San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan named Garoppolo the starting quarterback for Sunday's game at Chicago.
Shanahan's decision was likely influenced by the health of C.J. Beathard, who sustained a knee contusion and hip strain in the waning minutes of the Week 12 loss to the Seahawks. With 1:07 remaining in that contest, Garoppolo took over the offense at the Seattle 23-yard line and drove the 49ers to their sole touchdown of the day on the back of a four-yard scramble and two completions for 18 yards. His first starting opportunity comes against a Bears defense that has allowed 233.1 yards passing per game and a 14:4 TD:INT in 11 outings. The cameo could be a short-term deal, though, as Shanahan seemed committed to Beathard prior to the injuries the rookie suffered against Seattle.