–Nick Mullens was credited for being well prepared when he got the last-minute call to step in for C.J. Beathard and make his first NFL start in Week 9 against the Oakland Raiders.
So when Mullens was asked what he did on his bye week, everyone already knew the answer.
“Definitely got away and relaxed. Got some rest,” he insisted. “It was good to get my legs back under me and just hung out with my family and stayed here. It was a solid bye week.”
Nobody believed him. And it turns out, he wasn’t exactly telling the whole truth.
“You have to continue to prepare and take advantage of those extra days,” he admitted. “I definitely did that as well.
“I’m always self-scouting. I have a lot of things I need to work on. It’s always running through your mind. It keeps me pretty angry most of the time, to be honest. I’m always hard on myself. There’s definitely some things I need to get better at for this team to be better.”
One concern with the upcoming game at Tampa Bay is that it’ll be Mullens’ first NFL road start. He took time during his “relaxing” week to prepare for that as well.
“That definitely is a new challenge,” he said. “It’s important that we start fast. We’re excited to attack this first road game. It’s important for me that I just keep my same mind-set. It only matters what you do on the field and don’t let the environment impact the way you play.”
–The 49ers won’t be getting Jimmy Garoppolo or Jerick McKinnon back just because they’ve had a week off.
But as the 49ers prepared for their final approach to Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay, they did so as healthy as they’ve been in a while.
Even guard Joshua Garnett, who had surgery on a thumb ligament during the bye week, is considered a possibility for the Buccaneers.
“Generally, over my career, the first practice back from bye week is usually the worst of the year. Guys are just rusty,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “That wasn’t the case this year. Guys came back and seemed a little rejuvenated from the break. Always a little rusty when you take four or five days off, but they practiced hard, were up-beat. I was excited about the aura they had.”
Outside linebacker Reuben Foster and strong safety Jaquiski Tartt, both of whom have missed the last two games, have returned to practice and likely will play against the Buccaneers.
And Shanahan is optimistic wideout Pierre Garcon, who was given an extra day off this week, will return as well.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “She’s just sitting there next to me, hanging out.” — 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens, on what his wife does while he practices shouting out play calls at home.
BY THE NUMBERS: 0 — The number of sacks the 49ers have allowed in their last two games. The last time they had a three-game run: Weeks 8-10 of the 1979 season.
