NFL Player News

Mullens will head into Sunday's game against the Dolphins as the 49ers' No. 3 quarterback after head coach Kyle Shanahan named C.J. Beathard as the top backup to starter Jimmy Garoppolo, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.

Mullens' two-interception performance against the Eagles in Week 4 has led to his descent on the depth chart, and he may not even end up active versus the Dolphins. The 25-year-old has impressed on the field in the past, particularly back in 2018 when he started eight contests. Mullens could still end up reclaiming the No. 2 role from Beathard at some point later this season.

Beathard will serve as the 49ers' backup quarterback in Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) is slated to return from a two-game absence to reclaim starting duties Week 5, but Beathard showed enough in relief of a struggling Nick Mullens in the 49ers' Week 4 loss to the Eagles to move up a rung on the depth chart. Making his second straight start, Mullens committed three turnovers against Philadelphia before being pulled in the fourth quarter in favor of Beathard, who proceeded to complete 14 of 19 attempts for 138 yards. Now that he's dropped behind Garoppolo and Beathard in the pecking order, Mullens will likely be inactive against the Dolphins.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Garoppolo (ankle) will start in Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Garoppolo made it through Friday's practice without any setbacks and doesn't have a designation on the 49ers' final injury report. Meanwhile, running back Raheem Mostert (knee) and wideout Deebo Samuel (illness) are listed as questionable, potentially leaving Garoppolo without two of his top weapons at the skill positions. It's possible Garoppolo's mobility is less than 100 percent in his first game back from a high-ankle sprain, but he wasn't providing significant rushing production in the first place. He'll take aim at a Miami defense that's given up the fifth-most fantasy points (23.1 per game) to quarterbacks this year.

The Patriots are expected to go with Jarrett Stidham rather than Hoyer as their starting quarterback for Monday's game against the Broncos in the event Cam Newton isn't cleared to return from the reserve/COVID-19 list in advance of the Week 5 contest, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports.

According to Michael Giardi and Judy Battista of NFL Network, Newton has been asymptomatic since testing positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 3 and could be cleared to practice Saturday, but he'll first need to submit two negative test results separated by at least 24 hours. If Newton isn't able to clear all COVID-19-related protocols in advance of Monday's game, the Patriots are seemingly prepared to break in their third starting quarterback of the season in Stidham, who relieved a struggling Hoyer in New England's Week 4 loss to the Chiefs. Hoyer completed 15 of 24 attempts for 130 yards, no touchdowns and an interception while taking two sacks and losing a fumble before he was pulled from the contest late in the third quarter of the Patriots' 26-10 loss.

The Ravens are listing Jackson (knee/illness) as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals, but he's expected to start after practicing fully Friday, Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Jackson missed the Ravens' first two practices of Week 5, sitting out Wednesday with a minor knee issue and Thursday due to a stomach ailment. After Jackson was able to take every rep at Friday's practice with no visible bracing or wrapping on either knee, coach John Harbaugh declared the star signal-caller "good to go" for Sunday's game, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. In a similar vein, Jackson told reporters at practice he was "100 percent," so his questionable designation is probably more akin to the NFL's old "probable" designation. Jackson's fantasy managers should have no reservations about starting him in a favorable Week 5 matchup.

Stidham is expected to start at quarterback for the Patriots in Monday's game against the Broncos if Cam Newton (illness) isn't cleared to return from the reserve/COVID-19 list in advance of the contest, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports.

Newton is believed to be asymptomatic since testing positive for the coronavirus Oct. 3 and has been participating in the Patriots' Zoom meetings this week, but at this point, he's uncertain to clear all COVID-19-related protocols prior to Monday's game. If Newton is sidelined for a second straight game, the Patriots appear inclined to turn to Stidham rather than Brian Hoyer, who started in last week's 26-10 loss to the Chiefs. Hoyer (15 for 24 for 130 yards, no touchdowns, one interception and a lost fumble) struggled to move the offense before he was pulled in the third quarter in favor Stidham, who proceeded to throw a touchdown pass to N'Keal Harry before being picked off on two occasions in the fourth quarter. Stidham's showing appears to have been encouraging enough to move him ahead of Hoyer in the pecking order, but the former would still probably rank as a low-end option in two-quarterback leagues if Newton is forced to miss time.

Coach Vic Fangio indicated Friday that Lock (right shoulder) has a chance to play in Monday's game against the Patriots, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.

Fangio wants to see how the quarterback progresses leading up to game time, but the extra day of preparation afforded by the Broncos' Week 5 game being moved back from Sunday to Monday is helpful in that regard. If, however, the team decides to play it safe with Lock, Brett Rypien would receive a second straight start versus New England.

Coach John Harbaugh confirmed Friday that Jackson (knee/illness) is "good to go" for Sunday's game against the Bengals.

After the quarterback felt some soreness in his knee Wednesday, the Ravens decided that the best course of action was for him to take a rest day. On Thursday, Jackson was sidelined again, this time due to a stomach illness. Neither the ailment nor the knee issue kept him off the field Friday, however, prompting the Ravens to deem the star quarterback 100 percent heading into the weekend. Jackson looks like a strong Week 5 fantasy option, taking on a beatable Bengals defense that has allowed an average of 243.0 passing yards and 158.5 rushing yards per game to date.

Jackson (knee/illness) was seen participating at Friday's practice with no apparent limitations, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old sat out practice the past two days while battling an illness and a minor knee issue, but his presence on the field Friday offers reassurance about his availability for Sunday's game against the Bengals. Jackson wasn't seen with a knee brace, which confirms the minor nature of the injury. It's still unclear if he'll be able to completely avoid an injury designation heading into the weekend, but there seems to be little doubt about Jackson's status for the divisional game.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday that he expects Garoppolo (ankle) to start Sunday against the Dolphins if he successfully makes it through Friday's practice, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

The 28-year-old practiced as a limited participant the past two days and is on track to return from the two-game absence if he can avoid a setback during Friday's session. Garoppolo's status will receive more clarity when the 49ers release their final official injury report of Week 5 later in the day.