Shanahan ‘up for anything’ at QB
Coach Kyle Shanahan spent part of his 41st birthday Monday fielding variations of the same question, the same one he’ll hear again the next many months: What is going on with the 49ers’ quarterback situation?
For now, Shanahan is weighing whether or not to start Nick Mullens a sixth straight game Sunday when the 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys.
“I’m up for anything right now,” Shanahan said. “We’ll see how that goes the next couple days.”
C. J. Beathard is Shanahan’s other option, not Jimmy Garoppolo. Shanahan noted that the 49ers won’t risk putting Garoppolo on the field if doing so could prompt offseason surgery,
adding that a Week 16 or Week 17 return is “up in the air.”
Garoppolo won’t return to practice until next week at the
earliest because of a Nov. 2 high ankle sprain; tight end George Kittle will resume practicing this week after his foot fracture in that same, Nov. 2 loss at Seattle.
“We’ve gotten over the hump but it is a risk, and we’re not going to do it if there’s a risk,” Shanahan said of Garoppolo. “We feel talking to Jimmy and the doctors it is a risk this week. We’ll re- evaluate it next Monday.”
This week’s debate centers on whether to sit Mullens, who’s lost 3 of 7 fumbles and had 10 passes intercepted. ( Veteran Josh Johnson is on the practice squad, but there’s been no hint of elevating him.)
“The way we’ve been turning the ball over, I need to decide if the change of quarterbacks helps or not,” Shanahan added. “It’s very tough to win football games the way we’ve been turning the ball over.”
Mullens’ two turnovers Sunday — a first-half sack/fumble and secondhalf interception — were returned for Washington’s only touchdowns in a 23-15 loss, dropping the 49ers to 5-8 and on the cusp of playoff elimination.
Beathard has not started since going 1- 4 and 0-5 in 2017 and ‘18, respectively. SAMUEL OUT FOR REHULAR
SEASON >> Deebo Samuel took the football, ran left, got pushed out of bounds and there went his left leading hamstring. Oct. quarter 25, 30- at with 6 New So in the the it England. was fourth 49ers on This injury wasn’t in the just Niners’ another season full of them. Since then, the 49ers have gone 1-5, surrendered their NFC West crown and won’t remaining have Samuel three games for their after he aggravated that hamstring on Sunday’s first snap against Washington. “We’d have to make the playoffs for him to come back,” Shanahan said. Samuel’s second season was abbreviated to just seven games, 33 catches, 391 receiving yards, eight carries (26 yards) and one overall touchdown. Foot and hamstring injuries did him in, and Shanahan emphasized Monday to Samuel how his health suffered tioning, busy rehabilitating. from because a lack he of was condi- so come “Ever back, y time he’s gotten Deebo’s reinjured, hasn’t been and in it’s a because position he to really shape,” be Shanahan in great said. football •Linebacker Fred Warner (nerve stinger) and running back Raheem Mostert (ankle) were undergoing MRI exams Monday and their status is to be determined. • Center Daniel Brunskill is day to day with a shoulder sprain.
AIYUK ‘STEP BACK’ >> Shanahan isn’t gloating at rookie Brandon Aiyuk’s production, including career highs Sunday with 10 catches on 16 targets for 119 yards. “I know he’s got good stats, but I’ve got high expectations for Brandon to keep improving every week,” Shanahan said. “He handles himself more like a pro more than most rookies I’ve been around, so he’s got a great future. But I still think he can play a lot bet-ter.“He took a small step back last night and hoping he takes two steps forward next week.” Shanahan noted that Mullens’ receiving corps, in general, compounded Sunday’s passing-game woes with nine drops.