Mullens gets prime-time start again
QB earns encore performance against Giants
SANTA CLARA >> Wasn’t long ago that Nick Mullens was a college whippersnapper at the fabled Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana, where he admired how “smooth” Eli Manning looked in a cameo.
Monday night, Mullens will make his encore as the 49ers’ starting quarterback, and it will be against Manning, a 15th-year veteran for the New York Giants.
Recalling that June 2016 invitation from Archie Manning, Mullens noted how it gave him a chance to see where he stacked up against more “prominent” quarterbacks, including fellow NFL upstarts Deshaun Watson and Josh Rosen. Oh, and Manning made an impression, too.
“To see how he moves in the pocket, he’s got very quick feet and was very, just, smooth,” Mullens recalled Tuesday. “I definitely remember sitting there, just watching him throw and took that all in.”
Mullens garnered a share of the camp’s Quarterback Challenge award. And, now, he has earned himself a second
straight start for the 49ers ahead of C.J. Beathard.
Mullens said coach Kyle Shanahan affirmed his role Tuesday, having produced a 262-yard, three-touchdown debut in last Thursday night’s 34-3 rout of the Raiders. Shanahan did not announce it to the team as they reconvened after a four-day break, and he’s not slated to meet the media until Thursday.
“I’m done reflecting on it, to be honest. It’s time to get to the Giants,” Mullens said. “But it was a very cool moment. I tried to give it everything I have and when your work pays off, it’s exciting.”
Mullens’ emotions spilled over after the game, first in an interview with Fox and again as he headed for the locker room. During the game, however, Mullens looked composed, and, inside the huddle, he won over teammates more with the way he had to quiet coach Shanahan’s radio call so he could relay the play to teammates.
Even though teammates swear they weren’t shocked by Mullens’ breakout performance, most everyone
else was. For example, he got verified on Twitter and went from 5,000 to 35,000 followers, and although he acknowledged how social media comes with today’s territory, he added: “I don’t worry about the things that don’t exactly matter.”
And what should the Giants think of him?
“I think they’re going to be, ‘Oh crap, this guy’s good’ “said running back Matt Breida, who, like Mullens, joined the 49ers as an undrafted rookie last year. “Then they’re going to put more people back there in coverage, because of the throws he made and what he can do.”
After a 1-7 start that has included an NFL-high 31 sacks, Manning remains the Giants’ starter. Rookie Kyle Lauletta, a fourth-round pick, hindered any immediate shot at unseating Manning after last week’s traffic-related arrest.
Manning’s 31 sacks already matched his 2017 total, and they’re eight shy of his single-season career-high from 2013. He has thrown for 2,377 yards with eight touchdowns, six interceptions and lost two fumbles.
Manning is 6-3 all-time against the 49ers, including a win in the 2011 season’s NFC Championship game at Candlestick Park and a 31-21 loss last November at Levi’s Stadium. His wins have come against Cody Pickett, Trent Dilfer, J.T. O’Sullivan, Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick; losses vs. Smith, Kaepernick and Beathard.
Beathard had gone 0-5 as the starter following Jimmy Garoppolo’s season-ending knee injury. In Tuesday’s warmups (and in Thursday’s pregame action), Beathard showed no hindrance from injuries to his right wrist and thumb suffered in the preceding game at Arizona.
• Raheem Mostert’s season-ending, forearm fracture Thursday night means the 49ers need a new option behind Matt Breida and Alfred Morris. The practice squad running backs, Jeff Wilson Jr. (6-0, 194 pounds) and Matt Dayes (5-9, 205), drew extended looks in warmups before the media access window closed Tuesday.
Another potential option: Ameer Abdullah, whom the Lions waived — to the shock of Breida and guard Laken Tomlinson, a former Lions teammate. The 49ers are third in the waiver-wire order. The former Lions starter has been inactive for five games this season with just one carry (1 yard) and two receptions (18 yards).
Among those watching Tuesday’s practice up close was Jerick McKinnon, who no longer needs crutches some two months after he blew out his right anterior cruciate ligament in practice.
If the 49ers opt not to elevate Wilson or Dayes, they could audition free agents or sign someone off another team’s practice squad.
• Linebacker Reuben Foster worked on a side field with the training staff because of a hamstring injury that forced him out of the Oct. 28 loss at Arizona and kept him out of uniform against the Raiders.
With the bye looming after Monday night’s game, the 49ers are not expected to rush Foster back into the lineup. Malcolm Smith and Elijah Lee have rotated at weak-side linebacker in Foster’ place.
The 49ers linebackers and overall defense will be matching up Monday against NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite Saquon Barkley, who’s proven quite the threat as both a rusher (519 yards, five touchdowns) and receiver (497 yards, two touchdowns).
• In other injury news, wide receiver Pierre Garçon (knee) worked on a side field with trainer. Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder) was not seen on the field, and fellow safety Antone Exum stretched with the team and looks to be progressing in the concussion protocol.