Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
At the Combine: 49ers GM John Lynch wants C.J. Beathard to become the next Jimmy Garoppolo
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch stepped up to the podium at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Thursday morning and discussed his new franchise quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, at length. However, another starter from the 2017 season also came up -- C.J. Beathard.
Beathard, a rookie who was drafted in the third round out of Iowa, appeared in six games and started five for the 49ers last season. During that time, he completed 54.9 percent of his passes for 1,430 yards, four touchdowns, six interceptions, and a passer rating of 69.2.
Beathard's days as a starter became numbered when the 49ers finalized a trade with the New England Patriots for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo became the team's full-time starter during Week 13 and went on to win each of the team's final five games. The 49ers' newest quarterback signed a five-year, $137.5 million contract in February.
Garoppolo's emergence doesn't mean the 49ers have forgotten about Beathard. Lynch discussed the second-year quarterback at the combine.
"We think very highly of C.J.," Lynch said. "I can tell you one of the reasons that it was -- I won't say easy -- but easier for us to be patient while Kyle was making those decisions with Jimmy was that C.J. was playing well in our mind and was improving every week. C.J. has handled this tremendously well with a tremendous amount of class. It's motivated him to become even better, to continue working on his craft.
"We love his makeup, what he's all about. My message to him: Become the next Jimmy Garoppolo. You keep playing well; good things will happen for you. He understands that."
Beathard grew up around football. He is the grandson of former NFL executive Bobby Beathard, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.
"I think that background has prepared him for, yeah, there's going to be some adversity. When it looked like things were going so well, that could have been hard for a young man to take. He responded in the fashion that we thought he would, and I think there's exciting times ahead for C.J. Beathard."
LISTEN
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
49ers' Trent Williams on Brock Purdy: "He's become our leader"
The issue of dealing with a potentially hostile crowd at Acrisure Stadium kind of took care of itself on Sunday. Much to the shock of the Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans, there was a lot of red in the seats. Although, taking the home crowd out of the game early was not one of the San Francisco 49ers' priorities.
"We ain't worried about the crowd," tackle Trent Williams said after the game. "The game plan was to start fast, play fast and physical, our type of brand of football. That's what we focused on."
San Francisco jumped to a 20-0 lead, finishing with a 30-7 victory in what many figured would be a much tighter battle.
It was quarterback Brock Purdy's first full game since
John Lynch reveals 49ers' plan for NFL-leading salary cap space
Don't get your hopes up if you were waiting for the San Francisco 49ers to make a splashy mid-season move. The team restructured the contracts of tight end George Kittle, tackle Trent Williams, and defensive tackle Arik Armstead ahead of the season and now owns a league-leading $42.6 million in salary-cap space.
The team with the next highest amount of space is the Cleveland Browns with $34.4 million, and then the Arizona Cardinals with $14.2 million, per OverTheCap.com.
The Niners' money is earmarked for the future, though. There are no plans to bolster the already talented roster this season, short of something unexpected happening.
"We've pretty much done what we're going to do this year," general manager
John Lynch: Brandon Aiyuk's status for 49ers-Giants remains "very fluid," could be game-time decision
This week's focus remains on San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The team has a short week to prepare for its next opponent—the New York Giants on Thursday night at Levi's Stadium. The matchup comes just four days after the Niners' 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Aiyuk suffered a shoulder injury on his first catch, a 13-yard reception during San Francisco's opening drive. He was in and out of the lineup throughout the game and was limited during the 49ers' light Tuesday practice.
On Tuesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said that the decision will come down to how Aiyuk feels and the evaluation from the training staff. It sounds like the receiver may end up being a
John Lynch, Steve Wilks believe sacks will come for 49ers' Nick Bosa
Nick Bosa played 56 percent of the defensive snaps in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year did not reach Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett in the game.
On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers pass rusher played 79 percent of the defensive snaps, again being held without a sack as Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford quickly got the football out of his hands.
Bosa held out for six weeks as he awaited a contract extension, which didn't come until just days before Week 1. The defensive end missed all of training camp and the preseason. Has the absence contributed to a lack of productivity?
"I've always said, I don't care who you are, you need to get your football legs underneath you," general manager
