No clear leader in backup QB race
Neither Mullens nor Beathard has made position their own
SANTA CLARA >> Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard each attempted 17 passes, each had one go for a touchdown to Jalen Hurd and each had an interception.
All looks equal in the 49ers battle to back up quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Or does it?
Coach Kyle Shanahan knows best, and he’s been calling it a dead heat, since the offseason program began in April and through Saturday night’s exhibition-opening win over the Dallas Cowboys.
“They both did a decent job when they were under duress and a pretty good job handling the entire offense under some tough circumstances,” Shanahan said Sunday on a media conference call.
Stoking that competitive
fire is the best move, not only for the quarterbacks’ drive but for the 49ers overall outlook.
Even if Mullens appears more worthy of the No. 2 role — based on his command of the system, last season’s 3-5 record, his moxie or whatever else — the 49ers shouldn’t tip their hand, yet. If they only want to keep Mullens or Beathard, letting other teams think the competition is tight could increase potential trade value.
Otherwise, keeping two good quarterbacks in the bullpen also makes sense as Garoppolo works his way back from knee reconstruction.
“I felt good, I felt solid,” Mullens said of his first-half workload. “Obviously, you don’t want to turn the ball over, but overall, just making very good decisions, smart, accurate, putting the ball in the right places. So, it’s a step.”
Mullens’ line: 11 of 17, 101 yards, no sacks, 76.8 rating. He had drops by Kendrick Bourne and Richie James Jr., and concerns over Mullens’ arm strength arose again when a 20-yard attempt toward the sideline got deflected. “I’m throwing the ball well, putting it in the right spot,” said Mullens, who worked on his mechanics with throwing guru Tom House this offseason, as did Garoppolo and Beathard.
Beathard’s line: 13 of 17, 141 yards, one sack, 95.5 rating. He left once his thumb hit a helmet, to which he said after the game he was OK. He’s slated to relieve Garoppolo in Exhibition No. 2 next Monday night in Denver, with Mullens rotating in third.
Shanahan has been very balanced when discussing his backup quarterbacks.
In Sunday’s review of the exhibition opener, he came to Beathard’s defense on two noteworthy plays. On a sack on Beathard’s first snap, Shanahan blamed it more on poor blocking, poor route running and poor play calling, adding: “He did a hell of a job losing only 2 yards on it when most people would have lost about 6.” The second play in question: an interception on an “aggressive throw” in which Jalen Hurd “hesitated” to help keep it out of enemy hands.
The quarterback competition will prove moot if Garoppolo stays healthy. Meanwhile, “Me and C.J. are great friends, we have a great relationship and we both understand the business,” Mullens said. “We’re just doing what we’re told. ‘Nick, it’s your turn to play. C.J., it’s your turn to play.’ That’s what we do. We battle, we support each other, and it’s been great so far.”
NEW RECEIVERS PUSH VETS >> After outstanding debuts by Hurd and fellow rookie Deebo Samuel, Shanahan praised their push to win jobs amid a questionable receiving corps: “I want someone to make this decision easy for us. I want someone to take the job and make it extremely obvious. We haven’t had that yet.”
“We have a bunch of young guys who are extremely hungry and they are going for it,” Shanahan added. “And we have some other guys who’ve been here and also have been that way. Guys are very even matched and I want someone to step it up.”
Of the “been here” guys, Marquise Goodwin did not play, Trent Taylor is out at least a month after foot surgery and Bourne and James had drops. “The whole group played decent. But we need to be a lot sharper all around,” Shanahan added. INJURY UPDATES >> Shon Coleman, the top backup at offensive tackle, will go on injured reserve after undergoing surgery Sunday on a fractured fibula and dislocated right ankle. The 49ers will bring in free agents today, and it’s worth wondering if one might be Garry Gilliam, their swing tackle the past two seasons.
• Linebacker Elijah Lee underwent thumb surgery Sunday and is out at least two weeks. He finished last season as a starter and has played second-string this camp behind Kwon Alexander and Fred Warner.
• Defensive tackle D.J. Jones has a knee sprain and is listed as “week to week.”
• Running back Raheem Mostert is in the post-concussion protocol.
• Safety Marcell Harris (neck stinger) and guard Najee Toran (hand) checked out OK.
• Safety Jimmie Ward will undergo X-rays to see if his collarbone is fully healed so he can join team drills.