Supersub Nick Mullens has not clinched job as 2019 backup.
Shanahan hasn’t anointed Mullens or Beathard
On Saturday, nine months after he took C.J. Beathard’s job, Nick Mullens was a game captain and the 49ers’ starting quarterback in a preseasonopening win against the Cowboys. That cements what everyone logically would assume based on their disparate performances in 2018: Mullens will enter the regular season as the backup QB behind Jimmy Garoppolo, right? Wrong. Well, at least that’s incorrect based on what head coach Kyle Shanahan has maintained throughout the offseason. Not surprisingly, Shanahan didn’t change his stance when asked if there was any separation between Mullens and Beathard after the first exhibition game. “No,” Shanahan said before offering Beathard — not Mullens — would be the first QB off the bench when Garoppolo makes his preseason debut Monday at Denver. The backup QBs, of course, weren’t dead even last season when Mullens had a quicker release, a better feel in the pocket and superior statistics. In eight starts, Mullens had
a 35 record, a 64.2 completion percentage, averaged 284.6 passing yards a game, posted a 90.8 passer rating and took 17 sacks.
Mullens’ 2,277 yards in his first eight career games are the fourth most in NFL history.
In five starts, Beathard went 05, had a 60.4 completion percentage, averaged 250.4 passing yards, posted an 81.8 rating and took 18 sacks.
It would seem Beathard would need to clearly outperform Mullens this summer to reclaim his backup spot. And that hasn’t happened.
Both have had solid training camps — and they had statistically similar performances in the exhibition opener — but Mullens has built on last season’s momentum.
Mullens, Beathard and Garoppolo spent time in the offseason with noted throwing coach Tom House in Southern California. General manager John Lynch recently said Mullens, who lacks elite arm strength, returned with more zip on his throws.
Lynch did so while noting Mullens, undrafted and undersized, gradually has proven he has ability to go with those intangibles.
“He continues to do it each and every single day,” Lynch said last week on KNBR. “And I think the one thing we’ve learned inside this building: Don’t put limitations on this guy because at first you say, ‘Look, he’s got that element where he’s not going to wilt under pressure. He’s got something special to him. OK, but how talented is he?’
“But then he comes and works an offseason. Goes with Jimmy down to Tom House. Improves his throwing mechanics. He’s got a little more juice on it. Nick’s playing at a high level.”
Lynch, who was asked specifically about Mullens, wrapped up his answer with this: “… Nick Mullens took an opportunity (last year) and ran with it, and we feel really good about that position. C.J. Beathard’s having a real nice camp as well.”
The 49ers don’t view Beathard, whom they selected in the third round in 2017, as an afterthought. Shanahan has referenced Pro Bowl QB Kirk Cousins, a fourthround pick he mentored in Washington, to suggest Beathard could overcome early struggles to flourish in the NFL.
Still, barring a scenario in which Mullens does a preseason faceplant, it’s hard to imagine Beathard leapfrogging him on the depth chart. And that means the relevant question isn’t whether Mullens or Beathard will be the No. 2, but whether Shanahan will keep three quarterbacks on the roster.
Shanahan prefers to keep just two for roster flexibility, but Beathard could make him change that approach. Beathard still has practicesquad eligibility, so if he’s among the 49ers’ final roster cuts, he can return to the team if he clears waivers. In addition, given his thirdround pedigree and flashes of promise in 10 starts, Beathard could have trade value to teams with shaky backup QBs.
Last week, Shanahan was asked about the biggest difference in Beathard since the end of last season. He didn’t mention a specific improvement, but he said Beathard had to do a better job of protecting himself: Beathard isn’t afraid to hang in the pocket, but his tendency to hold onto the ball leads to hellacious hits.
“Sometimes,” Shanahan said, “your biggest strength is your biggest weakness.”
Last year, Beathard’s wrist injury sidelined him and opened the door for Mullens to take the starting spot. Mullens seized the opportunity, and Shanahan noted last week he appears to be building on his impressive NFL debut.
When asked about the biggest difference in Mullens since the end of last season, Shanahan, who appears to be faced with an easy decision, mentioned Mullens’ excellent decisionmaking.
“He’s just very confident,” Shanahan said. “You know where he’s going to go with the ball, and it’s pretty easy to think the same with him.”