49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo will get special attention while coach mulls QB job

SANTA CLARA - 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan hasn’t decided which quarterback will start after the bye week. That’s what he said at his Monday press conference. But it sure sounded like he wants Jimmy Garoppolo if he’s ready.

“We’ll see how practice goes this week,” Shanahan said in the 49ers’ media auditorium. “C.J. (Beathard) played pretty well. I thought he had his best game. I think he has gotten better each week. I thought the guys around him played their best game, too, which definitely makes it easier to keep everyone out there and keep that going.

“But, we’ll see how Jimmy responds this week. We’re going to work a little bit more one on one with him, get a little extra practice on Monday and see how it goes. We’ll have our game plan done Monday and Tuesday, and we’ll start practicing our game plan Wednesday.”

Garoppolo will hang around the team’s facility during the bye week and continue to learn the 49ers offense with Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello.

“Rich (will be) doing most of (the work with Garoppolo),” Shanahan said. “We’ve got a number of players here, too. Some of the guys have to stay back for rehab, guys like (tight end) George Kittle and (wide receiver) Trent (Taylor). I know (wide receiver Louis) Murphy is going to stay around a little bit, so we’ve got some players who can catch the ball for (Garoppolo).”

Before Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the 49ers plan to sit Beathard and start Garoppolo against the Seattle Seahawks immediately following the bye week.

But, Beathard may have complicated that plan. He played beautifully against the Giants. He passed for 288 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, he ran for a touchdown, completed 76 percent of his throws, posted a quarterback rating of 123.4 and delivered the 49ers their first win of the season.

Beathard’s performance on Sunday and recent improvement may make the transition to Garoppolo more difficult for Shanahan.

“(Beathard) has just gotten more comfortable,” Shanahan said. “He got thrown in there versus Washington. When you get thrown in there in the middle of the game, you kind of come out and you don’t have much to think about. You just play.

“Then he got the whole week to start the next week versus Dallas. No one realizes, but the first time you get a start, just coming into the building is different. Everyone is looking at you. We didn’t have a very good game that Sunday.

“Then the next week going to Philly, we had one of our worst games, got the most beat up. Then I thought (Beathard) played his best versus Arizona. By no means perfect. We still struggled as a team.

“He came in this week and really rebounded. Just the consistency of throwing to the receivers, going to the right spot, playing in the pocket, making the right calls in the run game. The game is not too big for him. I don’t think he’s a guy who worries a lot about things he can’t control. That’s why I think these reps have helped him.”

Despite Beathard’s push to remain the 49ers’ starting quarterback, a thumb injury on his throwing hand he suffered during the fourth quarter against the Giants could force him out of the lineup, or give Shanahan an excuse to play Garoppolo.

Beathard suffered this injury while diving into the end zone during his touchdown run. When he hit the ground, his thumb got caught between his facemask and the ground. Garoppolo immediately started warming up on the sideline after Beathard hurt himself, but Beathard stayed in the game.

What is the condition of Beathard’s thumb?

“Pretty banged up,” Shanahan said. “He’ll be sore throughout this week. It will definitely help to let him get some rest. There’s nothing broken or anything, but making sure no one will run into it over the next week will help. It should be better next Monday.”

Shanahan has two weeks to assess the health of Beathard’s thumb and choose between two young, talented quarterbacks. That’s a good problem to have.

“I’ve been excited about C.J. since we drafted him,” Shanahan said. “I’ve been very excited about Jimmy since we had the opportunity to get him. Having both of those guys here, very excited about our room.”

NOTES

Rookie free safety Adrian Colbert broke his thumb during the first series of Sunday’s game against the Giants. Colbert played through the injury and recorded two pass breakups and four tackles. “He possibly could miss the Seattle game,” Shanahan said, “but feel pretty good about him after that.” Antone Exum Jr. would start at free safety against the Seahawks if Colbert can’t play.

The 49ers released veteran defensive lineman Tony McDaniel. He appeared in the 49ers’ past four games after signing with the team Oct. 17. He recorded five tackles and forced one fumble.

Running back Raheem Mostert left Sunday’s game against the Giants with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder. The 49ers expect he will be ready to play after the bye week.