Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
The wait is over. The 49ers’ backup quarterback has finally been revealed and it’s the most predictable result: Nick Mullens. Mullens and C.J. Beathard were both told by head coach Kyle Shanahan on Friday that Mullens would serve as the backup quarterback.
Mullens gets named backup quarterback, has first child later in day
Here’s Mullens announcing that he’s the backup quarterback. Beathard declined to say who was the backup quarterback.
Nick Mullens is the #49ers’ backup QB pic.twitter.com/RvZmseQI2f
— KNBR (@KNBR) September 2, 2019
Mullens was informed of the decision before the birth of his first child, Luke, later on Friday, with his wife Haleigh.
“It’s a pretty cool week, very thankful. Healthy and happy,” Mullens said. “I’m excited for a year of a lot of opportunity. It’s kind of cool to see where I’ve started and where I am now, but the work doesn’t stop. It only gets tougher from here.”
The competition was pegged as even by Shanahan (it never appeared that way in actuality), something that Beathard agreed with, saying he “definitely” felt it was even for most of camp. Both quarterbacks said the challenge raised their games.
“I thought it was a really good competition, we each got our fair share of plays and both had good plays and some plays that could be better and work on stuff,” Beathard said. “But yeah, I would say [it was even].”
Practice report: Bosa, Verrett, Williams back, plus number changes
For the first time since August 7, both Nick Bosa and Jason Verrett were back in practice on Monday. Nickelback K’Waun Williams had been out since around the same time after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee. He was also back in practice, with the only inactives being Trent Taylor, Jalen Hurd and tight end Garrett Celek (still on physically unable to perform list, not expected to return until Week 9 at the earliest). Taylor, at least, was out of his walking boot (still with a limp and said he was feeling good in passing, though it’s not advisable to read too much into that).
Neither Williams nor Verrett spoke to reporters on Monday, though general manager John Lynch said on Saturday that Verrett’s rehab was going well.
“The good news for Jason is that the recovery from this injury is going very well,” Lynch said. “Strong possibility that he’s ready for Week 1.”
Bosa, however, did speak to media and broke down what happened on the play he was injured and how his rehab has progressed. He and Verrett, of course both suffered ankle sprains in the same August 7 practice. Bosa said he wasn’t sure what happened when the injury initially occurred, or whether his knee was involved.
“O-lineman fell on my leg, just one of the ones that you can’t prevent unfortunately,” Bosa said. “I wasn’t really sure. Sometimes with adrenaline, you don’t even know what’s going on. I didn’t know if I hurt my knee or my ankle, so it obviously turned out pretty good.It was really encouraging.”
The No. 2 overall pick said he’s “been running for a while now,” probably a little bit more than a week after his injury. He acknowledged his offseason work on flexibility may have helped prevent a more serious injury but that there’s no way to tell what impact it had.
He was, however, pleased with his training camp at the time of the injury.
“It was going really well, just getting the rust off, getting back into it,” Bosa said. “It was almost a year since I’d played, so just to get back into the groove was really nice. Also to play with really good players makes you better… like this fool (pointing to Dee Ford, climbing through the scrum of reporters)… and that fool (D.J. Jones poking his head through the scrum on the other side).”
In Bosa’s mind, there’s never been a time he’s wanted to work back faster, with his eyes on the prize of a hopeful Week 1 return.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been as motivated in my life to get back,” Bosa said. “I’ve had my sights set on playing my first NFL season and every waking hour was spent getting my ankle right.”
That return is still in question, but Bosa said, “it went well today,” and that his ankle felt good. He’ll ice that ankle and use anti-inflammatory medication and see where he’s at tomorrow, saying that he’s, “taking it slow, adding reps each day.”
Number changes
There were also some number changes to be had. Verrett, who had previously been No. 2 (off-limits for anyone but quarterbacks, punters and kickers), changed to No. 27. Other number changes were as follows (most of which came for practice squad players, denoted with an asterisk):
Jeff Wilson Jr.* – No. 30
Azeez Al-Shaair – No. 51
Ryan Pope* – No. 71
Kevin Givens* – No. 90
Jeremiah Valoaga* – No. 92