NFC Notes: 49ers, Cardinals, Seahawks

49ers

49ers’ HC Kyle Shanahan is going with QB C.J. Beathard regardless of what happens this week but spoke about attempting to acclimate QB Josh Rosen to their offense in the case that something would happen to Beathard.

“We’re right now trying to get him to learn the offense,” Shanahan said, via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. “He hasn’t been in an offense like this. So from a terminology standpoint, it’s a huge challenge for him. I’m not really looking at it physically right now. We know he’s physically gifted, but I just want to see how much he can learn, so if God forbid something did happen to C.J. in the game, that he can come in and hand the ball off and when we do throw, know where those guys are and understand what the terminology is.”

Shanahan was thankful to be reunited with LT Trent Williams this year and hopes that he sticks with the 49ers beyond this season.

“It’s been really cool to have him,” Shanahan said, via Maiocco. “I had him early in his career, and to have him, whatever it’s been, eight years later, and to feel like he’s still getting better. It’s been fun to have him. Hopefully, we get him back here next year because I feel like we provided him the kind of organization that I told him it would be. And now we got to get our guys healthy so he can see the true team that we have and have had and will continue to have, which I think he has a pretty good idea about it because he saw these guys throughout training camp.”

• Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says that TE George Kittle is excited to play this week after having not appeared in a game since being injured on November 1st. The team will also be without CB Richard Sherman, QB Nick Mullens, RB Raheem Mostert, WR Deebo Samuel, and FS Jimmie Ward.

Cardinals

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray is grateful for receiving a Pro Bowl selection, but he does not think it means he’s reached his full potential. 

“I don’t really look at it like that,” Murray said, via Darren Urban of the team’s official site. “Like I said, there’s a lot of people that helped me get to this point. A lot of work that was done in the offseason, my whole life, truly, to get to this point. It’s just a huge honor, I don’t look at it as validation. I still have a long way to go, and that’s my viewpoint.”

Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury said he is not concerned about Murray’s personal statistics when asked about the quarterback approaching 4,000 passing yards and 40 total touchdowns. 

“Any expectation any of us can put on him will fall way short of what he has for himself,” Kingsbury said. “That isn’t anything I ever look at or worry about. You have a guy like Mahomes doing what he’s doing, Lamar coming out in his second year, having all-time statistical years. (Expectations) come with the territory.”

• Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald says he hasn’t thought much about whether he’ll return for another season in 2021: “I haven’t really given it much thought to be honest with you.” (ArizonaSports.com)

Seahawks

Seahawks’ RB Rashaad Penny says his ACL injury at the end of last season has only made him appreciate the game more, despite only playing six snaps in his return last week.

“It’s a blessing and I’m just ecstatic to be back,” Penny said, via Brady Henderson of ESPN. “I missed these guys. I missed playing football. My first time back on the field, all I did was smile every play.”

• Seahawks’ QB Russell Wilson holds himself to a high standard to be a great player, but says the mindset comes with no real pressure: “What I get to do is not real pressure. It’s a gift.” (Brady Henderson)
• Seahawks’ DT Jarran Reed will likely be unavailable Sunday against the Rams, while LG Mike Iupati and RT Brandon Shell were both held out of practice. Seahawks’ HC Pete Carroll mentioned that he hopes Shell can return to practice on Friday.  (Henderson)