C.J. Beathard felt a lot better Wednesday, but not well enough to play in a game just yet.
The 49ers might not know until late in the day Thursday if the swelling in the quarterback's right wrist and hand have subsided to the point that he can grip a football and play against the Raiders at Levi’s Stadium.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said on “49ers Game Plan” that Beathard was unable to grip a football Tuesday. One day later, he could. But the team will need every hour to evaluate whether he can play against the Raiders. If Beathard isn't available, backup quarterback Nick Mullens will see his first NFL regular-season action with his first professional starting assignment.
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Regardless, it has to be a team effort for the 49ers to win this battle of one-win teams. So here are four 49ers players to watch:
FS Jimmie Ward
Adrian Colbert is out for the season with an ankle injury, which prompted the 49ers to return Ward from cornerback to free safety last week. Ward got positive reviews from the coaching staff after he played every snap in the 49ers’ 18-15 loss over the Arizona Cardinals.
“I think he’s an unbelievable corner and an unbelievable free safety,” 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. “When I say it, I really mean it. He’s one of the best 11 football players on this team on defense.
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“He’s a tremendous athlete. The issue for him has always been his durability, and as soon as he figures out how to stay healthy, he can be a very, very, very good football player in this league.”
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is capable of lighting it up, and Ward must have a big game to help the 49ers compensate for the losses of the team’s Nos. 1 and 2 strong safeties Jaquiski Tartt and Antone Exum.
WR Kendrick Bourne
Bourne gained valuable experience last week, as he got the starting assignment with Pierre Garçon out with knee and shoulder issues. It was not perfect, as Bourne received direction on several occasions after breaking the huddle.
But Bourne has some talent. He caught a career-high seven passes for 71 yards against the Cardinals. The 49ers will need Bourne to continue to present a threat to open things up for Marquise Goodwin’s deep routes and tight end George Kittle working the middle of the field.
LB Malcolm Smith
The 49ers signed Smith on the first day of free agency in 2017, but the organization has not received any return on their five-year, $26.5 million investment. He'll finally have a chance to play the position at which he was signed to play.
Smith missed all of last season with a torn pectoral after being counted upon to be the starting weakside linebacker. This summer, he sustained a hamstring injury in the first exhibition game and was sidelined for the rest of training camp and into the start of the regular season.
When Smith returned to action, Reuben Foster and Fred Warner were entrenched as the starters at the inside linebacker positions. Smith moved to strongside linebacker, but he is one of the first players off the field when the 49ers go to their nickel defense.
Smith will return to the will linebacker spot with Foster ruled out with a hamstring injury.
K Robbie Gould
The 49ers will need all the points they can get with their offense in a state of flux. That means Gould must continue his consistency in the kicking game.
Gould has made 16 of 17 field-goal attempts. Since his club-record streak of 33 consecutive field goals came to an end in Week 5, he has hit six kicks in a row.
The 49ers rank 27th in the NFL in red-zone efficiency with just 11 touchdowns on their 24 trips inside the opposition’s 20-yard line. Whether it’s Beathard or Mullens at quarterback, the 49ers have to score touchdowns as a great rate or settle for Gould’s three points.