Nick Mullens Injury News & Updates

Mullens is in line to sign with the Jaguars on a two-year, $6.5 million contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Mullens, now heading into his age-30 season, looks primed to operate as the new backup to Trevor Lawrence, with Mac Jones scheduled to depart Jacksonville in free agency. Across four regular-season appearances with Minnesota in 2024, Mullens completed two of two pass attempts for 38 yards and zero touchdowns or interceptions. Back in 2023 with the Vikings, he completed 100 of 148 pass attempts for 1,306 yards, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions (five appearances).

Mullens completed two of two pass attempts for 38 yards and zero touchdowns across four games during the 2024 regular season.

The veteran backup quarterback played a total of seven offensive snaps across the four contests, and he rushed three times for negative two yards on top of the limited pass attempts. Mullens turns 30 years old in March and is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason. The Vikings' quarterback picture is unclear, with both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones also slated to be free agents. J.J. McCarthy (knee) is coming off a serious injury and missed his entire 2024 rookie campaign.

Mullens played two of the Vikings' 71 offensive snaps in Sunday's 30-27 overtime win over the Bears, completing his lone pass attempt for a 14-yard gain.

For the first time since Week 5, Mullens was summoned from the bench to replace Sam Darnold, who walked off the field slowly after taking a hit on an incomplete pass on 2nd-and-13 with 6:32 remaining in the fourth quarter. Mullens came in on third down and found an open Aaron Jones in the middle of the field to extend the drive, then handed the ball off to Jones on the next play before Darnold was cleared to return to the game. Darnold was able to finish out the game and doesn't appear on the Vikings' Week 13 injury report, so Mullens looks poised to remain in a backup role moving forward. He may not be the top choice if Darnold were to miss time with an injury later on this season, however, as the Vikings signed Daniel Jones to their practice squad Wednesday and presumably view him as an upgrade over Mullens for the No. 2 role.

Mullens is active for Sunday's game against the Texans.

For the third week in a row to open the season, Mullens will suit up as the No. 2 quarterback ahead of Brett Rypien, who is inactive as an emergency third option. With rookie first-round pick J.J. McCarthy (knee) lost for the season, Mullens should continue to dress as the top backup to starter Sam Darnold throughout the 2024 campaign.

Mullens completed 11 of 21 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 27-12 preseason win over the Browns.

None of the Vikings' starters were on the field Saturday, and even some key reserves like Ty Chandler sat out, but Mullens still put together a decent line while playing with backups for the entire first half. With rookie J.J. McCarthy (knee) out for the season, Mullens will provide Minnesota with an experienced backup to Sam Darnold at quarterback -- and Darnold's track record at least offers the possibility that he will play his way out of another starting job, opening the door for Mullens to take over the offense.

Mullens will start Saturday's preseason game at Cleveland, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. He's set to become the backup quarterback to starter Sam Darnold with J.J. McCarthy out for the season with a knee injury.

Jaren Hall will win the third quarterback role as a result as well. Mullens was mediocre in five games (three starts) after Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending injury last year, averaging 8.8 YPA but throwing eight interceptions. Still, he's a veteran who can fill in and have a strong game or two with his aggressive style if Darnold is injured.

Mullens looks set to work as the top backup to Sam Darnold, who is slated to ink a one-year deal with Minnesota, while Kirk Cousins is primed to move on to Atlanta, Christian Gonzales of NFL.com reports.

Mullens and 2023 fifth-round pick Jaren Hall are currently the Vikings' only options at quarterback behind Darnold, though the team could further bolster the position in free agency or the 2024 NFL Draft. Now heading into the final year of his contact, and having spent the last two seasons as a backup for Minnesota, Mullens could be cut with only $375,000 in dead money, but the team may see value in a veteran already familiar with the present offensive scheme. The Vikings hold the No. 11 pick in April's draft and could be a candidate to select a quarterback there, or to move up the board.

Mullens completed 30 of 44 passes for 396 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed twice for eight yards in the Vikings' 30-20 loss to the Lions on Sunday.

Mullens put together an outstanding line from a fantasy perspective, but his two fourth-quarter interceptions helped sink any chance the Vikings had of temporarily remaining alive for a postseason berth with a win. Mullens put up plenty of eye-catching play on tape over his late-season three-game starting stint (five overall appearances), throwing for at least 303 yards and multiple touchdowns in all three games he opened under center. With Kirk Cousins' (IR-Achilles) future in Minnesota uncertain, it s conceivable Mullens could receive some consideration for the 2024 starting job, although he'll be 29 by the start of the new campaign and has profiled strictly as a backup throughout his career thus far.

Coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday that Mullens will start Sunday's season finale against the Lions.

As Minnesota's quarterback carousel continues to spin, it has landed back on Mullens for the season finale. Mullens played the second half of the team's Week 17 loss to the Packers after the curious decision to start rookie Jaren Hall backfired. In two previous starts this season, Mullens threw for an impressive 714 yards and four touchdowns but also had six interceptions.

Mullens completed 13 of 22 pass attempts for 113 yards and a touchdown with a six-yard rushing attempt in Sunday's 33-10 loss to Green Bay.

Rookie Jaren Hall struggled to the tune of no touchdowns and two turnovers in his first career start, so head coach Kevin O'Connell switched back to Mullens at the start of the second half. The veteran signal-caller didn't give the offense a significant makeover, but he certainly produced the more fantasy-friendly half Sunday. O'Connell stated after the game that he has not committed to a starting quarterback for Minnesota's regular-season finale against Detroit, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. The more-experienced Mullens would be the logical choice for the 8-8 Vikings, as their playoff hopes (while slim) are still alive. Mullens also represents the option the higher fantasy upside after he threw two touchdowns and four turnovers in a narrow loss to Detroit when the two teams met in Week 16.

Coach Kevin O'Connell named Jaren Hall the Vikings' starting quarterback for Sunday's contest against the Packers, with Mullens serving as the No. 2 option at the position, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Following Kirk Cousins' season-ending Achilles tear back in Week 8, Minnesota has cycled through three different quarterbacks, with Mullens getting the call the last two games. While Mullens filled the stat sheet (48-for-69 passing for 714 yards and four touchdowns), he also tossed six interceptions in losses at Cincinnati and to the Lions. With Hall back in the top job, Mullens could have been demoted to No. 3 on the QB depth chart, but O'Connell will stick with him as the primary backup over Joshua Dobbs.

Mullens completed 22 of 36 pass attempts for 411 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions in Sunday's 30-24 loss to Detroit. He had one rush for one yard and fumbled twice but did not lose either.

Mullens earned the starting nod after nearly leading Minnesota to victory in an overtime loss to Cincinnati last week. The veteran backup continued to sling the ball around freely, eclipsing 400 yards passing after throwing for 303 yards against the Bengals. While that style of play can result in the gaudy numbers we've seen so far from Mullens, it can also result in costly turnovers. The 28-year-old threw four more interceptions and nearly lost two fumbles after throwing two picks in his last start. That said, there is fantasy value to be had from Mullens based on passing volume alone -- especially in formats that do not punish turnovers harshly -- for next Sunday's home matchup against the Packers.

Coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed Monday that Mullens will start Sunday's game against the Lions.

As expected, Mullens will make a second consecutive start. He threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's 27-24 overtime loss to the Bengals but had a pair of interceptions in Cincinnati territory. The 7-7 Vikings are in the playoff hunt and believe Mullens gives them the best chance to win over Joshua Dobbs or Jaren Hall.

Mullens is expected to draw another start for Minnesota during Sunday's divisional matchup against the Lions, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Mullens moved the Vikings' offense during the team's Week 15 loss to Cincinnati, but he also had two costly turnovers in the 27-24 overtime defeat. In all Mullens completed 26 of 33 pass attempts for 303 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, an overall respectable effort. He faces a more favorable matchup against Detroit in Week 16, so fantasy managers can retain confidence in the prospects of top pass catchers of Justin Jefferson (7-84 vs. Bengals), Jordan Addison (6-111-2) and T.J. Hockenson (6-63).

Mullens completed 26 of 33 pass attempts for 303 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions against Cincinnati on Saturday.

Mullens generally did a good job of moving the ball and made some gutsy throws, but Mullens' gunslinger mentality can be a liability at other times given his lack of throwing velocity. The Vikings ended up losing in overtime, and Mullens' two interceptions were part of how that happened. Mullens was a turnover-prone player even in his Southern Mississippi days, so it will probably always be part of his game. With that said, Mullens could have a favorable matchup against Detroit in Week 16 if he remains Minnesota's starter.

Head coach Kevin O'Connell announced Tuesday that Mullens will serve as the Vikings' starting quarterback Saturday in Cincinnati, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.

