49ers at Cardinals: Five players to watch as 49ers try playing spoiler in Arizona

The 49ers (5-9) will look to upset the host Arizona Cardinals (8-6) on the venue they've shared this month, State Farm Stadium.

The 49ers’ “Super Bowl revenge tour” has taken a long-suspected detour. They officially aren’t going back to the playoffs, and they won’t atone for last season’s Lombardi Trophy giveaway.

Their mission has changed, with two games to play.

“Our motto the last week is: just go out there and have some fun,” said C.J. Beathard, who, because of injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and Nick Mullens, will be the 49ers’ third starting quarterback this season when they play Saturday against the host Arizona Cardinals.

Beathard’s former Iowa teammate George Kittle will be back in uniform to help Beathard and the 49ers, and to gain momentum for next season’s anticipated rebound with healthier players.

“Yeah, we didn’t have the year we wanted to have. We’ve got a lot of pieces coming back,” Kittle said Thrusday. ” One of my favorite things to say is, ‘I get Nick Bosa next year.’

“It’s really fun for me to say because he’s just one of my favorite football players to ever even watch. I know he’s excited to get back. I’m going to put my chips in that when Nick Bosa is healthy, we’re going to be just fine.”

Even with Bosa and Kittle and other stars, the 49ers lost to Arizona in the season opener, and State Farm Stadium in Glendale hasn’t been kind as the 49ers’ adopted home this past month because of Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 restrictions. The 49ers (5-9) lost to Buffalo and Washington there earlier this month. After Sunday’s getaway loss in Dallas, no players blamed their refugee status for their freefall.

If the 49ers are to upset the Cardinals (8-6) behind a third-string quarterback and a drastically redacted roster, here are five players who will influence that:

1. Cardinals quarterback Kyle Murray

Murray led the Cardinals to a 24-20 comeback win over the host 49ers in the season opener, and one key way he did so was by running, then ducking. Murray (13 carries, 91 yards) slid late and drew unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on Dre Greenlaw and Kerry Hyder in the Cardinals’ second-half surge.

“The dude is as fast as can be and it’s definitely a task trying to get him down,” Greenlaw said.”First game, we had so many penalties because everyone tried to get in a lick, but as soon as they get there, he goes down. ”

“Playing him a second time, we know what to expect. We have to make sure we’re locked in, on it, ready to hit but as soon as he slides, don’t do too much.”

Murray does a lot more than run. He has 25 touchdown passes and 10 rushing TDs. He won his third NFC Player of the Week honors of 2020 last week, passing for 406 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-26 win over Philadelphia, plus a rushing touchdown.

“He’s one of the best in the world with regards to getting out of the pocket and extending plays and getting first downs with his feet,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. “So, I guess Sunday will tell us everything we need to know about how far we’ve come.”

2. 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard

Time to see if Beathard brings more than just toughness to praise. He won’t be afforded time to shake off rust in his first start since 2018, which was a last-minute defeat at Arizona against Josh Rosen (Beathard’s backup Saturday).

Beathard acknowledges he previously lingered too long in the pocket before escaping. He’s been to susceptible to hard hits (40 sacks, 17 games).

“We’re a lot better team than we were back then,” Beathard said of his former starts in 2017 and ’18. “We’ve got a lot of guys that have been in the offense, you know, some of us for two, three years now that they know the scheme. Me being able to get the ball quicker, being on the same page with guys, that helps a lot, too.”

If Beathard truly excels in this two-game tryout, that could coerce Shanahan to bring him back a fourth season, even if it’s as a No. 3 quarterback. Nick Mullens’ elbow surgery could keep him out all of 2021, so the door is open for Beathard to regain solid footing.

Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury’s scouting report on Beathard: “He knows the offense inside and out. Smart player, accurate thrower.”

Beathard’s completed just 57.8 percent of his passes. Two of his 45 passes this season produced late-game touchdowns, raising his career total to 14 touchdowns against 13 interceptions.

Now, if Beathard stinks it up, Shanahan has no intention on pulling him for Josh Rosen, who surely would love taking a crack at his former team (drafted No. 10 by Arizona in 2018). Rosen only joined the 49ers on Wednesday and this is not seen as a tryout.

3. Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins

There’s no question he could be as dominant as he was in Week 1 (14 catches, 151 yards). The biggest mystery is who will try defending him this time.

Richard Sherman’s season-long calf woes will keep him out, and possibly from ever again suiting up for the 49ers, since he’s said it would take a miracle to re-sign him because of the team’s financial crunch.

Jason Verrett should be game for opposing Hopkins. Verrett missed the opening matchup because of a hamstring injury, then made a stirring comeback this season to revive his career. He missed last game because of illness but looks on track to play.

But safety Jimmie Ward (concussion) is also out, and questionable are safety Tarvarius Moore (knee) and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (hamstring). Ahkello Witherspoon could be a hot target if he starts again, having resurfaced last week with nice plays. Saleh called it one of Witherspoon’s best games since his 2017 rookie year.

4. 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk

All due respect to the 49ers’ two offensive Pro Bowlers – left tackle Trent Williams and fullback Kyle Juszczyk – but Aiyuk has been the 49ers’ brightest star on offense.  He has 59 receptions for 733 yards and five touchdowns. He is 195 yards shy of breaking Jerry Rice’s single-season record for yards by a 49ers rookie.

“Going into a game, my mindset is that I’m going to have 200 yards, and then go from there,” Aiyuk said. “The mindset is not to worry about that record, but to go have the perfect game, which I’ve yet to do.”

Also watch if Aiyuk gets more opportunities as a punt returner. Return specialist Richie James Jr. fumbled a punt return last week and Trent Taylor is on the COVID-19 reserve list. Aiyuk has rotated in as a punt returner the past three games. He has two returns (26 yards) and two fair catches.

5. Tight end George Kittle

Shanahan hasn’t flinched when asked, with no playoffs at stake, why in the heck he’d play Kittle for the first time since a Nov. 1 foot fracture. Simply, Shanahan insists that a medically cleared Kittle should not be withheld from action when other players are pushing through injuries to finish out the season.

Kittle’s got a nice little rivalry going with the Cardinals, too. He’s been injured the past two times he’s faced them.

“This team’s going to look pretty different next year,” Kittle said. “I’m excited for that but I’m also exited to paly these two games and give some teams some fits. It’s going to be pretty fun.”

On Halloween night 2019 in Arizona, he sustained knee and ankle injuries in a tight victory, and he missed the next two games, including a rematch 17 days later. In this season’s opener, Kittle’s four catches (44 yards) sparked the 49ers to an early lead, but a Budda Baker hit sprained Kittle’s knee and sidelined him the next two games.

Kittle has missed the past six games, so eight overall after signing a record contract for a tight end before this season.

Perhaps this game will have to suffice as the vengeance Kittle vociferously sought after the 49ers’ Super Bowl defeat.