Mullens to start over Beathard at Dallas
Keep calm, carry on, Nick Mullens.
Admittedly “antsy” last game, Mullens insisted Wednesday he merely needs to stay cool in the pocket when he makes a sixth straight start for the 49ers (5-8) on Sunday at the Dallas Cowboys (4-9).
Putting his troubling trend of turnovers aside, Mullens also completed a season-low 55.6 percent of his passes in Sunday’s 2315 loss to Washington, and while nine drops ( by coach Kyle Shanahan’s count) did not help, Mullens sailed passes past open receivers.
“That probably has to do with the feet. When my feet are at their best, my throws are at their best,” Mullens said Wednesday. “Just keep calm feet, keep sound footwork and stay calm with your feet in the pocket, and your mechanics take care of themselves.”
Shanahan, prior to Wednesday’s practice, affirmed he’s keeping with Mullens as their best chance to win, while C. J. Beathard stays sidelined with an injured Jimmy Garoppolo.
“Nick’s the guy we’ll start out with and we’ll see how it goes,”
Shanahan said.
What Shanahan must see is obvious. Or not see, actually.
“First and foremost, if he wants to stay out there, he needs to stop turning the ball over,” said Shanahan, speaking to reporters via video conference from Glendale, Ariz., where the 49ers have encamped the past two weeks because of Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 restrictions.
Perhaps this game is Mullens’ final audition at a 2021 return. He is a restricted free agent, the 49ers likely can retain him at the lowest
tender of about $2 million as a backup; Garoppolo is slated to make $24 million over each of the next two seasons, and Beathard is among their 41 free agents.
Mullens has started since Garoppolo went out with another right ankle sprain Nov. 2. Mullens’ two turnovers Sunday resulted in returns for Washington’s only touchdowns in a 23-15 loss. He’s 2-5 with 10 interceptions and three lost fumbles.
KITTLE TO PRACTICE » Tight end George Kittle is cleared to practice, six weeks after sustaining a foot fracture in the 49ers’ loss at Seattle. That does not mean he will come off Injured Reserve to play at Dallas but it is an option for their remain
ing three regular- season games. Kittle missed the past five games, as well as Weeks 2 and 3 because of a knee sprain. He has 37 receptions for 474 yards and two touchdowns this season, after signing a record contract for a tight end. MOSTERT, SAMUEL OUT » Running back Raheem Mostert’s ankle got aggravated enough Sunday to keep him out of Wednesday’s practice. He missed four games after initially injuring it Oct. 28. As expected, wide receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring) also was out, as will be the case the rest of the season pending a playoff berth. STAFF RAID? » If defensive coordinator Robert Saleh lands a head-coaching job after this season, how might
he raid Shanahan’s staff and bring assistants with him? They’ve broached that, and, it’s worth noting, Shanahan still considers Saleh “a good friend of mine.”
Further discussions will ensue once they see what Saleh’s options are. “I keep telling him he’s not allowed to take anyone,” Shanahan said. “Sometimes I ease up a little bit on that but I usually set the bar very low and we’ll see what happens after.”
Aside from a few changes each year, the crux of Shanahan’s staff has remained intact since 2017, including Saleh, Mike McDaniel (rungame coordinator), Matt LaFleur (pass-game coordinator) and Richard Hightower (special teams).