SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Nick Mullens' acclaimed debut Thursday night did not prompt 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan to entrench him as their starting quarterback going forward.
But check back next week, likely on Thursday when Shanahan next meets the media.
With players given four days off after a 34-3 rout of the Raiders, Shanahan is reluctant to announce that Mullens will get an encore start Nov. 12, when they host the New York Giants on ESPN's "Monday Night Football."
"I don't need to decide it yet," Shanahan said Friday about the QB call. "I'll take my time with it, and with all the guys out of the building, I'd like the full team here when I decide that."
Reading between the lines, Shanahan is simply being respectful to his other option, C.J. Beathard, who went 0-5 upon replacing the injured Jimmy Garoppolo. Beathard's wrist and thumb injuries in Sunday's loss at Arizona further prompted Thursday's switch to Mullens, who passed for 262 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions or sacks.
The 49ers (2-7) will reconvene Tuesday to begin preparations for the Giants, who take a 1-7 record and five-game losing streak into this weekend's bye.
Mullens' former spot as the third-string QB was filled again by Tom Savage, who signed on Friday for the third time in as many weeks.
