5 notable takeaways from 49ers first depth chart vs. Cowboys

The San Francisco 49ers released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of their preseason bout with the Dallas Cowboys, and Niner Noise looks at some key takeaways.

Understand the disclaimer: The San Francisco 49ers‘ first depth chart of the 2019 season is unofficial, and it’s merely supplementary information ahead of the team’s first NFL preseason game against the visiting Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 10 at Levi’s Stadium.

For those not quite familiar, this depth chart is put together by the Niners’ public relations staff. So it’s not exactly a precise breakdown of what head coach Kyle Shanahan plans to do with the 53-man roster during the regular season, let alone who winds up starting in Week 1.

That said, there are some notable takeaways and tidbits worth exploring from the depth chart.

There are some misleading bits, too, especially when it comes to figuring out who will play during San Francisco’s preseason opener versus Dallas.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is listed as the starter, of course. But Shanahan has already informed the media Garoppolo won’t play until Weeks 2 and 3 of the preseason. It’s likely more than a few of the well-established starters won’t see too much of the field against the Cowboys, if any snaps at all.

But another aspect of the quarterbacking depth chart tells us one thing, and we’ll start there, as Niner Noise breaks down some key takeaways from San Francisco’s inaugural depth chart, unofficially.

No. 5: C.J. Beathard Likely Starts on Saturday

With Garoppolo out for Saturday’s contest, the starting duties are all but assured to go to the No. 2 guy on the depth chart.

In this case, it’s third-year pro C.J. Beathard.

Beathard is locked in a duel with fellow backup Nick Mullens for the 49ers’ backup quarterback job this season. And while Mullens has the 2018 accolades in his favor, Shanahan has made it clear both signal-callers will have an equal shot at claiming No. 2 duties this season.

It’s not exactly a full-on endorsement of Beathard, him getting the start against Dallas. Rather it could be a way Shanahan evaluates Beathard against the Cowboys’ best “reserve” and second-tier competition right away, determining whether or not the former Iowa product will eventually get a leg up on the undrafted Mullens.

If Beathard struggles early, it will likely be one more tick against his already faltering stock value this training camp.

And that doesn’t bode well for his chances to hang around on the 53-man roster.