Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers will have sleepless nights ahead trying to figure out new game plans for his team. Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle headline the list of injured players on his end, meaning the 40-year-old coach will have to dig deep to keep the Niners’ heads above water.

Speaking of Garoppolo, the 29-year-old quarterback is still pondering on his next move. He suffered another ankle injury on the same foot. Initial reports claim that it was the same ankle that he recently came back from. But according to Shanahan, it was an entirely new injury and not the same one Garoppolo suffered during their Week 2 match against the New York Jets, ESPN reported.

“When you have those high ankle sprains, you re-injure them a lot. But it was a different way that he did it. So it’s basically doing it all over again in a different way...It is worse than the last one. That’s why surgery is an option. We’re getting different doctors’ opinions now. Whatever is best for him long term is obviously what we’ll decide on,” Shanahan said.

Aware of what surgery brings, Garoppolo is seeking the opinion of people around him on what to do. But considering the severity of the injury, it may be in his best interest to undergo a procedure. The only problem is if he does go under the knife, he will be kissing his NFL season goodbye, the Associated Press reported.

Looking ahead, it also raises questions about his future with the 49ers. He has two years left in his current deal but the bulk of that is likely to be eaten by the surgery and the healing time needed for his ankle.

Also, San Francisco may decide to move on from Garoppolo given his injury history. For next season, Shanahan will have to look for a replacement quarterback. Matt Ryan has been mentioned as a potential target, someone Shanahan is no stranger to.

With the Atlanta Falcons rebuilding, taking in the 35-year-old to call the plays next season for the Niners makes sense. But at his age, it could be a short-term fix – meaning San Francisco needs to figure out who will be their quarterback moving forward.

In Garoppolo’s absence, Shanahan will turn to Nick Mullens for the starting quarterback role. He made two starts this season, throwing for 343 yards and one TD in a win over the Giants. However, Mullens needs work as can be seen with his performance in a loss to Philadelphia.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers Getty Images | Abbie Parr

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