An MRI on 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo's left knee revealed a torn ACL. His 2018 campaign is over. If this is a clean ACL tear with no other ligament damage, Garoppolo has a good chance to be ready for the start of the 2019 season a little over 11 months from now. QB C.J. Beathard takes over for the rest of this year. He completed 55.3% of his passes and averaged 6.3 yards per attempt in 5 starts late last season. The 'Niners averaged just 14.8 points in those games. Garoppolo's absence will be felt by everyone in this offense.

Niners GM John Lynch told ESPN's Adam Schefter Tuesday that QB Jimmy Garoppolo is "playing his best football since he's been here; it's something everyone's recognizing." The change from Garoppolo to Trey Lance -- who has been generating buzz lately -- is inevitable. But fantasy drafters should realize that Garoppolo remains the leader to open the season behind center in San Francisco.

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan declared QB Jimmy Garoppolo his starter on Tuesday. "There's no open competition right now," Shanahan said. "Jimmy is coming in as the one and Trey [Lance] is coming in as the two." Chalk this one up as typical early-camp coach speak. Garoppolo might be the favorite for the Week 1 starting job, but we imagine Lance could change that with a strong summer. And we're definitely betting on seeing the rookie under center at some point this season.

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan confirmed that QB Jimmy Garoppolo is in the driver’s seat to start Week 1. "I definitely see it as Jimmy's the starter," Shanahan said via CBS. "But if Trey's ready to compete, I have no problem with it. I don't sit there and say, 'Hey, we're not playing a rookie quarterback. We have to rest him the first year.' … I don't really make any decisions like that until I actually have an opinion on it. And that'll take to how I see him in camp. If he comes in and he's playing at a high level and we think he gives us the best chance to win, we wouldn't hesitate to do that [start him Week 1]." While Garoppolo will likely start Week 1, he’ll almost certainly turn the keys over to Lance at some point in 2021.

The 49ers swung a massive trade for the #3 overall pick in next month's draft, sending the #12 pick, a 2021 3rd-rounder and 1st-rounders in 2022 and 2023 to the Dolphins. The 'Niners clearly have their eyes on a QB. ESPN's Adam Schefter hears that the team doesn't have 1 specific rookie in mind but is "good with the options" that will be available. That'll be some combination of BYU's Zach Wilson, Ohio State's Justin Fields and North Dakota State's Trey Lance. Schefter also reports that San Francisco "has no plans" to trade QB Jimmy Garoppolo -- but his days as the starter are clearly numbered. The Dolphins, meanwhile, are reaffirming their commitment to QB Tua Tagovailoa with this trade.

The 49ers have designated QB Jimmy Garoppolo to return from IR. That doesn't necessarily mean he'll play again this season; it simply opens the 21-day practice window. With just 2 weeks remaining, that means the team could have Garoppolo practice the rest of the way without needing to decide on activating him. We wouldn't bet on Garoppolo taking the field in Week 16. C.J. Beathard appears in line to face the Cardinals on Saturday.

Update: Cam Inman reports that Garoppolo will practice but "won't play in games." With Nick Mullens set for elbow surgery, Beathard looks like the starter for the final 2 games.