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[San Francisco 49ers]

Kyle Shanahan explains why Curtis Robinson will start over Nick Martin

It was a shorter injury list for the San Francisco 49ers. Since it’s a Monday game, today is their “Wednesday” on the practice schedule. Here’s a look at the injury report for Thursday:

Won’t practice:

DE Robert Beal (concussion)
LB Tatum Bethune (ankle)
Eddy Pineiro (hamstring)

Limited:

LB Luke Gifford (hip/neck)

Kyle Shanahan said he’s “expecting a full-go guy who gets better each week” about Brock Purdy.

Shanahan has not asked whether linebacker Fred Warner will be back in time for the playoffs. He said he does not keep up on the injuries that aren’t week to week: “I’m sure it’s going awesome. Fred works as hard as anyone, so it’s going great.”

Curstis Robinson will start with Warner and Bethune sidelined:

It’s been good that Curtis has been here. Always been practicing for this moment and stuff. But it’s just like when you’re missing a quarterback and a center. It’s not just the ability of the guy. Everything runs through that position. And the MIKE, by far, is the most on the defense. Getting everybody lined up and getting the adjustments, the motions. It’s a huge deal, schematically, mentally, the challenge of it. But Curtis is the right dude for that.

Here’s Shanahan on how rookie Nick Martin looked in his first extended action:

I thought he did a real good job. You know, I thought he ran and tackled very well. Really just had one mistake in the pass game, giving up a 7-cut behind him. I think he had 14 plays, but 13 of them were real good.

Based on Shanahan’s answer, it doesn’t sound like the team is ready for Martin to get everybody lined up and adjust accordingly. That’s a lot to put on a linebacker’s plate, especially if he hasn’t practiced that position all season. Remember, Martin has been a special teamer, and it wasn’t until last week that he was practicing at SAM. So, asking him to play MIKE a week after he was tasked with playing SAM could result in information overload and mistakes.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ers-kyle-shanahan-nick-martin-curtis-robinson

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Balance and the health of a second-year pro have propelled the 49ers rushing attack into a top-5 unit in the past month

San Francisco 49ers fans have long wondered why the team doesn’t invest more in its offensive line. Trent Williams has taken most of the allotted funds with his $82 million contract.

Outside of Williams, the 49ers are rotating their left guards Spencer Burford and Ben Bartch, two free agents this offseason making under a combined $5 million. Center, and public enemy No. 1 Jake Brendel, is under contract through 2026. His base salary in 2025 is $3.15 million. Dominick Puni was drafted in the third round in 2024. He’s on a rookie contract. Right tackle Colton McKivitz earned an extension, but his cap number in 2025 is $4.4 million. The 49ers are big spenders, just not at the offensive line.

Despite using high-end resources, save Williams, along the offensive line, this is a unit that has been surprisingly effective this season. The 49ers are sixth in adjusted sack rate this season. On the ground, they are 15th in adjusted line yards and 12th in “power success,” which measures how efficient you are in short-yardage running situations. So, a hair above average in both.

When Christian McCaffrey is your running back, and you have invested at the skill position in the way the Niners have offensively, a hair above average should be more than enough for your offense to function at a level that would make a play-caller like Kyle Shanahan happy.

Puni playing poorly post-PCL​

As we all know, injuries have crippled the 49ers on both sides of the ball. One injury that took a toll on the offense during the early part of the season was Dominick Puni. The second-year pro, who has started every game for the 49ers this season, wasn’t himself until about mid-October.

Puni suffered a PCL injury in August, causing him to miss a few weeks. As we found out with Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua in 2024 and Ricky Pearsall this season, that’s an injury that can linger. Nacua and Pearsall both missed six games.

Despite Puni trying to power through his injury, it is evident that he couldn’t move as well as he did as a rookie. Football is a game of balance. For offensive linemen, you can get embarrassed if you’re feet aren’t on the ground. You could tell early in the season that Puni was a bit tentative when it came to fully putting pressure on his injured right knee.

Here are a couple of examples from Week 3’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

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Puni climbs to the second level to block the linebacker. Despite the run going to the offense’s right, Puni leads with his left leg. Most offensive line coaches will tell you to step through the crotch of the defender you’re trying to block with the playside leg, which is Puni’s injured knee, in this instance. He doesn’t, and that leads to the linebacker later in the game.

The second step is the most important one for an offensive lineman. Later in the game, Puni was a step slow, literally, and that’s all Calais Campbell needed to win on an arm over against him.

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When I watch that play, I see a player late in the fourth quarter who is thinking about his knee more than the giant man in front of him.

Unfortunately for Puni, these plays were all too common during the first month and a half of the season. Shanahan already asks enough of his linemen. Executing on one leg is nearly impossible.

Watch the right guard once more on this play. Does this look like someone confident enough to plant his foot?

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That looks like a player going out of his way to do anything he can to avoid putting pressure on his right leg, which is why you see Puni lose his footing.

Per Sports Info Solutions, Puni had 17 blown blocks from Weeks 1 through 6.

Balance leads to a bounce back​

Around Week 7 was when you could see Puni begin to turn the corner and look like the player Trent Williams said had All-Pro potential as a rookie. Since Week 7, Puni has only accounted for four blown blocks in a span of five games. It’s been an incredible turnaround, and the primary reason why Christian McCaffrey and the ground game have gotten going.

The 49ers’ rushing attack has been far more diverse, which has led to their effectiveness during the past month or so. When Puni wasn’t healthy, the team relied heavily on more zone concepts. As Puni has been able to move, we’ve seen more play calls that ask him to pull and execute on the move, as well as more screen passes.

The zone-to-gap run ratios were lopsided during the first five weeks of the season. The running backs had 88 zone rushes compared to just 29 gap schemes. Something changed against Tampa Bay. And since that week, the ratio has swung in the other direction. During this current stretch, Shanahan has called 74 zone plays compared to 55 gap schemes.

Thanks to a more balanced approach, we’re slowly but surely seeing the 49ers’ running game come to life. It’s a lot easier to call those plays now that his right guard can run again, change directions, and redirect — all issues for Puni through the first five-ish weeks.

Around Week 7, you could see an extra pep in Puni’s step. Now, Shanahan could call these gap schemes in both directions. Now, Puni could not just redirect; he could adjust on the fly without having to think about his knee holding up.

This play against the Falcons is a prime example:

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Through the first five weeks of the season, Christian McCaffrey and Brian Robinson averaged 3.3 yards per carry with only six combined carries going for 10+ yards on 118 attempts. During that span, the 49ers were 23rd in rushing success rate and 27th in rushing EPA — things you do not see under Shanahan.

