49ers bench Brian Hoyer in Washington, rookie C.J. Beathard takes over

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LANDOVER, Md. – Coach Kyle Shanahan has said he would not hesitate to make a change at quarterback if he felt it would help the 49ers’ offense.

Shanahan finally made that move on Sunday with the 49ers trailing Washington, 14-0, and the team’s offense going nowhere in the first half.

Rookie C.J. Beathard entered the game with 6:39 remaining in the second quarter to replace struggling veteran starter Brian Hoyer.

Hoyer has played inconsistently this season, and he got off to another slow start on Sunday. Hoyer completed just four of 11 pass attempts for 34 yards before Shanahan gave him the hook.

Beathard, who did not attempt a pass in the 49ers’ first five games, entered and immediately completed his first pass of the game – a 13-yard throw to tight end Garrett Celek over the middle. The 49ers ended up punting at the end of Beathard's first series, as former Iowa teammate George Kittle dropped a third-down pass that would have netted a first down.

The 49ers traded up into the back end of the third round to select Beathard in the draft. The 49ers carry just two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster.

Beathard completed 6 of 14 pass attempts in the first half for 89 yards. He led the 49ers down the field late in the second quarter, and Carlos Hyde scored on a 1-yard touchdown drive to cut Washington’s lead to 17-7 at halftime.

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