Jimmy Garoppolo came off the bench for an injured Trey Lance and guided the San Francisco 49ers to a 27-7 victory against the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif.
Garoppolo completed 13 of 21 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown and also scored on a 1-yard sneak with 1:51 remaining to clinch the victory.
The 49ers (1-1) also got key contributions from two other injury replacements. Jeff Wilson Jr. filled in as the lead running back for Elijah Mitchell and had a game-high 84 rushing yards on 18 carries. Tight end Ross Dwelley, subbing in for George Kittle, made a 38-yard touchdown reception and recovered two fumbles.
The Seahawks (1-1) managed just 216 yards of total offense and committed three turnovers. Geno Smith was 24-of-30 passing for 197 yards and an interception.
Garoppolo came on late in the first quarter after Lance suffered a right ankle injury on a quarterback keeper. Lance was carted off the field with an air cast on his lower leg and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Two plays later, Robbie Gould kicked his second field goal to give the 49ers a 6-0 lead.
Garoppolo found a wide-open Dwelley on the 49ers’ next possession to make it 13-0.
The Seahawks finally got untracked offensively late in the half, driving to San Francisco’s 5-yard line. On second-and-5, Kenneth Walker III took a snap in the wildcat formation and pitched to Deejay Dallas, who tried to hit DK Metcalf in the end zone. But Dallas grossly underthrew the pass, with the 49ers’ Charvarius Ward making an interception at the goal line.
The Seahawks held San Francisco to a three-and-out, forcing Mitch Wishnowsky into his first punt of the day. Seattle’s Tyler Lockett signaled for a fair catch, but teammate Xavier Crawford was blocked into him, the ball glancing off Crawford’s arm and recovered by Dwelley.
Four plays later, fullback Kyle Juszczyk scored on a 1-yard plunge to give the 49ers a 20-0 lead with 1:26 remaining before the intermission.
The Seahawks’ lone score came with 5:25 left in the third quarter as Tariq Woolen blocked Gould’s 20-yard field-goal attempt and Mike Jackson returned it 86 yards for a touchdown.
–Field Level Media