Once Shanahan started to sprinkle in more plays like the one above, where linemen pull, there was a drastic difference in production. Since Week 6, McCaffrey and Robinson have averaged 4.2 yards per carry with 17 carries of at least 10+ yards on 111 attempts. During this stretch, the Niners have been ninth in rushing EPA and fifth in rushing success rate.

It’s always nice when the statistics match what your eyes tell you. In this case, Puni’s ability to literally run, as he does on the play below, has been a game-changer for the offense.

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The focus has been on the quarterback and top wide receiver returning, but the 49ers’ offense has turned a corner thanks to their ground game getting going.

None of this was happening during the initial month of the season. Health and balance have helped restore the 49ers’ offensive attack. Quite the concept, eh?

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ton-mckivitz-christian-mccaffrey-running-game

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

The 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk are reportedly ‘headed for a stunning divorce’

We are at the one-year and one-month point since San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk last played a game. When Aiyuk was placed on the PUP list this past July, the thought was that he could return at some point in the second half, and maybe even the first half, had he fully recovered.

There were reasons to be optimistic, as this video of Aiyuk was in August:

View this post on Instagram

Dianna Russini and Mike Silver of The Athletic, “It now appears that Aiyuk and the 49ers are headed for a stunning divorce.”

NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco confirmed the report, saying the 49ers voided Aiyuk’s future guaranteed money in training camp “for failure to live up to terms of his contract.”

Here’s more from The Athletic’s article:

It’s now likely that he has played his last game with the franchise, according to numerous sources briefed on the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive situation. Some in the organization are holding out hope that the relationship can be salvaged enough for him to return this season. However, multiple sources believe that a reconciliation is unlikely.

Aiyuk, sources say, has failed to attend meetings and declined to participate in other team activities in recent months, and the 49ers have grown increasingly frustrated with the receiver’s lack of communication.

The 49ers, sources say, responded by voiding the guaranteed money in Aiyuk’s contract for 2026, asserting that the absences amounted to a failure to fulfill his contractual obligations. Aiyuk, according to multiple league sources, told NFL Players Association representatives that he did not want to fight the move via an official grievance. That would clear the way for his expected release at season’s end.

Just…WOW.

During the offseason and in training camp, Aiyuk was a “quasi-assistant coach,” according to wide receivers coach Leonard Hankerson. Kyle Shanahan echoed those sentiments throughout training camp till September.

Shanahan has maintained that Aiyuk is getting closer to having his practice window opened and that he’s “confident” Aiyuk would play again this season. However, this report is quite the contradiction to those words.

It seemed like the 49ers had buyer’s remorse, and this is their way of recouping those funds. Aiyuk gave them a reason. Here are the salary cap implications:

In voiding Aiyuk’s future guarantees, the 49ers can recover a significant portion of the contract. His 2026 option bonus would have paid out $24.935 million. He stood to earn a $1.215 million base salary for the 2026 season, as well as a $100,000 workout bonus and roster bonuses of $750,000 per game.

The article discusses how the team grew tired of Aiyuk’s distractions, which eventually led to what could turn out to be a release. So, from giving Aiyuk $120 million one offseason, to potentially releasing him 15 months later. The irony is that this is all related to the one thing that’s haunted Shanahan as a head coach: Injuries.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...108/49ers-brandon-aiyuk-release-kyle-shanahan

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

The 49ers are experimenting at a position you don’t normally want change

The San Francisco 49ers have been seeing injuries pop up, while others have returned from injuries in their everlasting cycle during the 2025 season.

One player who missed a chunk of the season was left guard Ben Bartch, who won the starting job before suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints.

Bartch proceeded to miss the next eight weeks, but returned in Week 10 during San Francisco’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Only that didn’t come as a starter. Instead, Bartch rotated in with Spencer Burford, who got the start at left guard.

San Francisco went with the same pairing in Week 11 last week against the Arizona Cardinals, with Bartch’s snap rate increasing from 44.4 percent to 54.5 percent. Still, he didn’t earn the start, with Burford taking the early reps.

What have the 49ers seen from the alternating guards through the first two weeks of the experiment?

“I think it’s been working and we kind of take it week-by-week, kind of see where they’re at in practice,” offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said about Bartch and Burford on Friday. “I think the way the games have gone, the guys have benefited from being in there, getting in a rhythm and then getting to come out for a little bit and just kind of see the game a little bit differently. Take a break, let the other guy go in and play, that can help guys sometimes.

“That can help guys, whatever it is mentally, it can help a guy play better, more consistently if he knows, ‘Hey, I’ve got a guy coming in and I can kind of take a breather.’ But, it also depends on the game. I think back to some games where we didn’t get into a rhythm and we just kept guys out there. And so, if we’re playing good and we’re running the ball, I think hopefully we have that consistency with rotating those guys. But, we’ll just kind of see how each week goes.”

Teams usually don’t alternate offensive linemen because of the camraderie needed up front. However, it seems like the 49ers are testing it out early and Bartch gets more reps coming back from injury before potentially making a decision.

While San Francisco doesn’t go into games with a predetermined approach to each player’s snap rate, they have an idea of how much each guy will play.

“We don’t predetermine how many drives or whatever, but we give them an idea like, ‘Hey, just be ready in a couple series,’” Kubiak continued. “You never know when it’s going to change, but he’s ready for it.”

Burford’s play has been up-and-down over the last few weeks, so it makes sense to revert back to Bartch whenever he’s fully ready to handle that load. But, the latter has dealt with injury issues over the past few years, so this could be San Francisco’s way of limiting his load until the stretch run to enhance performance.

For now, it seems the rotation will continue on Monday when the 49ers take on the Carolina Panthers at Levi’s Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:15 p.m.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...-guards-ben-bartch-spencer-burford-experiment

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Kyle Shanahan is ‘holding out hope’ that Brandon Aiyuk returns after ‘unusual’ situation

Here is the final injury report for the San Francisco 49ers:

Out:

LB Tatum Bethune (high-ankle sprain)
K Eddy Pineiro (hamstring)

Doubtful:

Edge rusher Robert Beal (concussion)

Questionable:

LB Luke Gifford (hip/neck)

The first question Kyle Shanahan was asked was about the elephant in the room, Brandon Aiyuk. Shanahan answered without answering at first, saying, “Yeah, it’s week-to-week. Hoping he can clear all of the markers so he can come back and start his practice window.”

When asked if Aiyuk may have missed meetings or done something to upset the team, causing the 49ers to void Aiyuk’s 2026 guarantees, Shanahan confirmed it was true, but this happened back in the offseason:

Yes. That happened back in July, though. So, that was other things. But as far as missing meetings and things like that, any injured player, and people on IR or doing rehab, their schedule is totally different than the rest of the team.

Sometimes they’re involved in meetings, sometimes they’re not at all. Not gonna go through each thing with them, but anytime a guy is on IR and stuff, they’re not in the daily routine of meetings.

