49ers' Raheem Mostert will do what job needs in coronavirus pandemic

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49ers running back Raheem Mostert was ahead of the curve with his decision in early-March to cancel his appearance at an autograph show in Santa Clara due to concerns about the coronavirus.

Mostert announced his decision on March 4 to exercise precaution and avoid a large gathering. At the time, there were conflicting opinions about the seriousness of the health concern.

“It was one of those things where we knew that something like this was going to take place, and we wanted to be prepared,” Mostert said Wednesday on a video call with Bay Area reporters. “That’s why I was the first one to start thinking about what’s going on in the upcoming months.”

Just one week earlier, President Donald Trump predicted the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States would drop from 15 to “close to zero.” Mostert’s decision came two weeks before California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a mandatory stay-at-home order.

Mostert said he and his wife, Devon, were expecting a baby in the fall and he also wanted to avoid taking any unnecessary risks with his 8-month-old son, Gunnar.

Mostert and his family are in Cleveland, Ohio, during this uncertain time as the nation's death toll from COVID-19 has risen to more than 90,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“It seems like all the neighbors and everyone are on the same page,” Mostert said. “Ohio right now is starting to loosen some restrictions. It’s going great. (But) we still have that pandemic going on and we still have to defeat it, somehow.”

Gov. Newsom said this week that professional sports without fans could return to California in early-June. In a normal year, the 49ers would open training camp in late-July. But at this stage, everything remains uncertain.

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Mostert said his wife has been moved to tears over her concerns for the safety of him, his teammates and their families for when the team is allowed to resume training together in Santa Clara.

“She has actually cried a couple of times just because she wants to make sure not only myself but those 90 guys that are in the locker room are going to all be safe, and their families as well,” Mostert said.

“She understands that no matter what, this is my job. I have to do what my job requires me to do, which is all fair. She wants football to be back and sports to be back, in general."

It all remains to be seen what safeguards and protocols are put into place that would allow for teams to reconvene around professional sports before there is a coronavirus vaccine. Mostert understands there will be some risks, but he trusts that wise decisions will be made. 

“We don’t know what it’s going to take in order for us to be back out there on the field, testing every week or playing in a different state or what-have-you. We don’t know yet," he said. "That’s something that’s going to be determined once the time comes, once the decision has to be made. We just got to look at the brighter side and hope and pray that everyone is looking out for each other and the safety of each other, as well.”

[49ERS INSIDER PODCAST: Listen to the latest episode]

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