Mullens will become the Vikings' fourth different starting quarterback of the season after he came on in relief of a struggling Joshua Dobbs in this past Sunday's 3-0 win over the Raiders. After throwing four interceptions in a 12-10 loss to the Bears in Week 12 before the Vikings' bye week, Dobbs played turnover-free football Sunday but completed just 10 of 23 passes for 63 yards before being benched in favor of Mullens in the fourth quarter. Mullens proceeded to complete nine of 13 passes for 83 yards while directing the Vikings' only scoring drive of the day that ended in a 36-yard Greg Joseph field goal. Though Mullens will draw his first NFL start since 2021, he possesses ample experience, having made 25 appearances (17 starts) over his seven-year career. He also has plenty of familiarity with O'Connell's system, having been with Minnesota as a backup to the injured Kirk Cousins (Achilles) since the start of the 2022 season.

Mullens completed nine of 13 passes for 83 yards in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Raiders after replacing Joshua Dobbs under center in the fourth quarter.

Mullens led Minnesota to the game's only points on his second possession after taking over for Dobbs, putting together a 56-yard drive for the Vikings' only trip into the red zone and setting up a 36-yard Greg Joseph field goal. Dobbs has played poorly two games in a row, so Mullens seems likely to make his first NFL start since he was a member of the Browns in 2021 when Minnesota heads to Cincinnati in Week 15.

Mullens (back) is listed as active Sunday in Denver.

Mullens spent the past five games on injured reserve, a span in which the Vikings' quarterback room experienced significant turnover. Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in Week 8, Jaren Hall started for him Week 9 and suffered a concussion almost immediately, and recent addition Joshua Dobbs stepped in and led an improbable win against the Falcons. Dobbs is starting a second straight contest Sunday, but Mullens will return as his backup with Hall still in the protocol for head injuries.

Mullens (back) was activated to Minnesota's 53-man roster Saturday.

Mullens had previously been sidelined for Minnesota's last five games with back stiffness. The 28-year-old quarterback is still listed as questionable for Sunday's contest, but now that he's been activated to the Vikings' active roster, he will likely serve as the team's top backup quarterback behind Joshua Dobbs in Week 11.

Mullens (back) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at the Broncos.

Coach Kevin O'Connell said Friday that he is optimistic Mullens will be able to serve as the primary backup to Joshua Dobbs in Week 11, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports. With rookie fifth-rounder Jaren Hall (concussion) already ruled out for Sunday's contest, Mullens currently figures to serve as the Vikings' signal caller should anything happen to Dobbs.

Mullens (back) was designated to return from IR on Wednesday, Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Mullens will now have a 21-day window to practice with the team before needing to be added to the 53-man roster, although he could be added to it at any time, including before Sunday's game against the Broncos. Once activated, he will likely serve as the backup to Joshua Dobbs.

Mullens could be designated to return from IR this week, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Mullens will have a 21-day window to practice with the team before needing to be added to the active roster if he is designated to return. However, O'Connell is not certain they'll open that window this week. Either way, Joshua Dobbs will likely get the start in Week 10 against the Saints, even if the Southern Miss product is activated ahead of time.

Mullens (back) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.

Mullens will be sidelined until at least Week 10 against the Saints. Rookie Jaren Hall will work as Kirk Cousins' backup while Mullens is sidelined, and Minnesota also signed quarterback Sean Mannion to its practice squad Wednesday.

Coach Kevin O'Connell suggested placing Mullens (back) on injured reserve is a possibility, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.

Mullens was inactive for Sunday's Week 5 game against the Chiefs, as he's reportedly dealing with back stiffness. Rookie Jaren Hall served as Kirk Cousins' backup versus Kansas City and figures to be the No. 2 for however long Mullens is sidelined.

Mullens (back) is inactive Sunday against the Chiefs.

Mullens logged limited practices throughout the week, but he'll be unable to backup Kirk Cousins against Kansas City. Jaren Hall will instead get that opportunity in Week 5.

Mullens (back) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus Kansas City.

Mullens seems to be a coin-flip proposition to suit up in Week 5 after practicing in a limited capacity during the week. If he sits out, rookie fifth-rounder Jaren Hall would take over as Minnesota's backup quarterback.

Mullens (back) was a limited participant at practice Thursday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Mullens logged limited participation for the second straight day Thursday, putting his availability for Week 5 in doubt. To avoid carrying an injury designation into the weekend, he'll probably need to practice in full Friday.

Mullens is active for the third straight game for Minnesota and locked in as the second quarterback ahead of the inactive Jaren Hall.

The seventh-year pro is the backup to Minnesota starter Kirk Cousins. Mullens signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Vikings in March and went 14-of-20 with 139 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in a preseason appearance.

Mullens was 14-of-20 passing for 139 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions in Thursday's preseason loss at Seattle.

