San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens has played well in his six starts since taking over for C.J. Beathard. With Jimmy Garoppolo, who suffered a torn ACL in September, expected to be ready for the 2019 season, there has been some discussion surrounding Mullens' trade value.
Of course, as this season has proven, having a solid backup quarterback is important too.
"I mean, you're open to anything possible that improves your team," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Monday. "That's not just backups. You have an obligation to do whatever you think is right to give your organization the best chance to win.
"I think backups are extremely valuable, not just at the quarterback position, but everywhere. Usually, you have to win with backups, and you hope to stay healthy all of the time, but very rarely does that happen. Backups can be the difference in a season."
Mullens is 3-3 as a starter. He has passed for 1,754 yards with 10 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a passer rating of 96.0 since taking over the starting job during Week 9. Sunday's overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks was one of Mullens' better games, and his stock has been on the rise.
Mullens is focused on this weekend's game against the Chicago Bears and not what may happen in the future.
"I'm just trying to win ballgames," Mullens told reporters on Wednesday. "That's the biggest thing, and it's the funnest thing. It's the coolest challenge about what we get to do, is that we play to win. That's all we're focused on this week and in the future, just winning."
Mullens also isn't worried about his trade value or the talk on local radio stations about what the 49ers should do with the young quarterback.
"To me, it really doesn't matter," Mullens said. "I love the 49ers. I'd be here as long as I could. But that stuff does not matter. I'm just really trying to focus on this game this week, and just really control the things you can control. That's what Coach Shanahan preaches all the time. We walk in the door, we see it all the time. Control what you can control, and let everything take care of itself. So that's how I handle myself."
Bears head coach Matt Nagy has enjoyed watching Mullens take advantage of his opportunities this season.
"I think it's pretty neat for guys like him that get these opportunities," Nagy told Bay Area reporters via a conference call on Wednesday. "I can remember going back to his first start, and no one gave him a chance, and coming out with a win. He's a fighter. He's a successful kid in college. He just plays the game the right way. He reminds me of guys that, people don't believe in them. Then you get the coach like Kyle that gives him a chance, and you can see what he can do."