“Rams Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo Discloses Cause of PED Suspension: Simply Made a Mistake!”
The Los Angeles Rams have addressed their backup quarterback situation by acquiring arguably the top talent available in the market.
On Tuesday, the Rams officially inked a one-year deal with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Given his proven track record of performance and experience in crucial matchups, the Rams couldn’t ask for much more from their second-string QB. However, he will be unavailable for the first two games of the regular season.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo exits the field after a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium. (Image: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)
Garoppolo received a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. This development coincided with his departure from the Las Vegas Raiders, where he spent the 2023 season.
During his introductory press conference, Garoppolo elaborated on the reason behind his suspension.
“I simply made an error with the Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE),” Garoppolo stated. “I mishandled the TUE when I first arrived in Las Vegas. It was just unfortunate timing, I suppose.”
His explanation suggests that he may have been undergoing treatment for the foot fracture that sidelined him towards the end of the 2022 regular season, allowing San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to seize the spotlight as an underdog story.
The TUE is a provision that permits players access to treatments that would otherwise be prohibited under the league’s PED policy. They can use such medications while competing without facing suspension.
For some reason, Garoppolo’s usage appears to have fallen outside the timeframe allotted to him, resulting in a violation and subsequent suspension.
This detail is significant because it indicates that the violation wasn’t related to treatment for the lower back strain he sustained in Week 6. Garoppolo was eventually replaced by rookie Aidan O’Connell.
