SANTA CLARA -- C.J. Beathard is having difficult gripping a ball with his throwing hand, which might make it difficult for the right-handed 49ers quarterback to play Thursday night.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said he is unsure whether Beathard will be available to play this week. What makes Beathard's availability problematic for Week 9 is the quick turnaround. The 49ers play Thursday against the Oakland Raiders.
"C.J. would be good if we were playing on Sunday," Shanahan said on Tuesday. "But it’s going to be a test for Thursday, and we probably won’t know until then.”
Beathard (right wrist), linebacker Reuben Foster (hamstring), safety Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder) and safety Antone Exum are not expected to practice Tuesday. Shanahan said Exum already is ruled out.
Beathard sustained his injury when his hand hit the helmet of an Arizona Cardinals' pass rusher as he was throwing in the 49ers' 18-15 loss on Sunday. Beathard also had a red mark above his nose from a quarterback keeper when Cardinals safety Antoine Bethea made the tackle, he said.
Backup Nick Mullens could be in line for his first start, as well as his first NFL appearance. Mullens was elevated from the practice squad in Week 4 after Jimmy Garoppolo’s season-ending knee injury.
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"Nick works his tail off whether he was on practice squad all last year, some of this year, since he’s been the two," Shanahan said. "Nick’s a very smart guy who works at it nonstop. He’ll be able to go in there and execute the offense and knows what he’s doing.”
Shanahan said it is likely the 49ers will not know about Beathard’s status against the Raiders until earlier in the day Thursday.
Veteran Tom Savage would serve as Mullens’ backup, if Beathard is unavailable.