Coach: SF is ‘Jimmy’s team’
Mullens played well against the Giants, but he won’t supplant Garoppolo at QB
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan squashed any speculation Wednesday that Nick Mullens could seize the starting quarterback job if he excels in multiple games while Jimmy Garoppolo recovers from a Sept. 20 ankle sprain.
“That scenario doesn’t exist. Don’t think it does after one game, either,” Shanahan said ahead of practice at the team’s Santa Clara facility. “This is Jim
my’s team. He’s done a hell of a job, and when healthy, he’ll be playing.”
Garoppolo did not practice Wednesday, nor did he practice last week because of a right-ankle sprain that sidelined him after a tremendous first half against the Jets.
Shanahan said that for Garoppolo to return, he must prove in at least one live session of practice he is capable of moving well and protecting himself from further injury. “We’ve just got to see if he’s healthy, but that won’t be able to happen if he’s not in practice,” Shanahan said.
Garoppolo overcame knee reconstruction to start every game last year, playing every meaningful snap last season that culminated in their Super Bowl loss. Mullens improved to 4- 5 as a starter with Sunday’s 39- 6 win over the Giants as he passed for 343 yards and a touchdown.
Wide re
ceiver Deebo Samuel (foot) was cleared for his first official practice since Jan. 31, three days before Super Bowl LIV.
He’s been no stranger to the 49ers’ practice fields, however, as he’s done extensive rehabilitation on his surgically repaired left foot, which he fractured in June working out on his own. He spent the first three games on injured reserve and is eligible to play as early as this Sunday night against the Eagles.
“We just need to see him go through three days, what type of shape he’s in, and if he can protect himself, he’ll be out there,” Shanahan said.
The 49ers have up to three weeks to evaluate Samuel in practice and activate him off IR. After a banner rookie season,
Samuel figures to immediately slide into the starting lineup. Kendrick Bourne has started all three games and Brandon Aiyuk the past two.
Safety Jimmie Ward said of Samuel: “After the catch, he can also run. He’s a hard tackle, too. His style of play is phenomenal. Deebo is just an outstanding talent.” KYLE NELSON WAIVED >> The 49ers signed long snapper Taybor Pepper to replace Kyle Nelson, who’d been with team since 2014 but had erratic snaps in Sunday’s 39-6 win over the New York Giants.
Pepper, 26, has had stints with the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Miami Dolphins since 2017, and he appeared in every game last year with the Dolphins.
Nelson missed the final six games of 2018 and the first four last season while serving an NFL suspension for violating the performance- enhancing drug
policy. Because of that, the 49ers employed four different long snappers last season, including Nelson.
“We felt it was little inevitable after game,” Shanahan said. “It’s always difficult for what Kyle’s meant to the organization and what a good guy Kyle is.
“He knew the deal. It was
just a tough game for him. Usually after that, you have to move on and give someone else an opportunity. I wish him the best and I don’t think the league will see the best of him.”
Nelson’s exit leaves safety Ward, a 2014 first-round pick, alone to stake claim as the team’s longest-tenured
player. Nelson had signed a four-year extension in 2019. KITTLE FULL GO, MOSTERT OUT >> Tight end George Kittle ( knee) practiced, as he did throughout last week’s layover in West Virginia before missing his second straight game.
Running back Raheem Mostert’s knee sprain is kept him out of practice, as was the case last week. He did not play against the Giants.
Running back Jerick McKinnon (ribs) is expected to practice. After scoring a touchdown in his third consecutive game, he came out in the fourth quarter with a rib injury against the Giants.
Also not practicing were cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley (concussion) and K’Waun Williams ( hip) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quadriceps).
FORD TO IR >> Defensive end Dee Ford’s back issue will cause him to miss at least another three games as the 49ers plan to put him on injured reserve this week, Shanahan confirmed. Ford played in the season opener, then reported a neck issue two weeks ago after practice. Shanahan has expressed concern but not placed any timeline on when Ford will be cleared. HELM RETURNS >> Tight end Daniel Helm returned to the team, getting signed off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad. He and Pepper fill roster spots vacated by Nelson and linebacker Mark Nzeocha, who was placed on injured reserve because of a quadriceps injury. Helm spent last year with the 49ers, mostly on the practice squad, and was waived in August. PRACTICE SQUAD MOVES >> Offensive lineman Cody Conway and tight end Charlie Taumoepenu were signed to the practice squad, and offensive tackle William Sweet was released from it.