SF 49ers depth chart: Predicting Week 3 starting lineup amid injuries
By Peter Panacy
SF 49ers Quarterback
Nick Mullens
High-ankle sprains can be problematic, and that’s what Jimmy Garoppolo is dealing with after taking a sack from Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams in the first half.
Garoppolo gutted it out until halftime, finishing the game before exiting with 131 yards through the air, two touchdowns, zero interceptions and a passer rating of 140.4. Aside from being under pressure quite regularly, Jimmy G looked far more polished and poised than he did in the disjointed effort he had in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals.
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Yet Garoppolo’s availability in Week 3 against the Giants remains in doubt, and Kyle Shanahan was non-committal in saying whether or not the signal-caller who relieved Garoppolo, Nick Mullens, would be the starter back at MetLife Stadium this upcoming weekend.
But it’s likely that’ll be the case.
High-ankle sprains can take weeks, sometimes months for full recovery. Given Garoppolo’s importance to the SF 49ers depth chart and roster, one has to think Shanahan plays things cautiously, giving Mullens a chance to increase his own value against a winless Giants team that’ll assuredly be without its top offensive weapon, running back Saquon Barkely, who was carted off in Week 2 with a feared ACL tear.
Mullens finished the game going 8-of-11 for 71 yards, no touchdowns and an interception, although he wasn’t asked to do too much with the Niners owning a 21-3 lead going into the third quarter.
Still, Mullens is a quality backup, nothing more at this point in his career.
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And San Francisco needs him to regain that composure he showed back over eight games in 2018 when he relieved Garoppolo, previously.