49ers hope QB Beathard can follow Prescott's path

Oct 19, 2017 - 1:23 AM SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Two picks after the San Francisco 49ers selected cornerback Rashard Robinson in 2016, the Dallas Cowboys snatched up quarterback Dak Prescott.

Both turned out to be good picks.

The clubs are hoping the same is true this year after they played role reversal, the Cowboys selecting cornerback Jourdan Lewis 12 spots before the 49ers opted for quarterback C.J. Beathard.

The rookies will go head-to-head Sunday when Beathard makes his first NFL start at home against the Cowboys.

"C.J. started a lot of games in college," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said of Beathard's 40-game college career. "I don't think it's too big for him. I think he's used to having it and I think he's just going to go about it like he's gone about every other day throughout his career."

It's fitting that Prescott, the Dallas starter, will be on hand to witness Beathard's starting debut, because they have a lot in common.

Despite lifting Mississippi State to the greatest heights in its football history -- a No. 1 ranking at midseason and an Orange Bowl invitation in 2014 -- Prescott watched seven quarterbacks get selected ahead of him in the 2016 draft.

They were Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, Paxton Lynch, Christian Hackenberg, Jacoby Brissett, Cody Kessler and Connor Cook.

Suffice it to say, many of those teams wish they had that decision to make over again.

Beathard, meanwhile, had Iowa as high as No. 3 in the nation and in the Orange Bowl in 2015, but waited through five quarterbacks picked ahead of him this past April.

They were Mitchell Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, DeShone Kizer and Davis Webb.

How many of those teams will eventually regret the choice? Only time will tell.

Shanahan noted that teams that passed on Beathard needed to look deeper than his measurables.

"It's intangibles that separate everyone," Shanahan insisted. "Who can handle the pressure? Who can do it week in and week out? Who can handle the highs and lows and recover through adversity? And things like that.

"I think he's shown that throughout college. Just being around the guy, I think you have a very tough person physically and mentally. Those are his biggest strengths."

Beathard came off the bench to throw for 245 yards and a touchdown in a come-from-behind effort last week at Washington.

That's what earned him the start this week.

But, Shanahan insisted, nothing is guaranteed moving forward, especially with the 49ers already having put themselves in a good position to get a high pick next year.

"A ton," Shanahan responded when asked what bearing the rest of the season will have on the next draft. "That's for every position. That's for every player on our team. That's for every coach on our team. Like I've been saying: I know we're 0-6 and that's extremely tough, but I'm extremely excited about this place and excited about where we're at and where we're going."

Beathard said Wednesday that the next draft is the last thing on his mind this week.

"I'm really just trying to take it one day, one week at a time. I'm not looking that far ahead," he claimed. "Right now my focus is on today's practice and geared toward beating the Cowboys and doing the best we can to get better and improve."

SERIES HISTORY: 29th regular-season meeting. 49ers lead series, 15-12-1. The road team has won the last three meetings, with the Cowboys prevailing 24-17 last October at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers haven't had a home win over the Cowboys in almost 20 years (November of 1997). The clubs also have met seven times in the playoffs, with the Cowboys winning five times. They have not met in the postseason since 1995.

--Like the rest of the NFL, the 49ers found out Tuesday that Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott had been cleared to play Sunday.

The only silver lining for the 49ers: They expect to have Reuben Foster, their new middle linebacker, back from an injury to go head-to-head with the second-year standout.

"I'm optimistic," head coach Kyle Shanahan said of Foster, who suffered a high ankle sprain in the season opener. "I was hoping (for his return) last week. Definitely wasn't as optimistic last week. But I'm more optimistic this week.

"You never know. It's a high ankle sprain. You don't know how those act. I'm just really hoping he can get three good days of practice in. If he does, I feel pretty confident he'll be out there."

Foster would be filling the opening created when the 49ers released NaVorro Bowman last week. Brock Coyle started in Bowman's place last Sunday at Washington.

--The 49ers are calling Sunday "Dwight Clark Day" in honor of the longtime standout and team executive who was diagnosed with ALS in March.

The 49ers' 1981 championship team, which earned a spot in the Super Bowl only after Clark's memorable catch of a Joe Montana pass in the final seconds against Dallas in the NFC Championship Game, will be honored at halftime.

NOTES: QB C.J. Beathard will make his first NFL start Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. Beathard replaced QB Brian Hoyer in the second quarter of last week's loss at Washington and led a comeback with 245 yards and a touchdown. The 49ers lost the game 26-24. ... FB Kyle Juszczyk (sore back) was held out of practice Wednesday. He was not able to play in last week's loss at Washington. ... TE Logan Paulsen was released Tuesday. The veteran had played in each of the 49ers' first six games this season, used mainly on special teams. ... DT Arik Armstead (broken hand) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. He suffered the injury in last week's loss at Washington. Armstead had started the 49ers' six games. ... DT Leger Douzable was signed to a one-year contract Tuesday. Douzable takes the roster spot created when DT Arik Armstead (broken hand) was placed on injured reserve. The 284-pounder made five starts for Buffalo last season. ... DE Aaron Lynch (strained calf) was not able to practice Wednesday. He suffered the injury in last week's loss at Washington. ... DE Tony McDaniel was signed to a one-year deal Tuesday. An 11-year veteran, McDaniel has made 47 starts in his career and recorded 11.5 sacks. ...MLB Reuben Foster (sprained ankle) practiced Wednesday and appears set to return to game action Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. Foster hasn't played since suffering the injury in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers.