Three older players might be on way out
Old, expensive and injured is no way to keep a job in the NFL.
Among the players to discover that this offseason could be 49ers wide receiver Pierre Garcon, 32, and inside linebacker Malcolm Smith, 29, who have hobbled through 2018 after signing lucrative deals in 2017.
They were part of the 49ers’ free-agent class that included nose tackle Earl Mitchell, 31, who was replaced in the starting lineup by D.J. Jones, 23, in Sunday’s 20-14 win over Denver.
Garcon, Smith and Mitchell were among the first players added when the new regime began its rebuilding process, but they are unlikely to see the finished product. On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged the three could be released this offseason.
“Those guys understand the business,” Shanahan said. “They understand how it works. And that’s stuff you don’t ignore. You guys (reporters) are asking the questions. It’s obvious. I talked to those guys. Those guys aren’t done.”
Shanahan meant they aren’t done playing in the NFL, but finances are a reason they could be finished with the 49ers after 2018. Garcon, Smith and Mitchell are scheduled to earn a combined $12.25 million in base salary next season, but none is guaranteed. That means they can be released with little financial penalty.
Garcon, an 11-year veteran, will be placed on injured reserve this week and undergo arthroscopic knee surgery. His injury has forced him to miss five games and limited him in others. He will finish with the fewest receptions (24) and receiving yards (286) since his rookie season.
Meanwhile, Smith has been hampered with Achilles tendinitis since before training camp after he missed all of 2017 with a torn pectoral. On Sunday, Smith and backup quarterback C.J. Beathard were the only players on the 46-man active roster who didn’t play. Smith was replaced in the starting lineup by Elijah Lee, 22.
“Malcolm and Pierre are going through injuries that are legit injuries that have lingered all year,” Shanahan said. “As a coaching staff, or a personnel department, you would love for them to get healthy and then let them go out there and play so you can truly judge them.
“They are getting older, yes. But they do still have some good football in them if they’re healthy. Unfortunately, they haven’t been able to get healthy throughout this year.”
Mitchell has been effective this season, but it appears he could be replaced by Jones, a 2017 sixth-round pick who is scheduled to earn a base salary of $645,000 in 2019. Mitchell’s base salary next season is $2.85 million.
Mitchell has been part of a run defense that ranks 13th in yards allowed (107.8) and 10th in yards per carry (4.1).
Mitchell had started 28 straight games with the 49ers before Sunday when he played just two snaps on special teams. The decision to start Jones was made because the 49ers entered Sunday with a 2-10 record and can use the final games to determine if Jones is a future starter.
“Earl, I think, has had a very good year,” Shanahan said. “I think Earl’s been better this year than last year. … But it came a time when we had to sit Earl down and tell him it was nothing against him. But we needed to see what D.J. could do.”
What the 49ers will do in the offseason appears clear: It’s not personal. It’s just business.
“You don’t just get rid of people to get rid of people,” Shanahan said. “They’re all good players and good people. People we love here, but you’re always trying to improve.” Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ebranch@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Eric_Branch