Mullens had a solid performance while getting the preseason start while rookie Jaren Hall was underwhelming (2.6 YPA). Mullens looks to have a solid lead on the backup role to Kirk Cousins at this point.

Mullens has agreed to a two-year, $4 million deal with the Vikings on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network repots.

As expected, Mullens will stick in Minnesota and continue to operate as the primary backup to Kirk Cousins. The undrafted product out of Southern Mississippi was traded by the Raiders to the Vikings last year and appeared in four contests for Minnesota, completing 21 of 25 attempts for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception across 54 offensive snaps.

Mullens is expected to re-sign with the Vikings, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

The Raiders traded Mullens to the Vikings in August last year, and the quarterback served as the primary backup to Kirk Cousins during the 2022 campaign. The undrafted product out of Southern Mississippi figures to garner a similar role in 2023 if a deal is finalized soon.

Mullens was 11-for-13 passing for 116 yards and one interception during Sunday's 29-13 win against Chicago.

Mullens took over in the second half for starter Kirk Cousins who was rested ahead of the playoffs. Mullens largely played with the second- and third-string offense, but showed he's at least a steady hand as the backup.

Mullens completed all four pass attempts for 57 yards and touchdown without an interception in Sunday's loss at Green Bay. He took over in the fourth quarter amid a blowout loss.

Mullens was playing in garbage time but still looked sharp with the backup offense. He could get significant time or even start Week 18 against the Bears if the Vikings decide to rest starters head of the playoffs.

The Vikings have traded a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to the Raiders in exchange for Mullens, Craig Peters of the team's official site reports.

Now that he's with the Vikings, Mullens will have an opportunity to compete for the team's No. 2 QB job behind starter Kirk Cousins. Also currently in the mix on that front are Sean Mannion and Kellen Mond. Additionally, the trade solidifies Jarrett Stidham's standing as Derek Carr's top backup for the Raiders.

Las Vegas signed Mullens to a contract Friday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Mullens looks primed to compete with Garrett Gilbert for the No. 2 gig behind Derek Carr. Last season, Mullens completed 20 of 30 pass attempts for 147 yards and one score in his lone appearance with the Browns.

Mullens did not play in Week 18's 21-16 win over Cincinnati.

Mullens was added to the active roster after quarterback Baker Mayfield was shut down leading up the season finale. Mullens served as the back to Case Keenum. He made one start in 2021 in week 15 when both Baker Mayfield and Keenum were on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He enters the offseason without a contract, but his knowledge of the system could be of value to the Browns, who are considered playoff worthy despite a disappointing 2021.

The Browns signed Mullens to their active roster Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Mullens was activated from the practice squad COVID-19 list Tuesday and will be on the active roster for the team's Week 18 matchup against Cincinnati. He'll serve as the backup to Case Keenum on Sunday after Baker Mayfield (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.

Mullens was restored to the Browns' practice squad from the COVID-19 list Tuesday.

Mullens is likely looking at a promotion to the active roster this week to backup Case Keenum on Sunday against the Steelers. With Baker Mayfield (shoulder) out and the Browns cutting practice squad quarterback Kyle Lauletta on Tuesday, that leaves no competition for Mullens to earn the No. 2 spot on the quarterback positional depth chart.

The Browns placed Mullens (undisclosed) on the practice squad COVID-19 list Wednesday.

Mullens reverted to Cleveland's practice squad Monday but will now need to spend time away from the team. It's not yet clear whether the 26-year-old has tested positive for COVID-19.

Mullens reverted to the Browns' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Mullens drew a spot start at QB in Week 15. However, Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum both returned in Week 16, so the 26-year-old Mullens was a healthy scratch against the Packers. He will now head back to the Browns' practice squad

Mullens is inactive for Saturday's game against the Packers, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

After logging a spot start at QB in Week 15, Mullens won't be needed Saturday, with both Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum active versus Green Bay.

Mullens was activated from the Browns' practice squad Friday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Mullens started this past Monday's loss to Las Vegas but subsequently reverted back to the practice squad. Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum were reinstated from the COVID-19 list Friday and will likely function as the No. 1 and No. 2 options at quarterback for Cleveland on Saturday, so Mullens will presumably be the team's third option at the position this weekend.

With Baker Mayfield's quarantine period ending Friday, making him eligible to play Saturday against Green Bay, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, Mullens could be the second-string quarterback.

Mullens was the fill-in starter in Monday's 16-14 loss to the Raiders, as both Mayfield and Case Keenum were on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Mayfield will need to be evaluated by Cleveland's medical staff, including for conditioning, before he's made active for the game. Keenum's quarantine period extends beyond Friday, and he will need to test negative prior to Saturday in order to be eligible.

