Mullens to start over Beathard at Dallas
Tight end Kittle OK to practice after missing past five games
Keep calm, carry on, Nick Mullens.
Admittedly “antsy” last game, Mullens insisted Wednesday he merely needs to stay cool in the pocket when he makes a sixth straight start for the 49ers (58) on Sunday at the Dallas Cowboys (4-9).
Putting his troubling trend of turnovers aside, Mullens also completed a season- low 55.6 percent of his passes in Sunday’s 23-15 loss to Washington, and while nine drops ( by coach Kyle Shanahan’s count) did not help, Mullens sailed passes 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.”
Shanahan, prior to Wednesday’s practice, affirmed he’s keeping with Mullens as their best chance to win, while C. J. Beathard stays sidelined with an injured Jimmy Garoppolo.
“Nick’s the guy we’ll start out with and we’ll see how it goes,” Shanahan said.
What Shanahan must see is obvious. Or not see, actually.
“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, Ariz., where the 49ers have encamped the past two weeks because of Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 restrictions.
Perhaps this game is Mullens’ final audition at a 2021 return. He is a restricted free agent, the 49ers likely can retain him at the lowest tender of about $2 million as a backup; Garoppolo is slated to make $24 million over each of the next two seasons, and Beathard is among their 41 free agents.
Mullens has started since Garoppolo went out with another right ankle sprain Nov. 2. Mullens’ two turnovers Sunday resulted in returns for Washington’s only touchdowns in a 23-15 loss. He’s 2- 5 with 10 interceptions and three lost fumbles.
Garoppolo remains out of practice, and his only interaction with Shanahan is in video conferences with fellow quarterbacks, Mullens commended Garoppolo for being a “positive influence and positive voice” for him.
Three years ago, Beathard made his first career start in a 40-10 home loss to the Cowboys. He went 1- 4 as a rookie starter, then 0-5
in 2018 as a bridge starter between Garoppolo’s knee injury and Mullens’ debut. WARNER’S STINGERS » 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.
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.
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 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 (rungame coordinator), Matt LaFleur (pass-game coordinator) and Richard Hightower (special teams).