SANTA CLARA — Jimmy Garoppolo strolled onto the 49ers practice field Wednesday, doing so without crutches and appearing there for the first time since his season-ending knee injury.
What he saw amid light rain, with his hands tucked inside his sweatshirt’s pocket, were three quarterbacks going through the same drills he last ran two months ago.
Only one quarterback matters in the 49ers immediate plans, and it’s not Garoppolo. It’s Nick Mullens, who’ll be making his third straight start and first on the road Sunday when the 49ers (2-8) visit Tampa Bay (3-7).
“It’s important I keep my same mindset,” Mullens said.