49ers-Raiders preview: C.J. Beathard or Nick Mullens to QB final Battle of the Bay

49ers QB Nick Mullens

Is 2017 undrafted free agent Nick Mullens a future NFL Pro Bowl quarterback? Probably not, but that’s not what the 49ers need from Mullens if he gets his first NFL start tonight on Thursday Night Football.

If you watched San Francisco’s preseason games this season, you know who Mullens is, as his preseason play sparked a bit of a controversy among “The Faithful,” although Beathard’s backup QB job was never in question within 49ers headquarters.

While Mullens demonstrated some of the growing pains expected of a quarterback with no NFL regular season experience, he outplayed Beathard over the 2018 preseason. Although Shanahan didn’t give him a chance to compete against opposing starting defenses, Mullens did the best with the opportunities he was given, and led the 49ers on a number of comeback drives throughout the preseason.

Mullens’ most impressive performance was perhaps his first game action of the year. Down by two scores in the fourth quarter, Mullens led the 49ers on a pair of touchdown drives that culminated in a last-second victory for San Francisco:

After spending all of 2017 on the Niners’ practice squad, Mullens’ 2018 preseason play won him a spot on San Francisco’s practice squad for a second season. When Garoppolo went down, the 49ers promoted Mullens to the team’s active roster as Beathard’s backup.

In college at Southern Miss, Mullens showed that he can sling the ball, although he also demonstrated the tendency to turn the ball over:

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table

If Mullens gets the start tonight, there’s little worry that the youngster will play scared. If given the opportunity, it will be an exciting debut for the quarterback under the lights of Thursday Night Football.