San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan saw what his quarterback, C.J. Beathard, was going through following the loss of his young brother on Saturday morning, before the team's Week 16 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Shanahan spent time with Beathard before the quarterback left to be with his family in Tennessee.
Beathard won't be back with his teammates this week as the 49ers prepare for their regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks. Shanahan wants his quarterback to focus on what is more important — being there for his grieving family.
The coach spoke with Beathard on the phone on Monday and told him to remain where he is needed most.
"They're working through a lot of stuff, obviously," Shanahan told reporters before Tuesday's practice. "C.J., I told him definitely — he didn't ask — but I told him to make sure he doesn't come back this week. He's going to be out there with his family and stuff, especially with Christmas up this week.
"Whenever he's ready is the time he should come back; whenever that is."
C.J. Beathard's brother, Clayton, was one of two individuals fatally stabbed very early on Saturday outside of a Nashville bar. The 22-year-old sibling passed away after being transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Shanahan was asked how his mourning player is doing.
"As good as you can be," he responded. "I mean, he was strong and tried to tell me the information that's going on out there, what they're working through, trying to find this messed-up person who did this. I think that's their main focus right now."
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