49ers-Panthers pregame: WR corps will include Sanders, not Goodwin
SANTA CLARA — Perhaps the biggest question about Emmanuel Sanders’ 49ers debut today is which other wide receivers will share today’s targets, and Marquise Goodwin is not among them.
Goodwin missed practice Thursday and Friday while coping with a personal issue, prompting the 49ers (6-0) to list him as questionable to face the Carolina Panthers (4-2).
Also suiting up at wide receiver are Deebo Samuel, Dante Pettis, Kendrick Bourne and Richie James Jr. The 49ers released Jordan Matthews on Saturday to activate long snapper Kyle Nelson, who finished a 10-game suspension.
OUT FOR THE 49ERS
Ruled out by the 49ers are:
Left tackle Joe Staley (fibula)
Right tackle Mike McGlinchey (knee)
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk (knee)
Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (foot)
Quarterback C.J. Beathard
Defensive tackle Jullian Taylor
Staley practiced in a limited capacity last week, and delays his return from a Week 2 fibula fracture to at least next Thursday, when the 49ers visit the Arizona Cardinals.
TRADE DEADLINE LOOMS
With the trade deadline Tuesday at 1 p.m., the word is out that backup quarterback C.J. Beathard is drawing interest, ESPN reported.
Beathard has gone 1-9 as a stop-gap starter since the 49ers used a 2017 first-round draft pick on the Iowa product. When he hasn’t been splitting scout-team reps with Nick Mullens, Beathard has been helping on special-teams coverage units in practice.
49ers have gotten inquiries on backup QB C.J. Beathard, a name that bears some watching at the trade deadline.
Despite Falcons TE Austin Hooper being in the last year of his contract and team being pressed against cap, Atlanta will not trade its young TE by Tuesday’s deadline.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 27, 2019
PANTHERS UPDATES
Among those out for the Panthers is quarterback Cam Newton (foot) for a fifth straight game.
#Panthers QB Cam Newton won’t play today at #49ers because of his foot injury it he’s testing things out pic.twitter.com/glx68Wkl4k
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) October 27, 2019
Also out among the Panthers: Edge rusher Christian Miller (ankle), offensive tackle Greg Little (concussion), wide receiver Greg Dortch, offensive lineman Bryan Witzmann and defensive end Bryan Cox, Jr.
MULLENS, FAVRE REUNITE
Mullens, who did some work with fellow Southern Miss product Brett Favre before the 2017 draft, met up in pregame workouts with Favre, who was in attendance. After Mullens successfully won his starting debut last year against the Raiders, Favre called into the NFL Network postgame show to congratulate Mullens.
Eye in the sky: #49ers Nick Mullens reuniting with @SouthernMissFB pal @BrettFavre before today’s game pic.twitter.com/InxOOto52m
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) October 27, 2019
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