NFC West Notes: 49ers, Rams, Seahawks

49ers

• Matt Barrows of The Athletic could only see Nick Mullens challenging Jimmy Garoppolo for the starting quarterback role if Garoppolo suffers a setback with his knee.
• However, Barrows expects Mullens and C.J. Beathard to compete for the primary backup job. Barrows adds that trade rumors surrounding Mullens “don’t make sense” given Garoppolo’s injury, given that he must have “sustained success” in order to have trade value.
• Barrows writes that the “odds are good” that the 49ers will spend heavily in free agency this offseason.
• As for the possibility of signing Seahawks S Earl Thomas, Barrows believes Thomas will ultimately end up with the Cowboys, considering that Dallas showed interest in trading for him before the deadline.
• Barrows expects 49ers DL DeForest Buckner to be the team’s next “big” contract extension, while RB Matt Breida, K Robbie Gould and G Mike Person are also potential extension candidates.
• Speaking of Buckner, he told reporters on Thursday that his agent plans to meet with the 49ers regarding an extension this offseason. (Eric Branch)

Rams

New Rams RB C.J. Anderson, who could see some game reps as soon as this weekend, says it won’t take him long to get acclimated to a new system.

“I’ve been in this league long enough, and been around a bunch of offenses long enough, where it won’t take long to get acclimated,” Anderson said, via the Los Angeles Times.

Seahawks

• Seahawks HC Pete Carroll said S Bradley McDougald is getting a knee treatment and will be out of town until Friday and will “possibly” play in Week 16. (Brady Henderson)
• Carroll added that RB Rashaad Penny (knee) will try to practice Thursday but his status will not be determined until the end of the week.
• Seahawks G D.J. Fluker‘s (hamstring) status will also be determined later this week as well.
• Regarding signing RB Bo Scarbrough, Carroll said they added Scarbrough as insurance in case Penny cannot play: “We’re serious about running the football and this guy is a guy that gives us an attack mentality and a physical aspect of it in the event that maybe we are coming up short here happens.” (Brady Henderson)