Mullens completed 20 of 30 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown in Monday's 16-14 loss to the Raiders.

A Browns skill position group decimated by a COVID-19 outbreak didn't do Mullens many favors and committed a number of costly drops, but the third-string quarterback still almost managed to lead Cleveland to victory with both Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum on the reserve/COVID-19 list. After being shut out in the first half, the Browns got a Nick Chubb rushing touchdown in the third quarter before Mullens found tight end Harrison Bryant for the go-ahead six-yard score on fourth down with 3:45 remaining. The Raiders answered with a game-winning 48-yard field goal on the game's final play, prevailing despite Mullens' valiant effort. At least one of Mayfield or Keenum will almost certainly be back in time to start against the Packers in Week 16, relegating Mullens back to the bench.

Mullens looks set to start Monday's game against the Raiders with Baker Mayfield (illness) and Case Keenum (illness) both having failed to clear the league's COVID-19 protocols, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Mullens' first career start came against the Raiders in prime time back in 2018, when he was a member of the 49ers, and he managed to post three touchdowns and 262 passing yards en route to a blowout win. That said, he now faces the task of overcoming a Browns roster that still has a number of players on the COVID list, including both Jarvis Landry (illness) and Austin Hooper (illness). Kyle Lauletta appears set to operate as Mullens' top backup versus Las Vegas.

With Case Keenum (illness) slated to join Baker Mayfield (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Mullens is now a candidate to start Saturday's game against the Raiders, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Browns currently have numerous players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but Cabot relays that under NFL's newly-introduced COVID-19 protocols, some asymptomatic vaccinated players could potentially be cleared for the contest, with added clarity on that front likely to arrive Friday afternoon. If neither Mayfield or Keenum gain clearance, however, Mullens -- who was activated from Cleveland's practice squad Thursday -- would be in line to serve as the team's starter in Week 15.

Mullens was elevated from the Browns' practice squad ahead of Saturday's game against the Raiders.

Mullens will join the Browns' active roster ahead of Week 15 after Baker Mayfield tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. If Mayfield is unavailable Saturday, Mullens will serve as Cleveland's No. 2 quarterback behind Case Keenum.

Mullens has reverted to the Browns' practice squad per the NFL's transaction log.

Mullens was elevated to the Browns' active roster prior to Thursday's victory over the Broncos. He backed up Case Keenum who was replacing Baker Mayfield (shoulder) under center. While he was suited up, he never saw any action on the field.

Mullens was elevated from the Browns' practice squad ahead of Thursday's game against the Broncos, Dan Labbe of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Mullens will join the active roster for the first time this season to serve as the backup to Case Keenum since Baker Mayfield (shoulder) has ben ruled out. The 26-year-old is unlikely to see any playing time if Keenum remains healthy against Denver.

The Browns will elevate Mullens from their practice squad to serve as Case Keenum's backup for Thursday night's contest against the Broncos, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

With Baker Mayfield (shoulder) ruled out for Thursday's contest, the Browns will elect to start Case Keenum and elevate Mullens to serve as his backup. The 26-year-old spent the preseason with Philadelphia, but he joined Cleveland's practice squad after Browns offensive assistant T.C. McCartney, who coached Mullens in San Francisco, vouched for him.

Mullens was signed to the Browns' practice squad Wednesday, Andrew Gribble of the Browns' official site reports.

Mullens, who spent the 2021 preseason in the Eagles' camp, was on the field Wednesday, working behind Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum. He spent four seasons in San Francisco and started 16 games for the 49ers. That's where he worked with Cleveland offensive assistant T.C. McCartney, who vouched for him to the Browns' decision makers.

Mullens was released by the Eagles on Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The Eagles paid a conditional sixth-round pick to acquire Gardner Minshew from the Jaguars on Saturday, all but confirming Mullens' dreadful preseason would leave him on the chopping block. With only a handful of days until the start of the regular season, it's likely Mullens could find a home on another team's practice squad.

Mullens completed one of five passes for four yards and two interceptions during Friday's preseason loss to the Steelers.

Managing to pull off a passer rating of zero, Mullens arguably had the worst preseason performance of the week despite only playing a handful of snaps. While this is not a great start in his bid to convince Philadelphia to carry three quarterbacks into the regular season, Mullens at least seems healthy after ending the 2020 campaign on injured reserve with an elbow injury.

The Eagles signed Mullens (elbow) to a contract Monday.

