49ers looking to keep Mullens.
Three long months ago, Nick Mullens looked like a verifiable starting quarterback, one headed for a multi-million dollar jackpot as a restricted free agent. Surely some NFL front office saw him as a potential diamond in the 49ers’ rough.
Then his stock plummeted, along with the 49ers’ playoff chances.
Mullens could be down to his final audition just to prove his worth as a 2021 backup.
“It’s big for him, it’s big for everybody,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday, when he announced Mullens will start Sunday at Dallas while C. J. Beathard stays sidelined with an injured Jimmy Garoppolo.
The 49ers (5- 8) will be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention if they lose, coupled with a win by the Arizona Cardinals (7- 6) over the Philadelphia Eagles (4-8-1).
As for the ramifications for Mullens’ career, he needs to rebound and improve on his 5-10 career record as a starter, 2- 5 this year. A backup role, however, remains his best fit, and most likely back with the 49ers behind Garoppolo. More competition likely will come, too, via a
high draft prospect or perhaps a suddenly available veteran.
Shanahan does not describe Mullens as a bona fide starter, but rather someone still clawing his way among the NFL’s society of backups.
“Nick’s played some good football for us, he really has. He’s got some numbers to back it up,” Shanahan said. “Some of the positions we’ve put Nick in and some of the plays he’s made are very impressive for a backup quarterback.”
Key words there: backup quarterback. Shanahan couched Mullens’ evaluation by noting the 49ers often have fielded a skeleton crew around him, as well as Beathard, who went 1- 4 and 0-5 as a fill-in starter in 2017 and ’18.
“I always feel a backup quarterback, if they play too long, no one’s going to like them that much, because backups aren’t the starter,” Shanahan said. “That’s why backups are meant to come in for one to three games.”
Mullens thrived in the one-to-three game realm earlier this year. He replaced Garoppolo to close out the 49ers’ first win over the New York Jets, then returned to the same field a week later for a rout of the New York Giants.
Admittedly “antsy” last game, Mullens insisted
Wednesday he merely needs to stay cool in the pocket when he makes a sixth straight start. Two turnovers were returned for Washington’s only touchdowns in Sunday’s 23-15 loss. Mullens completed a season-low 55.6 percent that game, and while Shanahan counted nine drops that did not help Mullens’ cause, he saw at least four passes sail past open receivers.
“That probably has to do with the feet. When my feet are at their best, my throws are at their best,” Mullens said Wednesday. “Just keep calm feet, keep sound footwork and stay calm with your feet in the pocket, and your mechanics take care of themselves.”
What Shanahan must see Sunday is obvious. Or not see, actually. Mullens has 10 interceptions and three lost fumbles this season.
“First and foremost, if he wants to stay out there, he needs to stop turning the ball over,” said Shanahan, speaking to reporters via video conference from Glendale, Arizona, where the 49ers have encamped the past two weeks because of Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 restrictions.
Garoppolo remains out of practice, but Mullens commended him for being a “positive influence and positive voice.”
Mullens’ five career wins still carry clout for someone who arrived as a 2017 undrafted rookie out of Southern Miss. Still, the cost-conscious 49ers might be best
putting the lowest round tender on him ($2.24 million). Why splurge on a oneyear deal of $ 4.9 million or $3.4 million that would command a first- or second-round pick in return, respectively, if another team desperately signs him, according to figures by ovethecap.com?
KITTLE TO PRACTICE >> Tight end George Kittle is cleared to practice, six weeks after sustaining a foot fracture in the 49ers’ loss at Seattle. That does not mean he will come off Injured Reserve to play at Dallas but it is an option for their remaining three regular-season games. Kittle missed the past five games, as well as Weeks 2 and 3 because of a knee sprain. He has 37 receptions for 474 yards and two touchdowns this season, after signing a record contract for a tight end.
WA R N E R ’ S STI NG E R S >> Linebacker Fred Warner is
cleared to practice in limited fashion, after leaving Sunday’s third quarter with a nerve stinger in his neck/ shoulder that “felt worse” than one he had Nov. 2 in Seattle.
“It was the same side but when I went back and looked, it was like a freak accident, the way my head got caught,” Warner said. “I don’t think it’s a cause for concern at all. I’ll continue to treat it, get better and feel good to go.”
Warner said he has no idea where the 49ers are at in terms of a potential contract extension, which he becomes eligible for after this third season. DEFENDING MCGLINCHEY >> Right tackle Mike McGlinchey’s sub-par season is not making the 49ers second- guess their selection of him with a 2018 first-round draft pick. “John and I would do that all over again if we had the choice,”
Shanahan said.
Shanahan is a staunch supporter of McGlinchey’s run blocking, and although pass protection issues have led to sacks and turnovers, Shanahan added that he won’t judge McGlinchey’s season on such issues as Sunday’s fourth- quarter holding penalty that stalled a last- ditch drive.
“I’m not going to sit and make a huge judgment off of that. McGlinchey played very good, winning football for us last year,” Shanahan said. “I do not think he’s the reason we’re struggling. It’s a collective deal and I’m very happy with McGlinghey here.”
Replacing him with Justin Skule is not under consideration “at all,” Shanahan aded.
MOSTERT, SAMUEL OUT >> Running back Raheem Mostert’s ankle got aggravated enough Sunday to keep him out of Wednesday’s practice. He missed four games after initially injuring it Oct. 28. As expected, wide receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring) also was out, as will be the case the rest of the season pending a playoff berth.
STAFF RAID? >> If defensive coordinator Robert Saleh lands a head- coaching job after this season, how might he raid Kyle Shanahan’s staff and bring assistants with him? They’ve broached that, and, it’s worth noting, Shanahan still considers Saleh “a good friend of mine.”
Further discussions will ensue once they see what Saleh’s options are. “I keep
telling him he’s not allowed to take anyone,” Shanahan said. “Sometimes I ease up a little bit on that but I usually set the bar very low and we’ll see what happens after.”
Aside from a few changes each year, the crux of Shanahan’s staff has remained intact since 2017, including Saleh, Mike McDaniel (run game coordinator), Matt LaFleur ( pass- game coordinator) and Richard Hightower (special teams). MORE COVID-19 WOES >> The 49ers’ offensive line depth is in dire shape, and not just because centers Daniel Brunskill (shoulder sprain) and Hroniss Grasu ( knee) are hurt; Brunskill was limited Wednesday and Grasu didn’t practice.
Rookie Colton McKivitz, who’s started two of the past three games at right guard, was placed on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list. That comes three days after offensive line coach John Benton tested positive and went into self- quarantine prior to Washington.
McKivitz is the first 49ers’ player to go on the COVID-19 reserve list in three weeks, when they had a season-high nine on it. McKivitz has split time in recent games with veteran Tom Compton, who missed Sunday’s game because of a concussion.
The 49ers have had to turn to their practice-squad pool: Tony Bergstrom, Dakoda Shepley, Aaron Neary and Isaiah Williams, the former two of whom officially signed Wednesday.