49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on Friday told KNBR in San Francisco that Nick Mullens will start SundayNick Mullens will start Sunday vs. the New York Giants. The 49ers will be without starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for the first time since the final game of the 2018 season. He’s been ruled out of Sunday’s contest with a high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 2 vs. the Jets.
Garoppolo sustained his injury early in the first quarter of the 49ers’ 31-13 romp over New York. He finished the first half, but never came out for the final 30 minutes. His one half of action against the Jets was strong. He completed 14-of-16 throws for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
Shanahan on Monday after the Jets game indicated Garoppolo’s sprain wasn’t severe, and left the door open for him starting against the Giants. The starting quarterback’s absence from the first two days of practice and Shanahan’s declaration Wednesday that Mullens would likely start put the writing on the wall for Garoppolo’s Week 3 status.
This will be the 14th game Garoppolo has missed since becoming the full time starter to start the 2018 campaign. That year he tore his ACL in Week 3 against the Chiefs and missed the final 13 games. He started all 16 last year plus three playoff games.
Mullens started eight games for San Francisco in that 2018 season, going 3-5 in those contests with a 64.2 percent completion rate, 13 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 90.8 passer rating. He played the final two quarters against the Jets after Garoppolo went down and completed 8-of-11 throws for 71 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.
The 49ers and Giants kick off Sunday at 10:00am Pacific Time from MetLife Stadium.
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