SANTA CLARA — Kyle Shanahan maintained that C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens are “even” when it comes to the 49ers’ Battle of the Backups behind quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, with one practice remaining until summer break.
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As good or bad as they’ve been the past two months, the QB2 competition honestly can’t be judged until live pass rushers are testing Beathard’s pocket awareness or hurrying Mullens’ passes beyond the numbers.
“It doesn’t really start until they get to training camp,” Shanahan said after Tuesday’s start of minicamp. “They’ve both done a real good, both playing at a high level, so that’s been exciting.
“To sit there and really stress over it from a coaching standpoint of trying to make the decision, we’re not there yet. A lot can change. Both have proven they can play in this league. We’re going to have to make a tough decision at the end of the preseason who which one we want to give the No. 2 job.”
Beathard, 1-9 as a starter the past two seasons, self-graded his work this offseason as “good,” though he also acknowledged that true evaluations won’t come until August practices and exhibitions. Beathard commended new quarterbacks coach Shane Day for working with him on pocket awareness and throwing on the move.
“Anytime you’re playing live, it’s different, definitely. It’s also different when you’re not going up against your defense every single day,” Beathard said. “It’ll be nice when you get out there against real opponents and you can feel what it feels like to get hit again.”
Beathard’s propensity to take hits led to a wrist injury last season and opened the door for Mullens’ NFL debut, to which the undrafted QB from Southern Miss surprisingly impressed with a 3-5 record.
For a franchise steeped in quarterback tradition and intense battles at that spot, the Beathard-Mullens battle isn’t a blood fight, at least not on the football field or meeting rooms. They’re good friends entering Year 3 on the 49ers.
“We pretty much hang out every night in the hotel because we’re a couple rooms down the hall,” Beathard said. “We probably golf every weekend with a group of four guys. We’re real close off the field.”
Garoppolo, not a golfer, saw his on-field comeback take another step forward Tuesday when he participated in a two-minute drill featuring 11 offensive players against seven defenders without a pass rush.
In that 11-on-7 power play, Garoppolo rekindled his chemistry with slot target Trent Taylor but missed deep shots to Marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis. “He’s got a cannon, for sure, still,” Goodwin said. “Still making great throws. Obviously we missed on a deep pass today and there are a lot of things I can work on myself to alleviate that.”
Shanahan has not indicated if he will release or trade the No. 3 QB or, in more likelihood, keep all three until Garoppolo’s health is proven. “You hope Jimmy stays healthy so it’s irrelevant who’s the No. 2 guy,” Shanahan added.
Here are other key insights from Tuesday’s practice and media availability:
— Goodwin’s side jobs: Goodwin, while pledging a full commitment to the 49ers, confirmed he will try qualifying for the 2020 Olympics long jump. More immediate is his planned participation in a 40-yard dash tournament (“40 Yards of Gold”) that will take place June 29 in Florida, with Goodwin already pitted to face NFL free agent Kevin Snead.
Asked if the 49ers gave him permission, Goodwin replied: “It’s just offseason stuff. I’ll be running anyways and use it as a workout.”
A year from now, Goodwin hopes to try qualifying for an Olympics return. He finished 10th in the 2012 London Olympics. “I use it as part of my training,” Goodwin said. “What I do in long jump with track and field definitely correlates what I do as a receiver, with being fast, being explosive, putting my foot down.”
To take pressure off Goodwin’s receiving workload on the 49ers, Day 2 draft picks were used on Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd. Samuel has been out since last week with a hip issue, and Hurd is believed to have a minor leg issue.
— Injury updates: Tight end Garrett Celek will be recovering the next two months from back surgery that is similar to a procedure he endured five years ago, Shanahan said. Celek hasn’t practiced all offseason (he has yet to be cleared from last season’s concussion) so Ross Dwelley has emerged as a bona fide candidate to join George Kittle as the top tight ends.
Right tackle Mike McGlinchey practiced all offseason but won’t take part in minicamp after receiving platelet-rich-plasma therapy injections into his knees, likely for tendinitis.
Defensive end Nick Bosa remains out with a low-grade hamstring strain from last month’s start of OTAs, but he’s impressed his coach. “He’s not a guy who’s falling asleep in the meetings just because he can’t practice that day,” Shanahan said. “He enjoys watching it and watching other people and learning from other people. He’s handled himself great so far.”
Ronald Blair and Solomon Thomas have shown well in Bosa’s place, with Thomas also impressing with his lower stance when shifted to the interior.
— Waiting on Gould: Shanahan is OK if kicker Robbie Gould does not sign his franchise tender until just before the regular season, so long as he is at the Sept. 8 opener at Tampa Bay. Gould has requested a trade and is spending the offseason training in his native Chicago while spending time with his wife and three sons there.
“Robbie’s a hell of a kicker and nothing’s really changed on that (contract holdout),” Shanahan said. “I just really hope he shows up by the time we play Week 1.”
— Key plays: Receivers dropped several passes and cut off routes, but there were some quality catches made by running back Tevin Coleman, Jordan Matthews, Malik Henry and Taylor. The 49ers defense created takeaways on back-to-back plays: Alex Brown recovered a Henry fumble in the end zone, and Elijah Lee intercepted a Beathard pass for Richie James Jr.
— Heat takes toll: Amid temperatures in the mid-90s, tight end Tyree Mayfield needed treatment from the medical staff and took a seat on cooler during warmups.
— Visiting coach: Rob Mendez, Prospect High School-Saratoga’s junior varsity coach, watched practice and ended it by breaking down the 49ers huddle. Mendez was born with no arms or legs, and he’s been an inspiring subject of stories locally and on ESPN.
