The San Francisco 49ers have been without quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo since Week 13 when he suffered a broken foot. Now heading into the NFC Championship game, it appears that he is still not ready to return to the field.

According to Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports, 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan doesn't expect Jimmy Garoppolo to return to the practice field this week. In his place, rookie quarterback Brock Purdy will continue to step in as the starter.

When healthy, Garoppolo played well in the regular season. Over 11 games, he threw for 2,437 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. With him serving as QB1, the 49ers posted a starting record of 8-3.

Following his injury, the 49ers turned to Brock Purdy, the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft. The former Iowa State QB1 has quickly taken the NFL by storm.

In his six regular season starts, Purdy stuffed the stat sheet. He threw for 1,308 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. On the ground, he added one rushing touchdown.

Over his two playoff starts, Purdy has managed to play even better. As the 49ers have taken down both the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys, he may have secured himself a starting job for the future. He has thrown for 546 passing yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, he has rushed for 24 yards and one touchdown on seven total carries.

The 49ers have sent out three starting quarterbacks this season. Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Brock Purdy have all stepped into the role. And each of them has managed to find success. But with Lance out for the season, and Garoppolo still not ready to return to the field, Purdy is currently leading the charge. With the season on the line, the 49ers as a whole seem more than confident in the rookie QB1.