SF 49ers: Predicting Week 1 depth chart after final roster cuts

SF 49ers Quarterbacks

Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens, C.J. Beathard

Under most circumstances, it might be questionable for Kyle Shanahan to keep three quarterbacks on his 53-man roster.

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Yet he did this last year, holding onto both reserve signal-callers Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard to support Jimmy Garoppolo. With Garoppolo staying healthy for all of 2019, Beathard ended up staying inactive all 16 regular-season games and throughout the playoffs.

This could have opened up the idea Shanahan would go with only two quarterbacks on his roster this year. But with COVID-19 opening up the possibility anybody on the roster could suddenly be unavailable for at least two weeks, the need to keep three players immersed and familiar with the offensive system became a necessity.

The hope, of course, is neither Mullens nor Beathard sees a meaningful snap over the course of the season.

That job will be Garoppolo’s, and he’ll want to improve upon his first full year as a starter while being armed with an upgraded crop of offensive weapons to support him.

The Niners and Cardinals kick off on Sunday, Sept. 13 from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.