An eight-game starter for the 49ers in 2020, Mullens will find himself third on the depth chart behind Jalen Hurts and Joe Flacco as he begins his tenure in Philadelphia. Since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2017, the 26-year-old signal-caller has appeared in 19 games (16 starts) for San Francisco, completing 64.5 percent of his throws for 7.9 yards per attempt and a 25:22 TD:INT. Mullens required surgery in December to address an injury to his right (throwing) elbow, but the Eagles' willingness to sign him suggests he'll likely be cleared for full activities before training camp or shortly after camp begins.

Mullens (elbow) became an unrestricted free agent Wednesday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The 49ers didn't tender Mullens, so he's free to sign with any team. Mullens played 10 games (eight starts) for the 49ers last season, completing 65 percent of his passes for 2,437 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He's still rehabbing from the elbow surgery that ended his season. There's still a chance that he returns to San Francisco next year depending on Jimmy Garoppolo's status.

The 49ers do not plan to tender Mullens (elbow) as a restricted free agent, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Mullens served as a spot starter for the 49ers throughout his first three seasons with team, appearing in 19 games overall. He experienced his most success during his rookie campaign in 2018, when he completed 64% of his passes while racking 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Mullens is currently rehabbing from elbow surgery, and he could ultimately land back with the 49ers later in the offseason.

Mullens (elbow) avoided Tommy John surgery and should be healthy for the start of training camp, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Mullens did have surgery on his injured right elbow in late December, but he avoided the famous procedure that often causes MLB pitchers to miss entire seasons. He can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, while fellow 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo has been oft-mentioned as a potential cap casualty. Of course, the Niners presumably will try to find someone better than Mullens if they do end up moving on from Garoppolo.

The 49ers placed Mullens (elbow) on injured reserve Friday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Mullens suffered a season-ending injury Week 15 that may require Tommy John surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow. The true nature of the issue hasn't been confirmed, but the 49ers now have done the expected and opened up a spot on the active roster with his placement on IR. C.J. Beathard will lead the offense for the final two contests of the campaign, with new signee Josh Rosen backing him up.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that Mullens may need Tommy John surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The 25-year-old quarterback has been ruled out for the season, and C.J. Beathard will take over under center. Mullens is still being evaluated, but if he needs Tommy John surgery, there's a chance his 2021 campaign is wiped out as well.

Mullens is expected to undergo surgery after sustaining a right elbow surgery in Sunday's 41-33 loss to the Cowboys, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Mullens isn't expected to be available for Saturday's game against the Cardinals, and there's a good chance that he's done for the season. Moving forward, C.J. Beathard is in line to be the 49ers' starting quarterback, although the team opened Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) will return to practice this week and is eligible to play Saturday. If Mullens' season is over, he'll finish with 2,437 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Mullens appeared to suffer an elbow injury late in the game and did not finish, according to Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Mullens completed 21 of 36 attempts for 219 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions before suffering the injury on the first play of his team's final drive, which finished in a Hail Mary touchdown thrown by C.J. Beathard. He will likely undergo testing to determine the severity of the injury in the coming hours, but with the 49ers' record now sitting at 5-9, it wouldn't be surprising if Beathard ends up starting next Saturday's matchup with the Cardinals.

Coach Kyle Shanahan intends to start Mullens in Sunday's game at Dallas, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Mullens continues to put up numbers on a weekly basis, but his six-game run as the 49ers' starting QB has resulted in a 1-5 record. A depleted roster can partly be to blamed, but he's still committed more turnovers (nine) than touchdown passes recorded (eight) during that stretch. Still, Shanahan plans to roll with Mullens down the stretch with Jimmy Garoppolo in the midst of his recovery from a severe high-ankle sprain.

Coach Kyle Shanahan wouldn't commit to Mullens starting Sunday against the Cowboys, and the coach indicated he's considering all options at quarterback, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

The 25-year-old struggled during Sunday's loss to Washington, completing 25 of 45 pass attempts for 260 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) won't be returning from injured reserve this week, but there's a chance C.J. Beathard could take over the starting job. Mullens should remain the favorite given he's started the past five games, but the 49ers could opt for a change under center given his 6:7 TD:INT and two lost fumbles during that stretch.

Mullens completed 25 of 45 pass attempts for 260 yards, one touchdown and one interception during Sunday's 23-15 loss to Washington.

Mullens struggled against the Washington pass rush as he set season lows in completion percentage (56 percent) and yards per attempt (5.8). He threw a pick-six on the last drive of the third quarter but came right back and capped off a 75-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Juszczyk. Mullen has topped 250 passing yards in four of the last five games, but he's also posted a 6:7 TD:INT during that span and will look to get back on track against a vulnerable Cowboys defense next Sunday.