Yeah, he’s missed some. There have been other people on our team who have missed meetings before. But that doesn’t have anything to do with his contract.

Shanahan still believes Aiyuk will return and play for the team this season. When asked if the Niners and Aiyuk were on the same page when it comes to returning from his injury, Kyle said, “I can’t tell you that—not getting much dialogue, personally, between him and I. I’ve been told that it’s week to week, so each week I wait to see if he’s coming back to practice. I haven’t got that answer yet.”

According to Shanahan, there are still some markers that Aiyuk has to clear before returning. He’s technically not medically cleared yet.

Shanahan would not commit to saying Aiyuk is motivated to return:

“I don’t think that really matters. I think everyone may have a different opinion of that. I know, with the contract stuff, that happened back in July. I knew it was going to be a while for him to come back. I was hoping to get him back around this time. We’ve kinda been going about that. Just coaching the team, I don’t deal much with injured players. I was told a few weeks ago that he was getting closer, and we haven’t made progress in that so far. From my standpoint, I’m just waiting for him to get back to practice.”

Shanahan would not tell the media why Aiyuk’s guarantees were voided:

I’m not going to get into specifics with that. There were a number of things in July that to me, is more of a business side dealing with lawyers and stuff and contracts, and, stuff that is really not my area of expertise.

Shanahan said there was some disappointment, but not toward Brandon. More toward the situation: “Yeah, of course. I’ve been coaching for over 20 years. I’ve never been in a situation where a contract has been voided. It was extremely unusual.”

He said, “I’m not really there yet” when asked a follow-up about being let down by the way this situation has gone:

I know everyone got a lot of information yesterday. That was information that I found out in July, and kind of dealt with it then. To me, the contract stuff and guarantees and stuff, is really irrelavant to my relationship with player and my relationship with the team and what we’re trying to do this year.

I know I went through that stuff and talked about it to him a lot back in July. But since July, it’s been all about this season and hoping he could get healthy. And he’s been working to get healthy. I’ve been waiting for him to get back when he’s healthy.

Here’s what Shanahan said when asked how likely it is that Aiyuk would be with the 49ers next season:

Um, what happened in July, to me in my opinion, doesn’t have anything to do with the future. That has to do with circumstances that, to me, were out of a coach’s hand is the best way I can explain it when it comes to business matters and lawyers and contracts and things like that.

When it comes to the future of this, I would love for BA to be here. To get back and really helping us out and being a part of this team. We haven’t had that in a little bit. I still hold out hope and that he can get there. But he still hasn’t gotten there yet.

Shanahan said, “You can figure that out on your own,” when asked what it takes to get guarantees voided in a contract. He continued to reiterate that this was a first-time situation and that it was unusual.

Shanahan also brought up multiple times how “this happened three or four months ago” and that it’s been “completely out of sight, out of mind.” But acknowledged he understands getting questions about it since Aiyuk’s contract just became public information on Friday.

The frustration lies in not having one of your best players on the field:

“Any time you have a good player that has been a part of this team that players really love, coaches included, it’s frustrating that it’s not happening right now. When you talk about now and stuff, I kind of went through this frustration back in July. I thought after we went through that, things worked pretty well, and he would have a chance to come back and play for us. Still holding out hope.”

Will we see Brandon Aiyuk again this year?

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ahan-brandon-aiyuk-eddy-pineiro-tatum-bethune

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

The Brandon Aiyuk saga continues: ‘The belief is that he is close to being cleared’

The San Francisco 49ers are not short on drama. Ever. During the past 48 hours, we’ve read about Brandon Aiyuk having his guarantees voided and how Kyle Shanahan feels about the situation.

The timing of every news item is odd. Why now? Why are we just finding out about something that potentially caused a rift between both sides back in July, during late Thanksgiving?

If you watch Shanahan, it’s evident that he was passing the buck. It was a head coach who sounded like anything contractually related was out of his hands, which is why Shanahan kept using the term unusual. Does Kyle no longer have the power he once did? Is this debacle on the higher-ups in the front office? We’ll never know.

One thing we do know is that most fans are siding with the organization and not the player. That’s always been a bizarre stance to me, especially with how little information we have. It’ll be interesting to see how fans who never want Aiyuk to play again change their tune if he returns in the coming months.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo on Sunday morning, Aiyuk playing again is a possibility:

49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, whom, as The Athletic reported the other day, had $27 million in guarantees for next season voided.

But that was a couple of months ago. Since then, the 49ers have been committed to getting Aiyuk healthy and back on the field. So, just because next year has been voided, doesn’t mean that this was necessarily going to be a divorce from either side.

Now, my understanding is that the belief is close to being cleared and his return from that ACL injury. But, he hasn’t got it yet, and like Kyle Shanahan has said every week, we’re kind of looking to see when that clearance is coming and when he’s going to go back to practice. It hasn’t happened yet. Still hope that he is going to be back on the field for the 49ers.

2026 has yet to be written. We shall see. If he gets back and plays well, he could be a 49er next year. But right now, it’s sort of in limbo.

It was odd that no national reporter addressed Friday’s news. Like, at all. That’s not to say Dianni Russini or Mike Silver were wrong or jumped the gun, but everything about this subject has been of.

The assumption that the 49ers are better off without Aiyuk is strange. How quickly we forget what he did in 2023, and how the offense was elevated with an elite wide receiver. We are talking about a team that is unlikely to get many stops in the playoffs or against playoff teams. Why would they be better off without another playmaker who can win at every level?

The best thing for this team, this year, is for Aiyuk to play. Whether that happens remains to be seen.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...e-belief-is-that-he-is-close-to-being-cleared

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Sunday Night Football thread: Matthew Stafford and the Rams host Baker Mayfield and the Bucs

What a day for football. There weren’t many marquee matchups, but there were some thrilling games to watch. Now, we turn our attention to Sunday Night Football, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers go from one side of the country, where they gave up 44 points to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, to the other side.

Matthew Stafford won’t be too thrilled coming off a season-low 130-yard outing. Life should be much easier this week against a Bucs’ defense without its top cornerback, Jamel Dean. This same group gave up 317 yards to a depleted Bills’ corps. As we’ve seen firsthand, twice, the Rams do not struggle to throw the ball.

While the Bucs are in good graces in the playoff standings at the moment, they’ve been trending in the wrong direction for a month. This game has the makings of a fun one, as Baker Mayfield shouldn’t be counted out against anybody. But this game could get ugly in a hurry.

However, Los Angeles will be without its right tackle, Rob Havenstein, which could lead to more pressure on Stafford and more mistakes. We’ll see.

Let’s go with 31-17, Rams.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...and-the-rams-host-baker-mayfield-and-the-bucs

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

3 keys to a 49ers win over the Panthers: Is it time for a Robert Saleh masterclass?

