Las Vegas Raiders training camp: What are players saying about QB Jimmy Garoppolo?
The first week of training camp came to a conclusion Saturday for the Las Vegas Raiders, and Jimmy Garoppolo is making a mark with the team.
Just ask some of his teammates, who shared thoughts on their interactions since Garoppolo joined the Raiders in the offseason.
“He’s fun to play with,” Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow told reporters this week. “He’s steady. He’s consistent. He’s what you want in a quarterback. He’s a leader, he’s a great guy in the locker room, so I can’t say enough good things about him. And he’s won everywhere he’s been, so just following his lead and kind of jumping on his back and going from there.”
Garoppolo is 40-17 as an NFL starter, including 38-17 with the 49ers, but his injury history is a concern. He missed parts of three seasons in San Francisco: 2018, knee (season-ending) in Game 3; 2020, ankle (out eight games); and 2022, foot (season-ending) in Game 12.
He had foot surgery in March after signing with the Raiders but has rehabbed and passed his training camp physical. Jimmy G had a rest day Saturday.
The Raiders, as a team, didn’t practice Sunday. They will resume Monday in Henderson, Nevada.
Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby took his praise up a notch, saying Jimmy G is a talker on the field.
Though a talker in a different way early in camp.
“Jimmy is cool as hell,” Crosby said. “He’s been training and working his (butt) off to get back, so I’m fired up that he’s out there with us. Literally before practice started he’s already talking sh--. I love it, that’s the kind of guy I want to compete against.”
Crosby wouldn’t divulge what Garoppolo is saying, but said “he’s a competitive dude.”
“He’s a dog, and I’m not just saying that because he’s my quarterback. There’s certain guys that are dogs and he’s definitely one of them. So, I love it. I’m definitely looking forward to competing and getting after his a--.”
Raiders center Andre James snapped the ball to Garoppolo for the first time.
He, too, said it’s been the start to a great working relationship.
“We’re working together,” he said. “It’s awesome to work with a guy like that. He gives great feedback. He’s a great leader in the huddle, he leads us real well. You want to block and play for a guy like that.
“He’s just one of the boys. He comes in and he just kicks it with us. He’s willing to hang out with us in the locker room. He’s just an ordinary dude, and that’s what we love. He’s just one of the guys, can’t say too much more about that. We love that.”
Raiders All-Pro receiver Davante Adams echoed much of what Renfrow, Crosby and James said.
Adams caught several passes from Garoppolo early on in training camp.
He said he’s already impressed with Jimmy G but said it’s a “process” in working out the timing with each other.
“He’s a great guy, easy to talk to, super coachable from the coaches to him and listening to my feedback and the way that I view the game too,” Adams said.
“A lot of conversation out there, and we just got to stay on that and continue with it to get to where we want to be obviously come Week 1.”
