49ers in wait-andsee mode on quarterback
Team’s QB situation could be sketched out following Wednesday’s practice
SANTA CLARA >> And the 49ers starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins will be ...
Determined later in the week. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday he hopes Jimmy Garoppolo will practice Wednesday, The quarterback suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 2 and has been sidelined the past 2½ games.
“I’m still not sure about Jimmy. I don’t really know what we’ll do on Wednesday,” Shanahan said. “I’ll have a plan by then. But I haven’t talked it over with the coaches yet, so I’m not sure.”
Shanahan is also taking a waitand-see approach to Garoppolo’s backups, as to whether Nick Mullens would draw a third straight start or if C. J. Beathard might make his first since 2018 after Sunday night’s impressive closing act.
Mullens got pulled after committing his third turnover, that being an interception a Philadelphia Eagles linebacker returned for a touchdown. It came on the first snap after the Eagles took the lead on a touchdown drive ignited by a Mullens strip-sack fumble.
“Usually you kind of prepare for one, maybe two; but three — that’s different,” Dolphins safety Eric Rowe told Miami reporters. “Obviously all three of them, they’ve shown that all three of them can play. So it’s not like, ‘OK, the third string is coming in — we’re going to tee off on him.’
“I think when Beathard got
in, he went like 7-for-7 and scored a touchdown on a drive, and I was like, ‘ Wow, this dude’s good, too.’ So again, him, Mullens, Jimmy — it don’t matter who’s playing. We’ve got to play our best ball.”
ANSAH EXITS >> Defensive end Ziggy Ansah will undergo season- ending surgery to repair a torn biceps this week and go on injured reserve. He got hurt in his second game since being signed after Nick Bosa’s season-ending knee injury.
Because of the NFL’s stricter rules for workouts amid COVID-19, Shanahan said it is unlikely the 49ers will rush in a free-agent replacement and will try to make due with who’s on the current roster. Arik Armstead, Kerry Hyder and Dion Jordan were the 49ers’ primary ends Sunday night, and Armstead has had limited chances to play inside, where he flourished last season with a career-high 10 sacks. ‘SHARK’ TO IR >> Nickel back K’Waun Williams is likely heading to short-term injured reserve as he requires a few weeks to recover from a knee sprain. His replacement, Jamar Taylor, produced a sack on his first snap Sunday night by executing a blitz called “Shark,” which is Williams’ nickname. Williams has battled through calf and hip injuries the past two months without missing a game.
SHERMAN TBD >> Cornerback Richard Sherman (calf ) is eligible to come off injured reserve this week after being out three games, but Shanahan said he expected Sherman to need a four-week break and that a Wednesday return would be a pleasant surprise.
Emmanuel Moseley (concussion) and Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring) could return Wednesday, too. Jason Verrett (hand) and Dontae Johnson (groin) played through injuries Sunday night, Shanahan said. MOSTERT UPDATE >> Shanahan is “not real optimistic” running back Raheem Mostert will return from a 2½ - game absence because of a knee injury but “has a chance” to practice Wednesday.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quadriceps) and wide receiver Dante Pettis (knee) might be OK to practice Wednesday, too.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE ISSUES >> Left tackle Trent Williams and right tackle Mike McGlinchey drew strong support from Shanahan publicly, although Monday’s “frustrating” film session for the team probably was not as cheery.
On Williams, Shanahan said: “Trent was a little bit off, along with everyone else out there, and that’s the result when that happens.
Trent’s as good and as talented of a guy as I’ve been around. He had a rough night. I’m not worried about that going forward.”
McGlinchey lacks Williams’ Pro Bowl credentials and is off to a slow start for the third consecutive season.
“I don’t think he’s playing as bad as advertised,” Shanahan said. “When he’s had some bad plays, it’s looked bad and that stick out all the time with an O-lineman. There’s been too many of those.
“… By no means do I think he’s had a step back. We’ve just got to clean up stuff and he needs to be more efficient. He has gotten better but it doesn’t matter when you have a few bad ones. It’s the same with the quarterback; he can have a hell of a few games but throw a few picks and that’s what sticks out.” KITTLE COUNT >> Tight end George Kittle’s 15- catch night initially caught Shanahan by surprise.
“I didn’t realize out there he had that many catches and stuff,” Shanahan said. “Now when I think back to it, it made sense. He got open every time we went to him and did a heck of a job.”
Kittle is the first tight end in NFL history to have 15 receptions and 183 yards in a game; he had 210 yards on seven receptions in 2018 against the Broncos. His 15 catches were the thirdmost by a 49er, behind Terrell Owens (20, in 2000 vs. Bears) and Jerry Rice (16, 1994 vs. Rams).
AIYUK’S LEAP >> As “frustrated, down and upset” the 49ers were in reviewing film Monday, Brandon Aiyuk’s 38-yard touchdown run-and-jump made for a “really cool play,” Shanahan said. Aiyuk joined teammate Deebo Samuel and the Kansas City Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill as the only wide receivers over the past five seasons to record a rushing touchdown in back-to-back games.