BAYOU BECKONS UP NEXT
Niners need Mullens to summon his college Superdome success
SANTA CLARA >> Nick Mullens took a knee in the victory formation, clutched the whitestriped football as a keepsake and soon posed with a super-sized trophy on the Superdome turf.
His second-half touchdown passes had secured victory. Of his 346 passing yards, 230 went to a hot-hand receiver. Jubilation reigned in the Big Easy.
That 2016 New Orleans Bowl capped Mul
Sunday: 49ers at Saints, 1:25 p.m., FOX lens’ record-setting college career at Southern Miss, and it cast him toward an uncertain NFL future. Those Mullens memories, from his last start at the Superdome, exude positive karma for 49ers’ teammates and fans who crave any hope ahead of Sunday’s mismatch against the Saints.
“I’ve been in the Superdome a couple times, even as a fan,” Mullens said. “I like the Superdome. I like its atmosphere.”
The 49ers (4-5) are 9-point underdogs, and they’ll need Mullens at top form if they’re to pull off their greatest upset since an October 2011 comeback at Philadelphia, a win that sparked playoff credibility.
“It’s always nice to play in a dome — air feels good, perfect weather, on turf, bouncing around,” Mullens added.
His mistakes this season, in relief of an injured Jimmy Garoppolo, have a common theme: pass-protection failures from his tackles.
In the Nov. 5 34-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Mullens got tagged for an interception and a sackfumble. Those were byproducts of blindside pressure, allowed by left tackle Justin Skule, an emergency starter while Trent Williams sat out amid COVID-19 precautions.
Mullens got benched a month earlier, in a Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, because of three turnovers, a result of protection issues from right tackle Mike McGlinchey. It’s imperative McGlinchey and Williams afford Mullens a more secure pocket to keep pace with Saints counterpart Drew Brees.
Last December, Garoppolo passed for 349 yards and four touchdowns to win a 48- 46 shootout against the Saints.
more “I don’t pressure think to protect there’s Nick than Jimmy,” McGlinchey said. “Nick is a pro and as good of a pro. as there is. He’s constantly prepared.
“We’ve barely missed a beat with Nick in there because he’s done a good job and worked hard and competed.”
49ers That’s offense hyperbole. has missed The a beat. It’s missed Garoppolo. And George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman, all of whom are out this game, with the possible exception of an 11thhour showing by Samuel (hamstring).
who Mullens remains is confident in the sup- in porting cast. That includes Richie James, who racked up 184 yards last game, and rookie Brandon Aiyuk, who’s eager to play after having missed the Nov. 5 game on the COVID-19 list as a high-risk contact of Kendrick Bourne.
“He’s fired up,” Mullens said of Aiyuk. “You never want to miss a game, especially a reason like that. He had a lot of momentum going for him and getting better those weeks. You can still see that.”
leans lens Asked has media fared by the this how New season, Mul- Orcoach Kyle Shanahan described an “unbelievable” effort to make their Seattle loss more respectable Nov. 1, and he certainly did not pin Thursday’s loss to Green Bay on his fourth-year pro, not when the 49ers were “a little outmatched there.”
T his game may be tougher. Tom Brady endured one of the worst games of his career last Sunday against the Saints.
“They’re an experienced
group and they’re getting after the quarterback right now,” Mullens said. “They’re playing at a high level.
“We’re just as confident.” Tight end Ross Dwelley expressed his confidence in Mullens, saying: “He’s got a great arm, knows how to read defenses and coverages, and overall knows the playbook like the back of his hand.”
special Mullens the also Superdome, knows how whether it was his Southern Miss finale or attending games as a fan, which he did his junior year in college when current 49ers teammate played a “Monday Night Football” game for the Baltimore Ravens.
There won’t be 74,000 fans in a soldout show like last December’s thriller, but Mullens is excited for the 6,000 allowed entry, none of whom include his A labama- based family. “Any more energy you can get into the atmosphere, it feels like real football again, so we’re pumped for that,” Mullens said.
TARTT ALL DONE >> Safety Jaquiski Tartt’s season is over because of a turf-toe injury he sustained against the Packers, coach Kyle Shanahan said on KNBR 680-AM. Tartt finishes on injured reserve for the third time in four seasons. He started the first six games this season, missed two with a groin injury then hurt his toe against the Packers.
Marcell Harris often has replaced Tartt over the past 2 1/2 seasons. Other options are Tarvarius Moore and Johnathan Cyprien. PRACTICE REPORT >> The 49ers’ wide receiver situation remains, in Mullens’ word, “fluid.” Deebo Samuel remained out of practice, making it more likely he misses a third straight game because of a hamstring injury. River Cracraft, who started Thursday’s game and was limited Wednesday by a quadri
ceps injury. Trent Taylor was a full participant after a back issue kept him out Wednesday.
Bourne remained on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list. If he continues test negative, he might be cleared in time to practice Friday and fly on the team charter to New Orleans for their game Sunday against the Saints.
Coleman ( knee), cornerback K’Waun Williams (ankle) and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles ( hamstring) did not practice.
SALEH APPROVES >> Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said NFL owners made “a tremendous gesture” this week to further encourage diversity hiring.
Owners decided Tuesday to reward teams that groom minority candidates to become head coaches and general managers, with third- round compensatory draft picks dispersed in return. Saleh and 49ers vice president of player personnel Martin Mayhew are top candidates for such promotions, and Saleh was a f inalist in Januar y to become the Cleveland Browns’ coach.
“The NFL has created the opportunity and now it’s up to the individual to take advantage of it,” said Saleh, adding that he hopes more opportunities emerge for young coaches to break into the NFL in qualitycontrol roles.
MASKING UP >> Because they played last Thursday night against a Green Bay Packers linebacker who later tested positive, the 49ers will finish the NFL’s sevenday “intensive” protocol for COVID-19 prevention Friday. Players practiced this week wearing plastic shields attached to their facemasks.
That safety measure was not the result of the 49ers’ own COVID-19 case involving Bourne.