rams’ Super Bowl run, hinting that McVay views Garoppolo as a similar plug-and-play option if injuries strike again. Garoppolo’s familiarity with the Rams’ offensive concepts is deeper than many realize. While McVay’s system is rooted in wide-zone play action, it overlaps heavily with the Kyle Shanahan playbook Garoppolo mastered in San Francisco. That overlap has allowed him to accelerate chemistry with skill players Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and tight end Tyler Higbee. “It feels like second nature at this point,” Garoppolo told reporters after practice, adding that his focus is “staying ready, staying healthy and pushing Matt every day.”<www.ocregister.com/2025/08/12/rams-qb-jimmy-garoppolo-ready-if-called-upon /> From a roster-building perspective, Garoppolo’s presence has also given general manager Les Snead flexibility. Instead of investing a premium draft pick at quarterback, the Rams fortified their secondary and offensive line, banking on Garoppolo as the bridge should Stafford’s health falter. Internal metrics show the offense averaged 0.19 EPA per play in 11-on-11 drills with Garoppolo under center, nearly identical to Stafford’s 0.21, according to a team source. Fantasy football managers are taking notice. Garoppolo’s average draft position has crept into the late rounds of superflex leagues as a speculative stash, with analysts pointing to Stafford’s age (37) and injury history. Should Garoppolo log even four or five starts, his supporting cast could vault him into weekly QB2 territory, especially with Adams drawing coverage away from Kupp and Nacua. The unanswered question is whether Garoppolo can stay on the field once given a chance. A two-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy sidelined him to start 2024, and foot and shoulder issues have dotted his resume over the past four seasons. McVay, however, believes the conservative preseason plan will mitigate those risks. League insiders have floated the possibility that L.A. could flip Garoppolo before the trade deadline if a contender loses its starter, but sources inside the organization insist the priority is stability, not draft capital. “We learned last year how thin the margin is at quarterback,” one Rams official said. “Jimmy is here to play for us, not someone else.” For now, Garoppolo’s next live snap will come no earlier than the Rams’ regular-season opener at Seattle. If Stafford’s body holds up, Garoppolo may remain the league’s most overqualified backup. If not, the Rams have positioned themselves to pivot seamlessly—without sacrificing wins in a loaded NFC West. Either way, the team’s cautious preseason blueprint has ensured that the NFL spotlight will stay fixed on Jimmy Garoppolo as summer turns to September.