San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke to reporters on Monday and gave an update on rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard. An MRI revealed that Beathard had a knee contusion and hip strain.
"It was good news," Shanahan said. "There was nothing serious or long-term but he was pretty sore today. He's got – I think the term – a knee contusion and a hip strain. He's pretty banged up, though. A little too sore to see how long it's going to last so we'll keep looking into it tomorrow. We'll look into it tomorrow and get a little more information on when he'll be ready to practice."
Shanahan said a decision on who will start at quarterback for the 49ers against the Chicago Bears will come by Wednesday when the team gathers for their first practice of the week. The 49ers and Bears play each other at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sunday.
"I'll probably have an answer for you guys on Wednesday," Shanahan said. "I'd like to talk to the staff. I'd like to watch some Chicago (film) first, finish up Seattle. I just finished up watching the game with the quarterbacks and then came in here. I'll have a decision for you guys by Wednesday."
Beathard has started the last five games for the 49ers and played significant minutes during each of the last six. On Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, Jimmy Garoppolo replaced him in the closing moments of the game. Garoppolo finished the game completing each of his two passes for 18 yards and a touchdown during the last play from scrimmage.
Garoppolo was acquired by the 49ers via a trade with the New England Patriots on October 30. San Francisco sent its second-round draft pick in 2018 to New England in return for the quarterback. Since then, he has been working to learn the 49ers offense and playbook verbiage.
Beathard completed 22 of his 38 pass attempts for 201 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception. His performance against Seattle on Sunday came two weeks after leading the 49ers to their first victory of the season, which was undoubtedly the best performance of Beathard's young career. Against the New York Giants on November 12, 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.
This season, Beathard has completed 54.9-percent of his passes for 1,430 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions. He has also rushed for 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, who has since been released and signed by the New England Patriots, 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.