Shanahan: Garoppolo 'one of the better throwers on this planet'

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan still has the utmost confidence in Jimmy Garoppolo.

The veteran quarterback will make his first start of the campaign against the Denver Broncos on Sunday after Trey Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury last week, and Shanahan is impressed with how Garoppolo has looked in the lead-up.

"I think Jimmy is one of the better throwers on this planet," Shanahan said.

Garoppolo started in 15 contests last season, throwing for 3,810 yards and 20 touchdowns. The 49ers finished with a 10-7 record, losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.

"I thought Jimmy had his best year last year," Shanahan said. "He got surgery at the end of the year, and once his arm started healing up, throwing on the side and stuff, it always looked good."

He added, "All you had to do was see him throw it once and watch how it spun, watch the zip it came off with, how he looked when he threw it. And he's always been that way."

Garoppolo filled in for Lance late in the first quarter of Week 2, leading the 49ers to a win over the Seattle Seahawks. He finished with 13 completions for 154 yards and one touchdown.

The 30-year-old Garoppolo has made 45 starts during his six-year tenure in San Francisco.

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