The San Francisco 49ers are taking on the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football, looking to stack consecutive wins for the first time since Week 3 and keep their place in the NFC Playoff Picture.

San Francisco is coming off a dominant 41-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals, where they controlled the game from the start and never trailed in Brock Purdy’s return from injury.

Purdy led an efficient offense, throwing for 200 yards and three touchdowns, while Christian McCaffrey had 81 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries and caught five passes for 40 yards and another score.

Defensively, the 49ers did allow Jacoby Brissett to throw for 452 yards, but that was more so due to the game script and the team tiring out at the end. They forced three turnovers, which was a big sign of improvement.

Now, they face a Panthers team that has gone 6-5 this season, starting the year 1-3 before winning four of their next five games, including a 16-13 win over the Green Bay Packers. Carolina is trying to stay in the playoff race with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sliding in the NFC South, but it has a tough test on Monday on the road.

The 49ers are 7.5-point favorites at home on Monday. How can they pull off the victory on Monday?

Tackle well

Carolina’s passing attack has wavered this season, as Bryce Young has seen some strong games (448 yards, 3 touchdowns vs. Atlanta) and some weaker games this year.

The Panthers haven’t pushed the ball down the field as much, with Young averaging only 6.4 yards per attempt and 7.1 air yards per attempt, which is one of the lower figures in the NFL. That’s well down from the 8.7 air yards per attempt he had a season ago.

The 49ers need to keep things in front of them in the passing game, but also tackle well when the ball gets out of Young’s hands quickly. Their defense swarms to the ball, which will be crucial on Monday. They’ve got to finish plays and force Carolina into later down situations.

That also applies to the run game, where Rico Dowdle has averaged five yards per carry this season and has been the catalyst of Carolina’s offense recently. The team has run-blocked well, but the 49ers will need to limit the explosive plays from Dowdle as well.

Build on last week

The 49ers run game opened up well last week, as McCaffrey had his most efficient game of the season from a yards per carry standpoint.

San Francisco faces a Carolina defense that is around the middle of the pack against both the run and the pass, but the latter is the scarier part of its defense. At home, the 49ers need to find a balance and work off McCaffrey and Brian Robinson as they continue to develop their run game.

Carolina has seen some shaky performances against top backs, notably James Cook (216 yards, 2 TDs on 19 carries), Josh Jacobs (87 yards, 1 TD on 17 carries), and Bijan Robinson (104 yards, 2 TDs on 23 carries).

McCaffrey also continues to be a threat in the receiving game, which may be Kyle Shanahan’s biggest matchup advantage on Monday as he looks to neutralize Carolina’s linebackers.

But, the 49ers need to take advantage on the ground, where the Panthers have been susceptible this season, giving up both explosives and consistency against good run teams.

Red zone

After a slow start to the year, San Francisco is continuing to grow in the red zone, jumping into the top 10 after a 4/5 week against the Cardinals last Sunday.

They’re scoring touchdowns at a 62.5 percent rate, good for ninth in the NFL, while Carolina is all the way down at 21st. San Francisco also gets to the red zone at a high rate, averaging 3.6 trips per game, as it consistently has been able to move the ball offensively with both of its quarterbacks.

Carolina has a good red zone defense, ranking seventh in the NFL, allowing only a 52.9 percent touchdown rate, so that will be a good battle, whereas the 49ers defense ranks only 18th this season.

The 49ers signed a new kicker, Matt Gay, this week to replace the injured Eddy Piniero. Gay had been with the Washington Commanders and only converted at a 68.4 percent rate so far this season, primarily struggling from 50+ (4/9 on attempts).

So perhaps the 49ers are more aggressive in plus territory, which could lead to more red zone trips. It’s on them to convert those against a tougher defense.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...lina-panthers-christian-mccaffrey-brock-purdy

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

3 quick takeaways from 49ers win over Panthers: The Robert Saleh masterclass was delivered

The San Francisco 49ers improved to 8-4 on Sunday with a 20-9 win over the Carolina Panthers, getting back-to-back wins for the first time since Week 3.

It was a strong defensive performance from the 49ers, who forced two turnovers, kept Bryce Young in check, and allowed only two scores on nine drives.

Offensively, San Francisco overcame three ugly Brock Purdy interceptions as they had 147 rushing yards on 38 attempts, while kicker Matt Gay had two field goals in his debut.

Here are three quick takeaways from the 49ers 20-9 win over the Panthers on Monday night.

Saleh has a day

San Francisco’s defense started Monday’s game on fire. To do that with the personnel on the field and without much of a pass rush speaks to the game plan that Robert Saleh had for this Panthers offense.

I mentioned how tackling and swarming to the ball was going to be important against an offense that doesn’t have many explosive plays in the air. Well, San Francisco held Bryce Young to 5.8 yards per attempt, despite a lack of pressure.

The 49ers forced a three-and-out on their first drive and got an interception in the red zone after Brock Purdy’s first interception placed the defense in an awful spot.

San Francisco proceeded to force two more three-and-outs in the first half, with Carolina’s lone score being a field goal drive after another Purdy interception.

Carolina got just three points off three turnovers in the first half. That’s a great showing from the 49ers defense, who shut down the run enough to make the Panthers one-dimensional.

In the second half, the Panthers opened with a quick punt, which the 49ers responded to with a touchdown to increase their lead to 17-3.

Carolina finally got some movement, getting an eight-play, 68-yard touchdown drive on its next possession, but Bryce Young threw his second interception on the following drive, killing the Panthers momentum near the red zone.

Ultimately, the 49ers had a shutdown first half. Then, after giving up some plays in the second half, they made the big plays and limited Carolina to just nine points.

That’s a great job from Robert Saleh finding a way to put his defense in great spots without getting much pressure up front.

Brock struggles

Last weekend, I felt that Brock Purdy put a few balls in harm’s way, but Arizona wasn’t able to capitalize. That led to Purdy having a better box score, throwing for 200 yards and three touchdowns in his return from injury.

On Monday, the rust didn’t wear off, and the performance wasn’t pretty. After the opening 15-play, 72-drive touchdown drive, Purdy threw three consecutive interceptions. The first one was a floated pass on a dig that cornerback Jaycee Horn was able to undercut. With more velocity, the ball could’ve gotten there in a tight window, but it was also a questionable decision on what seemed like a good playcall.

On the second interception, Purdy underthrew an open Ricky Pearsall with another floater. There were several issues with the play. After stepping up in a clean pocket, Purdy had a ton of green grass ahead of him and could’ve just taken what the defense gave him and run for a first down. There were also other open receivers, such as George Kittle, but I didn’t hate the decision from Purdy. It was the execution that was a major issue.

