Jimmy Garoppolo Speaks on suspension: I just “messed up” on therapeutic exemption, new role in Los Angeles

The Las Vegas Raiders made a daring move last offseason by parting ways with Derek Carr to make room for Jimmy Garoppolo. They signed the quarterback to a three-year, $72.75 million contract last offseason.

However, the Raiders plan to bank on Garoppolo didn’t result in a good aftermath. He was ultimately released by the team recently and signed a deal with the Los Angeles Rams. One of the most controversial setbacks of the veteran was his two-game suspension, and he recently shed light on that.

Jimmy Garoppolo speaks on suspension violating NFL’s performance

Jimmy Garoppolo found himself at the center of controversy as he was suspended for the first two games of the 2024 NFL season due to a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy. The suspension came as a result of an oversight regarding the Therapeutic Use Exemption (T.U.E), which allows players to use certain banned substances under medical supervision.

The signal-caller admitted to his mistake, acknowledging that he “just messed up the T.U.E.” upon his arrival in Las Vegas, via Bleacher Report.

“That was … I hate to joke about it, but I just messed up the T.U.E. when I first got to Las Vegas. … Bad timing, I guess”, he added.

Garoppolo’s suspension follows a challenging season with the Raiders, where he faced injuries and inconsistent performance. In seven games, he managed to rack up an impressive 1,205 passing yards and seven touchdowns. However, his time in office was marked by unfortunate incidents, such as a back injury and concussion that kept him out of action for a considerable part of the season.

The Raiders ultimately made the decision to release the quarterback, opting to move forward with rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell. The combination of Jimmy Garoppolo’s suspension, struggles with injury, and inconsistent on-field performance likely factored into the team’s decision.

Rams officially sign QB Jimmy Garoppolo to 1-year deal

The Los Angeles Rams have officially secured quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on a one-year deal. He found a new home in LA, where he will serve as the backup quarterback behind Matthew Stafford.

The veteran will begin the 2024 season with a two-game suspension, but he can still take part in offseason and preseason activities with the Rams. Garoppolo’s choice to join the Rams was swayed by his discussions with head coach Sean McVay. He praised McVay as an insightful leader with a definite vision for his role within the team.

The quarterback acknowledged the talent surrounding him in LA and emphasized the importance of having a supportive environment to succeed. With McVay’s offensive expertise and a roster of skilled players, he is optimistic about the prospects of his tenure with the Rams.

“Obviously good players all around. That’s a big part of it. Talking to Sean on the phone, him just running me through offense and things that he had in mind, it really became appetizing. And I know a lot of the coaches here, so a lot of familiarity in that aspect. And then having played against the Rams a lot in my career, I’ve seen a lot of good things from L.A.”

Jimmy Garoppolo had a great time relishing his previous accomplishments with the San Francisco 49ers. Nevertheless, based on his injury history and performance trajectory, it seems likely that he will continue to serve as a backup for the rest of his NFL career. However, Garoppolo found motivation in Baker Mayfield’s impressive comeback under McVay’s tutelage in late 2022. He views this opportunity as an exciting chance to breathe new life into his career and unlock his full potential.