Mullens completed 26 of 39 passes for 316 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in the 49ers' 34-24 loss to the Bills on Monday night.

The third-year quarterback extended what has become a familiar statistical pattern, namely, putting together serviceable fantasy numbers that are nevertheless marred by interceptions. In the case of Monday night, Mullens' mistakes were particularly ill-timed, as both of his picks came in the second half with San Francisco already down by multiple scores but with a chance to still mount a comeback. The second interception, which came in the end zone with 7:05 remaining, short-circuited an impressive eight-play, 70-yard march that had seen the Niners drive to the Bills' five-yard line. Mullens now has six interceptions in the last four games, blemishing what has otherwise often been strong play on his part. Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) is in Arizona with the team and reportedly has an outside chance of returning for a Week 14 matchup with Washington, but a decision on his status may not come until later in the week. If the veteran needs at least one more week, Mullens figures to have a decent chance of retaining th

Mullens completed 24 of 25 pass attempts for 252 yards and an interception during Sunday's 23-20 win over the Rams.

Mullens completed an impressive 69 percent of his attempts and averaged a respectable 7.2 yards per attempt. He failed to throw a touchdown pass while throwing an interception and taking two sacks, but he orchestrated the drive that resulted in the game-winning field goal for his first taste of victory since Week 3. Mullens is expected to start again next Monday against the Bills but seems unlikely to produce impressive fantasy totals.

Mullens completed 24 of 38 pass attempts for 247 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions during Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Saints.

Mullens looked quite comfortable on the opening drive, completing 6-of-7 passes and capping it off with a short touchdown strike to Brandon Aiyuk. He struggled from that point on, however, and finished tied for his season low of 6.5 yards per attempt. Moreover, Mullen threw interceptions on his team's first and last possessions of the second half, ruining any chance of a comeback with Drew Brees (ribs) on the sidelines. He has now lost his last three starts while compiling an unsightly 3:5 TD:INT, but he should remain the starter after the team's upcoming bye week due to an injury to Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) and C.J. Beathard's ineptitude.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Mullens will continue to start at quarterback while Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) is unavailable, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Playing with a skeleton crew Thursday night, Mullens completed 22 of 35 passes for 291 yards, one TD and one INT in a 34-17 loss to the Packers. Shanahan has a history of going back-and-forth between Mullens and Beathard, but it sounds like the coach will stick with Mullens for at least one more game when the 49ers travel to New Orleans in Week 10.

Mullens completed 22 of 35 passes for 291 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the 49ers' 34-17 loss to the Packers on Thursday night. He also rushed once for no gain and lost a fumble.

The third-year signal caller certainly finished the game with solid fantasy numbers, but those were largely the result of Mullens picking it up in the fourth quarter. He displayed excellent rapport with Richie James (ankle) in particular, with a whopping 184 of Mullens' yardage tally on the night going to the third-year receiver. Mullens was playing at a significant disadvantage with his top four targets (Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Kendrick Bourne and George Kittle) all sidelined by injury or COVID-19, so all told, his struggles for most of the night were understandable. Mullens will look to regroup and turn in an even better performance versus the Saints in a Week 10 matchup in Sunday, Nov. 15.

Mullens will start Thursday against the Packers, and potentially beyond that, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) will be sidelined indefinitely to allow his high-ankle sprain to heal.

Mullens was outstanding in relief of Garoppolo in last week's loss to Seattle, throwing for 238 yards and two touchdowns in just a quarter of action. The 25-year-old quarterback has a 4:3 TD:INT in four appearances this season, and Mullens won't have the benefit of throwing to standout tight end George Kittle, as Ian Rapaport of NFL Network reports that Kittle will miss extended time due to a fracture in his foot.

Mullens completed 18 of his 25 pass attempts for 238 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Week 8 against the Seahawks.

Mullens entered the game for the team's first drive of the fourth quarter after Jimmy Garoppolo was forced to leave the game with an ankle injury. Mullens led the team to three consecutive scoring drives, two of which were capped off through the air. The 49ers were losing 30-7 at the time Mullens entered the game, meaning he likely didn't see the Seahawks' most sophisticated defensive looks. Still, he put together a strong effort to get his team back in the game. Mullens may have the chance to start in Week 9, as San Francisco will have a short week heading into a matchup against the Packers on Thursday.