On the third interception, Purdy telegraphed the pass once again, just like his first pick, and threw another floater that allowed a cornerback to leave his assignment and go across the field to intercept. It felt like Purdy just wasn’t willing to take what the defense gave him, which was a huge issue in 2024 when he tried to play ‘hero ball’ too many times.

After that, it felt like Kyle Shanahan had no faith in his quarterback. The 49ers still put points on the board, but there weren’t many downfield passes from Purdy anymore, with the throws much closer to the line of scrimmage and with a lot of yards after the catch.

Perhaps it’s just rust. But, Purdy’s making a lot of recurring mistakes, and the velocity on his throws is becoming a problem. There isn’t a quarterback controversy in San Francisco after the contract Purdy got in the offseason, but Mac Jones was playing at a higher level than what we’ve seen the last two weeks.

Control of game

While the 49ers had the three early interceptions that took them away from points, it really felt like they were in full control of the game at the beginning.

It all started with a nice, methodical 15-play drive where the 49ers asserted their control on the first possession of the game. San Francisco got a Jauan Jennings touchdown to cap the drive and took off more than half of the quarter’s clock in the process.

Then, they got a quick three-and-out. Even after Purdy threw an interception on the first play of the following drive, the defense got the ball right back with a pick on the fourth play.

San Francisco had 28 plays to Carolina’s seven through the first 20+ minutes of the game, and that was with two Brock Purdy interceptions. In the first half, they nearly doubled the Panthers’ time of possession.

The 49ers ended up with 37:42 time of possession. But, it wasn’t just that. There wasn’t really a time in the game where it felt like San Francisco was going to lose. The defense responded well to the interceptions, and the 49ers were leading from the opening possession.

That’s a good sign to see against a team San Francisco should beat, and that’ll be important next weekend against a feisty Cleveland Browns defense.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...in-carolina-panthers-robert-saleh-brock-purdy

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Jauan Jennings gets into postgame scuffle with the now suspended Tre’von Moehrig after a low blow

The San Francisco 49ers took care of business on Monday, beating the Carolina Panthers 20-9, and it looks like wide receiver Jauan Jennings had some personal business to take care of after the game. When both teams met for the postgame handshake, a shot showed Jennings being tackled to the ground by security. When he got up, he was still heated about something:

Jennings punches Moehrig at the end of the Niners / Panthers game pic.twitter.com/XwS4G6mrYr

— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) November 25, 2025

That heat is directed towards Panthers safety Tre’von Moehrig. It didn’t take long for fans to find the video of what the issue was:

Panthers DB Tre'von Moehrig #7 cheap shot punched Jauan Jennings down low… this is why the #49ers WR was enraged. pic.twitter.com/QOA09xNwH8

— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) November 25, 2025

If you were watching closely, you may have seen Jennings get up slowly after this play during the game (without noticing the shot). Jennings was grabbing the groin area, and it looked like he may have pulled a muscle. Personally, I raised an eyebrow because I knew that walk. One that no one wants to, and should ever take.

“He took a cheap shot [that] hit him in the balls,” Shanahan said in his postgame press conference. “I was really proud of Jauan for not losing his mind out there.”

Shanahan didn’t elaborate any further.

The 49ers can’t afford to lose players to injury, and the same goes for suspensions. That said, a low blow at any time is unacceptable, and we can at least see Jennings’ point of view. He’ll probably have at least a fine, and we’ll need to hope there isn’t a suspension coming. It will be telling what kind of punishment Moehrig receives from the league as well.

Kyle’s update, 12:31 p.m. PT: Moehrig has now been suspended for a game

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...-scuffle-with-trevon-moehrig-after-a-low-blow

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

The 49ers are peaking in the most important area of football

The San Francisco 49ers pulled off a 20-9 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Monday night, improving to 8-4 on the season and recording back-to-back wins as they look to make a playoff push.

With the win, the 49ers remained as the No. 7 seed in the NFC Playoff Picture, staying a half game above the Detroit Lions in the very competitive conference.

It was a defensive masterclass for the 49ers, as they overcame three Brock Purdy interceptions and had a few takeaways themselves to get a crucial win.

When the 49ers did have opportunities offensively, they capitalized, going 2/3 in the red zone with a pair of long touchdown drives that distanced themselves from Carolina, both early and in the third quarter.

The red zone has been an area where the 49ers have seen differing results this season. Early in the year, they were not up to par in the red zone, as the team especially struggled to run the ball inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. While getting near the most touches in the red zone, Christian McCaffrey was one of the least efficient backs over the first few weeks of the season.

So, the 49ers only converted 42.9 percent of their red zone looks into touchdowns over the first six weeks of the season. Since then, though, San Francisco has been on fire, converting 18 of their 22 red zone drives into touchdowns, good for an 81.9 percent touchdown rate.

As a result, they’ve skyrocketed into the top 10 in red zone scoring percentage, ranking ninth after Monday’s performance. A big help has been the return of tight end George Kittle, who has been a significant presence as a blocker, as well as a receiving threat.

So far this year, Kittle is 8 for 8 on red zone catches for 67 yards and four touchdowns. His eight catches rank 11th in the NFL, according to Pro Football Reference, despite missing five games (and essentially six after leaving in the first quarter of Week 1).

Of course, Christian McCaffrey has also been a big help, leading the NFL with 14 catches in the red zone, going for 88 yards and five touchdowns.

But, there’s been a significant boost over the past few weeks, starting when Kittle returned against the Atlanta Falcons, in the red zone, that has increased the scoring potential of the 49ers offense.

The 49ers were dominant in the red zone back in 2023, leading the NFL by converting over 67 percent of their tries. They’re starting to revitalize that dominance over the past few weeks, getting back into a top red zone team, even as the offense has seen some injuries at quarterback and wide receiver.

It also helps that they’ve had an automatic kicker to fully capitalize when they don’t score touchdowns, but the 49ers are going to need their offense churning to make a run in the playoffs. Getting efficient results in the red zone is a big part of that, and San Francisco is showing it’s capable of doing so.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...george-kittle-christian-mccaffrey-brock-purdy

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers-Browns odds: The weather in Cleveland makes for one of the lowest totals this season

Everybody has their krypotonite. For San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, it’s Jim Schwartz. This week, you’re likely to read all about how Shanahan is 1-9 against Schwartz-led defenses. In fairness, Shanahan had backup quarterbacks. But the last time these two teams met in Cleveland in 2023, Shanahan had one of the most prolific offenses in recent history.

In that game, Brock Purdy went 12-for-27 for 125 yards. He has a quarterback rating of 39.8, was sacked three times, and threw an interception. Beyond ten yards, Purdy went 2-for-10. As you’d expect, the weather was not great in Cleveland that day. This time around, temperatures could be worse. It was Week 6 then. It’ll be after Thanksgiving now.

