Garoppolo: Torn ACL in 2018 was a 'blessing in disguise'
In January 2019, the San Francisco 49ers were watching the playoffs from home while hoping quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's rehab from a torn ACL would go smoothly.
One year later, they're the NFC West champs and set to face the Green Bay Packers in the conference championship game on Sunday.
"Things have a way of working out," Garoppolo said Wednesday, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "I always told myself it was a blessing in disguise, the ACL.
"We got (Nick) Bosa out of it. That's a pretty good trade-off, I guess."
Garoppolo suffered a season-ending knee injury during Week 3 in 2018. The 49ers then finished the year 4-12 while backup signal-callers Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard were under center, giving the team the second overall pick in 2019.
Garoppolo has bounced back this season, completing 69.1% of his pass attempts for 3,978 yards and 27 touchdowns against 13 interceptions.
Nick Bosa, meanwhile, became San Francisco's highest draft selection since Alex Smith in 2005, and he's now the favorite for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. The Ohio State product amassed nine sacks and two forced turnovers during his first year.
With the help of Garoppolo and Bosa, the 49ers clinched the NFC's top seed after posting a 13-3 record.