Former Raiders executive pumps brakes on Jimmy Garoppolo injury panic

This former Las Vegas Raiders executive isn't playing into the panic that has ensued after a recent report shed light on an injury waiver the Raiders had added into quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's contract, which would allow the tam to release him after a failed physical.

Former Raiders Senior Personnel Executive Michael Lombardi pumped the brakes on the concerns surrounding Garoppolo, saying he “will be” the starting QB “unless something catastrophic” happens. Here's what Lombardi had to say on The GM Shuffle podcast.

In my 35 years in the NFL, I did a lot of contracts. And 70% of them included an injury waiver of some sort – especially on a veteran. Unless something catastrophic happens with Jimmy Garoppolo's foot, he will be the Raiders QB.

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— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) May 30, 2023

“I'm not anyone special, but I spent 35 years in the National Football League. I did a lot of contracts. And I would say in 70 percent of those contracts that I did, there was an injury waiver of some sort, especially on a veteran player. They signed an injury waiver on the specific injury. Does this mean if he breaks his arm, they could cut him? No. It's only specifically around the second metatarsal. This is common. OK? I keep repeating this. All right?”

Lombardi, who entered the NFL as a scout back in 1984 and rose up to the Cleveland Browns' general manager chair in 2013, said that “70 percent” of the contracts he handled contained an injury waiver similar to the one present in Garoppolo's Raiders deal.

He made it clear that the Raiders can cut Garoppolo only if he suffers a setback or injury in his foot that would cause him to fail a physical- not just any injury in general.

While Raiders fans may already deem this situation catastrophic, it certainly seems like many are overreacting to this.

Lombardi firmly believes that Garoppolo will be under center for the Raiders in 2023.

And, as a voice of reason, that should be enough to calm the nerves of Las Vegas fans- at least a little bit.