There’s a better chance of it snowing in Cleveland than of it being sunny. Temperatures are expected to be below 40 degrees. On Fanduel Sportsbook, the 49ers are 5.5-point favorites with the total on the game set at 38.5.

That total is a representation of the weather, the Browns’ defense, and Cleveland’s quarterback. Shedeur Sanders is one of the most polarizing players in the NFL. It shouldn’t be that way, as he’s thrown 36 passes this season. He’s completed 15 of them. Sanders has been sacked three times. Outside of an explosive pass on a scramble, he has left a lot of meat on the bone. It’s another opportunity for Robert Saleh’s defense to build momentum and put together a strong performance.

On the flip side, the Browns have a top-three defense. Myles Garrett is having a potentially record-setting season. Their top rookie, Mason Graham, has been one of the least-talked-about players, but he’s been wreaking havoc all year. Add in cornerback Denzel Ward and Schwartz’s scheme, and that’s how you get a total of 38.

Laying 5.5 points might be tempting with the 49ers, who are decisively the better team, but, much like in 2023, this is a stay away. The Browns are one of those weird teams that muck things up and always find ways to make it close when it shouldn’t be. Don’t believe us? Ask the healthy version of the Bengals, or the Packers, or the Ravens.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...anders-brock-purdy-kyle-shanahan-jim-schwartz

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: Grateful for the 49ers

Kyle Shanahan, Robert Saleh, Brock Purdy preview 49ers-Browns Week 13 matchup
“”It is weird just because he was my hero growing up. He was probably my number one player just in terms of being a true fan. I always talk about how I got his jersey in ’94 and wore it for about six months straight until someone jacked it from me. I’m still looking for that guy. But no, he was such a unique player. He was just different than everyone, his talent and everything. Now to watch him be a coach and to watch him raise, I think he’s got three boys, but to watch the two boys in sports have been really cool to watch. I know my wife and my daughter, they’re huge Colorado fans too. So, I get hear about Buffaloes all the time.”

49ers overreactions: Brock Purdy’s true identity on display in win vs. Panthers
“It always was going to be difficult for him to perform at the level he showed in his first full season as the starter, when he had a 113 passer rating and finished fourth in the NFL MVP voting. There is no doubt Monday night’s showing against Carolina is not going to cut it.

He was a split-second slow on his decision-making on his first two interceptions. Was it rust from missing so much time this season due to turf toe? Or is he physically not capable of driving the ball down the field?“

49ers game review: How Ji’Ayir Brown took the long way round but came up big (paywall)
“The 49ers had possession at their own 44-yard line with three seconds left in the first half. A Hail Mary? Nope. Quarterback Brock Purdy threw a short pass to running back Christian McCaffrey that gained 19 yards.

Was head coach Kyle Shanahan trying to prevent Purdy from throwing his fourth interception in the first two quarters? Yes, but he probably would have called the same play even if Purdy hadn’t thrown a pick.

Shanahan learned from his dad, Mike, who thought end-of-half Hail Marys weren’t worth throwing due to the damage a cheap interception could do to a QB’s psyche in the final two quarters. Shanahan, as a young offensive coordinator, thought his QBs shouldn’t be so worried about their stats. But he eventually came around.

“Five years later, I’m not calling that Hail Mary,” Shanahan said on the Athletic’s “Playcallers” podcast in July 2023. “‘That just messed up my quarterback. He had two picks that weren’t his fault, then he threw a third on a Hail Mary and now I can’t get him to throw the ball in the second half. Oh, man, my dad was right. He knew what he was talking about.’”

49ers minutia minute: Panthers defenders didn’t enjoy Jauan Jennings’ pancakes (paywall)
“Jennings has a reputation as a relentless blocker, and considering the 49ers called 22 run plays in the second half, he had plenty of opportunities to practice his craft. He recorded two pancake blocks in the game, one against safety Nick Scott in the third quarter and the second on Moehrig in the closing minutes. Moehrig responded by getting up and taking a swing at Jennings’ privates.

“That’s when he did it — when I pancaked him,” Jennings said.“

49ers tackle Austen Pleasants honors son, limb-different community with special cleats (paywall)
“Pleasants and his wife, Leah, welcomed their son Beau to the world seven months ago, and “he is amazing,” Pleasants said. “He is the happiest baby there is.”

Beau was born without the bottom half of his legs and half of his arms.

“To be able to bring awareness to limb difference and to show people who may be going through similar situations that they’re not alone is such a blessing,” Pleasants said. “To be able to use our experience to help others, that’s the biggest thing.”

Molly Stapelman founded Lucky Fin in 2010 after her daughter, Ryan, was born with symbrachydactyly, a partially developed hand with missing or incomplete fingers. And yes, Lucky Fin is from the movie “Finding Nemo” and Nemo’s “lucky fin” — being made differently doesn’t hold him back from accomplishing his goals.

(Nemo is pictured on the tongue of Pleasants’ cleats.)“

49ers vs. Browns injury report: 5 players miss Wednesday’s practice
“Below are Wednesday’s practice participation reports for both the 49ers and Browns, which were provided by the 49ers Communications staff.”

For 49ers’ Brock Purdy to bounce back, he’ll have to beat the elements in Cleveland (paywall)
“If the ball is wet, it does change the mindset of taking care of the ball,” Purdy said Wednesday. “But at the same time, you do have to drop back, you got to throw it on time, and if it’s not there in time, let’s be smart with the ball.”

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ock-purdy-interceptions-aiyuk-voided-contract

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Chiefs vs. Cowboys discussion: Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott should give us a shootout

The Dallas Cowboys shocked everybody when they came back from a 21-0 lead last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. Dak Prescott has one of the best wide receivers in the NFL on his side. Oh, and they have CeeDee Lamb, too. I’d expect Jake Ferguson to have a big day.

Dallas will need all of the points they can get. The Kansas City Chiefs are fresh off playing the Colts and the Broncos. Going against this Cowboys secondary will be quite the change. Patrick Mahomes and Xavier Worthy should have a big day through the air, as the Chiefs light up the scoreboard.

These are both playoff teams in my eyes. Both of these teams are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs, making today a big deal. One team has been there and done that, while the other lost to the Cardinals. I don’t think the Chiefs are going scoreless in the second half the same way the Eagles did.

Chiefs 31, Dallas 27.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...es-and-dak-prescott-should-give-us-a-shootout

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Packers vs. Lions discussion: Jordan Love and Jared Goff kick off the tripleheader

Two NFC playoff teams kick off the Thanksgiving tripleheader. The Green Bay Packers are 7-3-1, while the host Detroit Lions are 7-4. According to schedule-adjusted efficiency, the Lions rank fourth in the NFL, while the Packers rank sixth.

