Despite an iffy performance on Sunday, the 49ers will move forward with Nick Mullens as their starting quarterback, head coach Kyle Shanahan says (Twitter link via Matt Barrows of The Athletic). Given the 49ers’ lack of other viable options, it’s not a huge surprise.
C.J. Beathard is the only other QB on the roster and he didn’t exactly inspire confidence in his five starts this year. Granted, neither player has set the world on fire. Beathard completed just 60.4% of his passes with eight touchdowns against seven interceptions while Mullens has completed 65.6% of his throws with five TDs and four picks. However, Mullens did have a strong outing in his first start against the Raiders a few weeks back.
Ultimately, both men are playing for an opportunity to stick with the Niners as Jimmy Garoppolo‘s backup in 2019. Mullens is signed through next year and Beathard is under contract through 2020, but Beathard can be cut with minimal fiscal penalty and there are zero guarantees remaining on Mullens’ pact.
Here’s more from San Francisco:
- The latest allegations against Reuben Foster put a harsh spotlight on 49ers GM John Lynch, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports opines. The 49ers gave Foster a second chance after he was accused of domestic violence back in February. Then, on Saturday night, Foster allegedly struck girlfriend Elissa Ennis again, prompting the Niners to cut him. Robinson questions the team’s wisdom in drafting Foster in the first place given his red flags, giving him a second opportunity after the first DV arrest, and allowing Foster to be with his girlfriend in the team’s hotel.
- Shanahan says he decided to release Foster immediately after hearing of the allegations over the weekend. “We’ll see what happens in the court of law,” Shanahan said (via Barrows). “I wasn’t there. But too many things have happened and we’ve tried to help him out a lot. I know he’s been trying, too, but this was a mess-up (so significant) that it doesn’t matter whether he did it or not. It’s time to move on.”
Funny he was still a better pick than Solomon Thomas
I don’t know. Thomas is being played out of position. Once they get more guys on defense and he’s able to slide over to his natural position I think we will see better results. I definitely don’t think he’s lived up to the hype but I do know he would be much better if they played him where he should be played.
I don’t think the Niners allowed foster to be with that girl again. In fact they said Foster had broken their trust and they set certain guidelines for him and I believe they probably told Foster to not hang with that girl again and what does he do? He hangs out with her and potentially ruins his NFL career.
She isn’t his girlfriend. That’s some horrible reporting they’ve got going on at Yahoo. This isn’t on the team at all. The kid is an idiot. He has a girlfriend, yet was still surrounding himself with his ex who accused him in the first place. Some people will never learn, regardless of how much you try to help and support them.
She’s not his wife, so she IS a girl friend. One who help take apart a multi million $ career.
Foster should never be allowed to play in the NFL ever again.
‘Strong outing’ and ‘against the Raiders’ should not be in the same sentence.
Well, it was a “Strong Outing” because it was “against the Raiders”. Just like Phillip Rivers near perfect day was against the Cardinals. Gone are the days of the “No Fly Zone”.