Mullens was benched for C.J. Beathard in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Eagles, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. He completed 18 of 26 passes for 200 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while also losing a fumble prior to the benching.

Mullens put the 49ers up 14-8 in the third quarter with a five-yard touchdown pass to George Kittle, but he let the Eagles seize control in the fourth quarter with a pair of costly turnovers. He lost a fumble on his own 42, which led to an Eagles touchdown on the ensuing drive, then threw a pick-six on the first play of San Francisco's next drive. It will be up to Beathard to navigate San Franciso's fourth-quarter comeback attempt, and he could take over for Mullens moving forward while Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) recovers from his injury.

Mullens will make another start Sunday against the Eagles, this time with George Kittle and Deebo Samuel in the lineup, Chris Biderman of The Sacramento Bee reports.

Mullens replaced an injured Jimmy Garoppolo (knee) last week and threw for 343 yards and a touchdown in a 36-9 win over the Giants, spreading the ball around to Brandon Aiyuk, Kendrick Bourne, Jordan Reed and Jerick McKinnon, among others. Reed is now on injured reserve with a knee sprain, but his absence will be more than offset by Kittle and Samuel rejoining the team. The Eagles have been mediocre defending the pass this year, ranking 10th in net yards per attempt (5.9), 23rd in DVOA and 14th in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. In any case, coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear Garoppolo will retake the starting role once he's healthy, saying "that scenario doesn't exist" when he was asked if Mullens could earn the job on a more permanent basis, per David Lombardi of The Athletic.

Mullens completed 25 of 36 passes for 343 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in the 49ers' 36-9 win over the Giants on Sunday. He also netted zero yards on four rushes.

Stepping in for Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle), Mullens apparently drew upon his prior starting experience in his teammate's stead back in 2018 to put together an outstanding performance. The third-year signal-caller showed an excellent command of coach Kyle Shanahan's offense by connecting with 10 different pass catchers, with rookie receiver Brandon Aiyuk leading the way with a 5-70 line. Garoppolo could potentially be ready to return for a Sunday night Week 4 battle against the Eagles, but Mullens' caliber of performance in Week 3 certainly gives the coaching staff confidence he can step in and perform if called upon again.

Mullens will start Sunday's game against the Giants, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The 25-year-old has been taking first-team reps at practice this week with Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) sidelined, and he'll receive his first start since 2019 now that Garoppolo has been ruled out. Mullens completed eight of 11 passes for 71 yards with one interceptions when filling in last week but he should be more prepared with a full week of practice. He averaged 284.6 passing yards, 1.6 touchdowns and 1.3 interceptions over eight starts in 2018.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that Mullens "most likely" will start Sunday's game against the Giants, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

The 49ers aren't quite ready to rule out Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle), but Shanahan did say his starting quarterback isn't expected to practice this week. Mullens threw an interception and took two sacks in Sunday's 31-13 win over the Jets, but he did solid work back in 2018 when he started eight games, averaging 284.6 passing yards, 1.6 TDs and 1.3 INTs while leading the Niners to three of their four wins that season.

Mullens completed eight of 11 passes for 71 yards and an interception after replacing the injured Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) at halftime of Sunday's 31-13 win over the Jets. He also recorded two rushing attempts for minus-2 yards.

Garoppolo was limping throughout the first half and San Francisco didn't need to take any chances with the starting quarterback after taking a 21-3 lead into the break, so Mullens got the call after halftime. The 25-year-old backup spent most of his time turning around and handing the ball off, leading one touchdown drive. If Garoppolo can't play against the Giants in Week 3, San Francisco would likely rely on the ground game while using Mullens in a game manager role.

Mullens signed his exclusive rights free agent tender, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

As expected, Mullens will remain with the 49ers after the club tendered him shortly before the new league year. Mullens will stick as Jimmy Garoppolo's backup for at least the upcoming season.

The 49ers tendered Mullens to a one-year contract Thursday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

The 24-year-old was seldom-used by the 49ers in 2020, only recording three kneel downs behind Jimmy Garoppolo. Mullens is just one year removed from throwing for 2,277 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2018 after Garoppolo tore his ACL. Mullens is expected to provide stability as the backup heading into the 2020 season.

Mullens only recorded three kneel downs in 2019.

Mullens won the backup role behind Jimmy Garoppolo after throwing for 2,277 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his absence in 2018. The latter returned from an ACL tear at full strength this season, which kept the former undrafted free agent on the bench for the team's run to the Super Bowl. Mullens will be an exclusive rights free agent this upcoming offseason, so it will be easy for San Francisco to keep the 24-year-old under contract for one more year as the backup if they so desire.