Detroit received some unexpected news on Wednesday as center Frank Ragnow came out of retirement. That’ll be a big boost for a team that has relied on youth up front all season. But Ragnow isn’t playing today, and if the Giants game was any indication — the Lions allowing pressure has been an issue for a month now — then Jared Goff will have to perform under duress.

Of course, that may not matter if Amon Ra-St. Brown holds onto the ball, Jameson Williams has a big play here and there, and Jahymr Gibbs continues to score from 60 yards out.

Jordan Love gets Josh Jacobs back. It also feels like a good spot for Christian Watson to make some plays. The Packers need somebody to step up for their quarterback. I think it happens today, and the Packers win.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...love-and-jared-goff-kick-off-the-tripleheader

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

3 matchups to watch on Sunday for 49ers/Browns: Myles Garrett against Trent Williams is must see TV

Honestly, a matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns shouldn’t be as interesting as it is. There is no shortage of storylines. Inclement weather in Cleveland, Kyle Shanahan’s history against Jim Schwartz, Brock Purdy’s recent play, and Myles Garrett’s assault on the record books. Oh, right, Sheduer Sanders will start for Cleveland following his first NFL start and win in Las Vegas. With all of that, the 49ers still need to keep stacking wins to secure a playoff spot. Cleveland has a poor record, but matches up extremely well with the 49ers on defense.

Here are three things to watch for on Sunday:

Handling Cleveland’s pressure

Myles Garrett is on a war path. Still, the entire Browns defensive line has been excellent this season. Former 49er Maliek Collins has seen a resurgence, and rookie Mason Graham has quietly put together a solid rookie season. Schwartz doesn’t need to blitz much, as evidenced by his 17th-ranked blitz rate of 28.3%. The Browns still lead the league in pressure rate at 37.9%. The 49ers are actually third in pressure rate allowed at 25.2%, but 26th in pressure EPA at -0.59.

Cleveland has deployed Garrett as the REO on 412 of his 519 snaps. Garrett vs. Trent Williams is must-see TV.

Where the 49ers’ passing attack can thrive

The Browns’ defense is stingy everywhere. The weather will not be conducive to passing the football on Sunday. Whether that is precipitation or wind. However, there is an area of the field for the 49ers to exploit. The 49ers attack intermediate regions at a 20.9% rate, but rank seventh with an EPA of 0.51. The Browns are 21st in the NFL in defending intermediate throws with an EPA of 0.47. The weather won’t do the 49ers any favors, but the need to threaten with passes will keep Cleveland off balance.

Cleveland’s offensive struggles

Yes, the Browns are impressive on defense. Goodness, are they terrible offensively. Some of the numbers are almost hard to believe. Cleveland ranks 31st in EPA/play (-0.17), 32nd in EPA/DB (-0.27), 32nd in success rate (33.9%), and 30th in explosive play rate (7.9%).

Funny enough, the only metric the Browns aren’t rock bottom in is rushing EPA (-0.03, 20th), but the 49ers are a top ten defense in EPA against the run at -0.06. The 49ers offense will have to limit turnovers, but the defense is in another good spot facing the Browns’ inept offense.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/genera...garrett-against-trent-williams-is-must-see-tv

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: Jim Schwartz looms

Week 12 49ers MEGA Recap: Tape Takeaways, Trench Grades, and an Ugly Watch for Brock Purdy (paywall)
“I was underwhelmed by both of the 49ers’ left guards. I talked to Jake Brendel about the rotation of Spencer Burford and Ben Bartch. Here’s what he told me after Monday’s game:

It’s just kind of a way to, one, create competition, I think. And two, also just make sure that one guy is not going to get caught in a, I’m tired and can’t execute something position. So they are constantly fresh, which I think is great, but at the same time, I mean, there they are different players.

He was highly complimentary of both, saying they both grasp the scheme well. But here’s what he said on their differences:

Spence is a little bit longer, I think, and Ben has a little bit more overall drive with his feet a little bit in the running game.

That’s a fair assessment. Bartch pops much more in the running game. There’s just more initial power. But Burford can recover a bit better in pass protection with his length.“

2026 NFL mock draft: 49ers target Brandon Aiyuk replacement
“Between Brandon Aiyuk’s impending split from the 49ers, Ricky Pearsall’s struggles to catch on, and Jauan Jennings’ trepidatious contract outlook, San Francisco could be nearing a complete restart at the WR spot,” Cummings wrote. “Chris Bell can help catalyze that kind of rebuild.

“At 6’2″, 225 pounds, with over 32″ arms, Bell has the size, contact authority, and uber-explosive RAC profile that Kyle Shanahan craves. But his keen zone intelligence and domineering catch-point skills have helped him field comparisons to A.J. Brown.”

Kyle Shanahan shares final updates ahead of 49ers-Browns Week 13 matchup
“”Yeah, I watch how guys move, how they block, how they execute their routes, how they beat man-coverage, how long it takes to get them to their spots in zones. I see zero difference with Ricky now to those three games. I think the things you didn’t have to worry about as much with receivers, but now in the day of age of everyone talking about stats and fantasy stuff, seven days a week, 24-hours a day, it does put pressure on those guys a lot. I used to hear it from people’s uncles when I walked out of a stadium hearing how I messed up their fantasy game not getting their nephew the ball and stuff like that. But, now I know just that stuff is so talked about and everything, but like K.B. [WR Kendrick Bourne] went for 150 two weeks in a row and I think K.B.’s played the same each week. Sometimes that stuff’s out of the receiver’s hands, sometimes it’s just unbelievable some of the opportunities they get and what they do in them. But, usually it’s where the zones are going and the opportunities they get just based off of coverage.”

49ers vs. Browns: The Standard’s 5 fast predictions (paywall)
“Kawakami: 49ers 20, Browns 17. I’ve had a strong belief in my previous seven picks — and not coincidentally, have hit all seven. This week, I’m sure that this will be a field-position, defense-dominated game that will turn on major mistakes. But who wins it? I’m just flipping a coin and guessing that the 49ers move the ball a little better, turn it over less, block Myles Garrett reasonably well, get a late field goal from Matt Gay, and happily get the hell out of Cleveland and into their long-awaited bye week.”

Five 49ers to watch in Week 13 game vs. Browns in expected ‘blizzard’ conditions
“Brown relied on film study and instincts to make the game-clinching interception against the Panthers. He does not have as many pass attempts on Sanders to study, so there will be an element of the unexpected on Sunday.”

Why John Lynch is confident 49ers QB Brock Purdy will bounce back against Browns
“Play within the scheme,” Lynch said. “I think the encouraging thing, if you want to look for positives. He went to the right place with the ball against Carolina, it just sometimes was a little late to where he was going and didn’t throw the ball the way he should’ve thrown it or wanted to throw it. I think those things are very fixable. I think where you really worry is, ‘Oh shoot, he’s not seeing it right. He’s going the wrong place in the read. On any of those that wasn’t the case.

