Jimmy Garoppolo will remain the backup quarterback when the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The team has decided to start rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard for at least one more game, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. At least, that is the plan for now.
"We're planning on starting C.J. this week," Shanahan said. "As always, we'll see how practice goes, just like we would with any other position. But reps-wise and everything, we see it the same this week as it's been."
Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday that Beathard's play in a 31-21 win over the New York Giants on November 12 and Garoppolo's progress in learning the playbook and offensive verbiage contributed to the decision.
"C.J. did play his best football [against the Giants], which definitely, to me, made the decision easier," Shanahan said. "It wasn't just C.J., but the offense around him. Everyone together. I thought those group of 11 guys when they were out there, they had their best game. That was important for C.J. It was also important for our team."
Beathard has started the last four games for the 49ers and is coming off of his best performance yet. While leading the 49ers to their first victory of the season, Beathard completed 19 of his 25 pass attempts for 288 yards, two passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown, an interception, and a passer rating of 123.4.
Why not keep his starting quarterback secret until necessary to give the 49ers a competitive advantage?
"It would be exhausting to talk about this every day to you guys," Shanahan said.
Shanahan also believes that both Beathard and Garoppolo have similar styles, so he does not see keeping the decision under wraps as a competitive advantage.
Will Garoppolo see any playing time against Seattle?
"Whoever ends up starting, which right now, we plan on that being C.J., that's who we're going with," Shanahan said. "It's not going to be like an experimental -- get a guy a few reps and stuff. You go with a guy, and you do whatever you can to win the game, and you make changes with injuries if need be."
While Beathard has started four games this season, which is twice the number of starts as Garoppolo, he has played extensively during the 49ers' last five games. During that time, he has completed 101 of his 186 pass attempts for 1,229 yards, four touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 70.8. Beathard has also rushed for 115 yards and three touchdowns.
Beathard was a third-round selection by the 49ers out of Iowa in this year's draft and won the backup quarterback job to then-starter Brian Hoyer. He replaced Hoyer during a Week 6 matchup against the Washington Redskins and nearly led a comeback for the then-winless 49ers while completing 19 of his 36 passes for 245 yards, a touchdown, and an interception through just under two-and-a-half quarters of play.
Hoyer was released by the 49ers following the trade for Garoppolo and quickly signed with the New England Patriots to back up Tom Brady, which is the role once held by Garoppolo.
"I've got to go out there and prove myself every day," Beathard said on 95.7 The Game Tuesday night. "I don't have room to take steps in the wrong direction or backward steps, so that's kind of what I've been doing. I'm really just focusing on myself, not looking to my left and my right. 'What is he doing? What is this?' The only thing I can do is what I can do. It's not going to be perfect all of the time, but you learn from your mistakes and try to get better from it all."
Beathard injured his thumb during two-straight games. Once against the Arizona Cardinals and then again against the Giants. Shanahan said that his thumb is not yet completely healed, but it is better.
