SF 49ers: 5 players with most to prove in Week 15 vs. Cowboys
By Peter Panacy
No. 1: SF 49ers Quarterbacks
Kind of a two-option answer for one question: Who do the SF 49ers start under center in Week 15?
Kyle Shanahan could go with the player he’s ridden in the wake of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo‘s injury, Nick Mullens, which appears to be the plan after the coach’s comments on Wednesday. But after Mullens’ shaky performance in Week 14 against the Washington Football Team, it’s entirely possible Shanahan changes his mind and gives the No. 3 option on the depth chart, C.J. Beathard, a shot.
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Or, simply enough, Mullens starts and is yanked at the earliest sign of struggle.
Mullens’ 3.4 interception percentage, which is tied for fourth worst among qualifiers this season, is indicative of his issues protecting the ball. Yet Beathard hasn’t exactly shown the kind of pocket poise or reaction skills that would suggest he’s an upgrade either.
Shanahan could make a change just to shake things up, yes. But for whoever winds up taking snaps under center in Week 14, there’s a lot on the line.
Beathard is an unrestricted free agent in 2021 and could be fighting for his NFL future, not just with the Niners. Mullens, meanwhile, is a restricted free agent. Yet that affords the Niners a chance to simply move on, too, provided they don’t offer him a tender.
Right now, one has to guess San Francisco is still figuring out whether or not it would want to.
dark. Next. 49ers would have made playoffs if these 5 players stayed healthy
Either way, whoever starts for the SF 49ers on Sunday at Dallas will have more than a few things to prove under center, both in terms of playing down the stretch and for 2021 implications.