“He was just probably a little late and needs to be a bit more decisive. Sometimes that can come from not playing for a little while but he has got to fix it, he knows that and we’ve got all the confidence in the world he will.”

49ers’ Kendrick Bourne was lost. Then he found salvation at a Miami nightclub (paywall)
““I didn’t know how to not club,” Bourne said. “I had to learn how to not do drugs. You know, ‘Now how do I celebrate after a win?’ I didn’t know how to not hang out with a different woman every day because that’s the lifestyle I was living. And I didn’t know how to not do any of it.”

Head coach Kyle Shanahan nearly waived Bourne in 2017 after the undrafted rookie slept through a team meeting, which wasn’t his first problem with punctuality. Tight end George Kittle, a member of Bourne’s rookie class, said Bourne partied and practiced with abandon, until those times when his carousing caught up to him during his first four NFL seasons, all with the 49ers.

“Kendrick burned the candle at both ends,” Kittle said. “I mean, he excelled at that. And so sometimes by the time our Saturday walkthrough (practice) had hit, that candle had burned out.”

Given Bourne’s background, many of his teammates and coaches who knew him then were surprised in early September when he rejoined the 49ers after spending more than four years away with the Patriots.“

Scary spot for 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan? Here comes Cleveland and antagonist Jim Schwartz (paywall)
“There’s also the matter of Schwartz’s scheme, which includes the Wide 9 technique where defensive ends are positioned far outside opponents’ offensive tackles. The alignment is designed to offer pass rushers better lanes to QBs, but it’s also effective in mucking up outside-zone runs, which are a staple of Shanahan’s system.

Shanahan said Friday that facing Schwartz inspired him to hire a Wide 9 disciple, defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, in 2019. After adding Kocurek, the 49ers figured out a way to incorporate the Wide 9 principles into defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s existing system.

Shanahan said Schwartz’s four-man defensive line is similar to that of the 49ers, but there are differences with how he deploys his back seven.“

49ers Kyle Juszczyk thankful to be a surprising 201 games in and a fan favorite (paywall)
“He wears No. 44 because his favorite player growing up was Colts tight end Dallas Clark. Juszczyk thought he would catch a lot of passes at Harvard until his coach, Tim Murphy, pulled him aside before his first game.

“He was like, ‘Listen, Juice, I want to play you out there, but I can’t just run you out there for pass plays only,’” Juszczyk said. “He’s like, ‘You’re gonna have to learn how to block if you’re gonna want to run routes.’

“And to this day, like 17 years later, like that’s really my motivation on run plays. If I can do well on this run play, they’re gonna keep me out there, and now I’ll get some opportunities to catch the ball.”

https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/brock-purdy-john-lynch-3/1895166/

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ort-brock-purdy-interceptions-practice-report

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers activate linebacker from practice squad with Tatum Bethune out again

The San Francisco 49ers activated linebacker Jalen Graham and kicker Matt Gay from the practice squad on Saturday ahead of their game against the Cleveland Browns.

San Francisco is without starting linebacker Tatum Bethune and kicker Eddy Piniero, so it was likely they’d add at both positions from the practice squad for the second consecutive week.

Graham played against the Carolina Panthers on Monday, seeing 35 percent of the special teams. Gay hit a pair of field goals and a pair of extra points in the 20-9 win.

With Bethune out, Curtis Robinson could see another start. He played in 100 percent of the defensive snaps last week, so his special teams reps took a hit, which led to the need for Graham’s elevation.

In addition to Bethune and Piniero, defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu is out for Sunday’s game. With him out, Clelin Ferrell could see a higher rep count like he did last weekend.

The Browns are also down a pair of defensive linemen, as Adin Huntington and Alex Wright won’t play on Sunday. They elevated defensive end Sam Kamara ahead of Sunday’s game.

Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ions-linebacker-kicker-matt-gay-kyle-shanahan

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

The 49ers must do one thing to beat the Browns on Sunday

The San Francisco 49ers are facing the Cleveland Browns on the road on Sunday as they look to extend their current win streak to three games.

San Francisco is right in the middle of a packed NFC playoff race, currently holding the No. 7 seed in the NFC. They’ve got a Week 14 bye week, and getting a win this week is a must to keep them firmly in the picture.

They face a tricky Cleveland team that has struggled offensively, but has been elite defensively, with star Myles Garrett recording 18 sacks in 11 games so far. San Francisco will need to protect the ball on offense, but there’s one key thing they’ll need to do to win on Sunday: contain the run.

Rookie Quinshon Judkins has been a pleasant addition for the Browns, rushing for 667 yards and seven touchdowns since joining the team early in the season.

Cleveland has given the rookie a significant amount of volume, as he’s taken over 15 carries in seven games. Teams have limited Judkins in recent weeks, as he’s failed to top 60 yards in three of the last four weeks.

But, the 49ers’ run defense has been both strong and susceptible at times, so they’ll need to be disciplined and find a way to contain the run this weekend.

“They’re going to run the ball,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said this week. “No one’s really giving the young man attention, and that’s the back. He’s freaking good. I don’t want to mispronounce his name, number 10 [Quinshon Judkins]. He’s really good.”

With a rookie quarterback at the helm, the Browns will try to make things easy by relying on the run game, both on the ground and in play-action. The way to combat that is with a fast start, but that’s been hard against an opportunistic Cleveland defense.

So, the 49ers front seven will have to be prepared against the run. They’ll be without Sam Okuayinonu and Tatum Bethune this weekend, which means players will have to step up in key roles. That includes Curtis Robinson, who had his first career start, which came with ups and downs.

“I thought he did a really nice job,” Saleh said of Robinson. “I know that he didn’t fill the stat sheet up, and I’m sure from his perspective, he would love to have had that happen. But, you just try to put yourself in his shoes. He’s battled, he’s had a lot of battles trying to find his way back into this, to get this opportunity on that stage with the type of game it was, playoff implications and all that on Monday night, where the entire football world’s watching.

“I thought he did an outstanding job keeping calm, relaying, communicating, taking care of the huddle, on the sidelines, making the adjustments that needed to be made. And he’ll close the gap to allow him to make some of the plays that I know that he wishes he had back. But, I thought he was outstanding in that regard. And again, I expect him to get a little bit better this week. And same as everybody else. It means something to him, and because of that, he will get better.”

The sloppy conditions will likely make this a game in the trenches as well, which may keep things tighter and force both sides to rely on the run game even more.

But, the 49ers must be able to contain the run to keep the Browns offense limited and weather their way to another victory on Sunday.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...eland-browns-quinshon-judkins-shedeur-sanders