49ers HC Shanahan 'can't promise' Garoppolo will play this year

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that newly-acquired quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo may have to wait until next year for his debut.

Related: 49ers to have Garoppolo active as backup vs. Cardinals

"I can't promise you guys that he'll play this year," Shanahan said Wednesday. "I know that we have a guy that we're excited about, and I know has the ability to help us and help this team in the future. That's what I mean by 'well we didn't do this just to save this year.'"

Shanahan also said Garoppolo will only play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals in the event incumbent starter C.J. Beathard gets injured.

San Francisco acquired Garoppolo from the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2018 second-round pick.

The 49ers are one of two winless teams this year, but Shanahan was adamant that Garoppolo was brought in as a future asset as opposed to a last-ditch effort to turn the 2017 campaign around.

"We didn't bring Jimmy here to save our season. We brought him here to improve our organization."

Mired in the initial steps of an extensive rebuild, the 49ers seemingly received the quarterback of their future, and are in no hurry to trot Garoppolo out during a lost season.