CARSON – Quarterback C.J. Beathard absorbed some big hits – legal and otherwise – in the 49ers’ 29-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
The 49ers would like to add a quarterback to the team’s practice squad to join Beathard and backup Nick Mullens, but they have a lot of other needs, too.
"We’re going to have to look into all of it,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We’re banged up at O-line, safety, receiver, quarterback, so it all plays out. But we’re going to try to get enough guys in there to play."
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The first step in beginning preparations to face the Arizona Cardinals is just to have enough players to practice on Wednesday. Beathard appeared fine after the game, but how his body responds to the beating he took on Sunday will determine whether he will take part in full practices.
Beathard sustained several big shots, including a hit from Chargers defensive back Casey Hayward that knocked the wind out of him in the fourth quarter. Chargers defensive players Darius Philon, Kyle Emanuel and Melvin Ingram were each called for roughing-the-passer penalties on Beathard.
Last week the 49ers held workouts with seven quarterback: Tom Savage, E.J. Manuel, Landry Jones, Kellen Clemens, T.J. Yates, Matt Simms and Kyle Allen. The club did not sign any of the players. Mullens was promoted from the practice squad to fill the roster spot vacated with Jimmy Garoppolo's season-ending knee injury.
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Exum provides costly souvenir
Safety Antone Exum got his second start in a row in place of Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder) and helped get the 49ers off to a strong with an interception of Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and a 32-yard interception return for a touchdown.
“It was just a really good call by our coach,” Exum said, crediting defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. “I tried to bait him (Rivers) a little bit to make him think I was not there and he threw it right to me.”
It was the first interception of Exum’s 32-game NFL career. After crossing the goal line, he threw the ball into the stands, which subjects him to a fine of $6,683 under the league’s schedule of fines.
Bolden back from suspension
Wide receiver Victor Bolden is scheduled Monday to be reinstated off the NFL’s suspension list after serving a four-game sentence for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances.
The 49ers will have a weeklong roster exemption for Bolden. If they decide to play him Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, they would have to place him on the team's 53-man roster this week. Otherwise, the deadline for to activate him or release him is next Monday at 1 p.m. Bolden could be a candidate to be signed to the team’s practice squad. Bolden caught six passes for 90 yards in the preseason after appearing in nine games last season as a rookie.
Bolden took full responsibility for the positive test, but stated he unknowingly took a supplement that contained an ingredient that was on the NFL’s banned substance list. The 49ers supported Bolden after the announcement of the suspension, convinced he made an honest mistake.
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This ‘n’ that
George Kittle caught six passes for a career-high 125 yards and a touchdown. His 82-yard touchdown catch from Beathard was the longest play from a tight end in 49ers history. His 125 yards receiving were the most for a 49ers tight end since Vernon Davis had 180 yards against Arizona on Oct. 13, 2013. . .
The 49ers put together a marathon 21-play, 72-yard drive in the second quarter that took 10 minutes, 44 seconds off the clock. The 49ers settled for Robbie Gould’s 21-yard field goal. It was the most time the 49ers held the ball on a drive since Dec. 30, 2002, when the club had a drive that lasted 12:07 against the St. Louis Rams and ended with Jeff Chandler’s 19-yard field goal. . .
Gould made field goals of 21 and 33 yards to extend is own club record with his 33rd consecutive made field goal. He broke the previous club record, held by Phil Dawson (27), earlier this season. . .
Cornerback Greg Mabin earned some playing time with good showings during practices, and his play on Sunday kept him on the field. Mabin rotated into the game in place of Jimmie Ward and Ahkello Witherspoon. He recorded the first forced fumble of his 10-game NFL career.