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[San Francisco 49ers]

Report: 49ers release veteran wideout with the intention of re-signing him to the practice squad

ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that the San Francisco 49ers are releasing wide receiver Russell Gage from the active roster. Per Schefter, the plan is to re-sign Gage to the practice squad and elevate him for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. Of course, the caveat would be if Gage doesn’t sign elsewhere.

Aaron Wilson tweeted that the 49ers are promoting Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. So, the two are effectively swapping spots.

Why? It could be contract-related. There are times when a player’s contract becomes fully guaranteed if he’s on the active roster. At the same time, Valdes-Scantling’s contract is around the veteran minimum since the Seattle Seahawks guaranteed his deal. So, perhaps this is a procedural move to help the 49ers save anywhere between $700,000 and $1 million.

If Gage doesn’t sign somewhere else, Brock Purdy will be throwing to both players this Sunday. So, while it impacts the 49ers financially, both receivers should be on the active roster come Sunday.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ntion-of-re-signing-him-to-the-practice-squad

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers 2026 Comp pick tracker: San Francisco is set to gain a few valuable picks

As we head into Week 1 and put the offseason in the rearview mirror, we can turn the page from hearing about how much talent the San Francisco 49ers lost this season. Ultimately, the players who left in free agency were either expendable, replaced by rookies, or had players waiting in the wings to replace them.

One starter the 49ers must replace, Aaron Banks, suffered a back injury that hampered him for much of this past training camp with the Green Bay Packers. While Banks is no longer on the injury report, when is the last time you met somebody who used to have a bad back? Those injuries linger and can pop up again at any moment.

San Francisco replaced Banks with a much cheaper version in Ben Bartch. He’s no stranger to the injury list, either. However, Bartch’s play last year made Banks expendable. It’s also a position the 49ers believe they can get by without investing heavily in, as evidenced by Bartch’s $1.17 million contract and his backup being an undrafted free agent rookie.

Charvaris Ward is an All-Pro talent. The 49ers elected to move forward with Deommodore Lenoir, but Renardo Green, a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has the closest skill set on the roster to Ward. Green has the potential to flourish under Robert Saleh if he can stay healthy. There haven’t been many cornerbacks the 49ers have rostered who could turn and run with DK Metcalf. Ward and Green might be the only ones.

Lastly, Talanoa Hufanga. He’s starting in Denver. Hufanga was a goner as soon as the Niners drafted Malik Mustapha. Hufanga’s recurring injuries and lack of playmaking made it difficult to bring him back. Mustapha, beginning the season on the PUP list, isn’t ideal, but he’s on a rookie contract. When he was on the field last year, he was arguably one of the top three players for the Niners’ defense. The combination of Mustapha, Ji’Ayir Brown, and now Marques Sigle should more than make up for what Hufanga brought to the table.

Can we count Dre Greenlaw, even though he didn’t play last season? Dee Winters looked poised to break out last year, but the coaching staff went with a veteran. This season, it’ll be all Winters. If we’re doing bold predictions, mine will be that Winters is an upgrade from Greenlaw.

Comp pick update​

And that brings us to where the 49ers stand in the compensatory market for next year’s 2026 NFL Draft. The 49ers had notable losses up and down the roster as they tried to shift from a veteran-heavy team and inject some youth into the roster. That led to releasing Leonard Floyd, Javon Hargrave, and Maliek Collins, among others, in exchange for a rookie class full of defensive linemen.

Trading for a veteran like Bryce Huff won’t impact the Niners’ comp pick formula. Huff figures to make an instant impact on a team that has been desperate to ensure Nick Bosa has help opposite him at all times.

Per Over the Cap, the 49ers are expected to receive three comp picks in the 2026 NFL Draft:
Aaron Banks – 4th
Charvarius Ward – 4th
Talanoa Hufanga 5th

San Francisco would have received two additional fifth-round picks for Jaylon Moore and Greenlaw. However, signing backup quarterback Mac Jones and tight end Luke Farrell canceled those contracts out. The seventh-rounder the team would have netted from Josh Dobbs was nixed by signing Demarcus Robinson. I don’t think the team will be unhappy about that if Robinson performs as I expect this season.

Mustapha and Isaac Guerendo were fourth-round picks, as was Jacob Cowing. The 49ers have hit on their fifth-rounders at an alarming rate. So, while they may not be receiving third-round comp picks anymore, the Niners stand to benefit next draft, or at least put themselves in a position to add useful talent.

It also gives John Lynch and the front office ammo to move up on the first or second day of the draft.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...francisco-is-set-to-gain-a-few-valuable-picks

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Report: Jauan Jennings turns down a multi-year deal from the 49ers to bet on himself

Deadlines spur action. Earlier on Wednesday, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he was expecting Jauan Jennings to play this Sunday. At the time, Shanahan said there hadn’t been any resolution as far as Jennings receiving a new deal. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, that is no longer the case.

Schefter tweeted that the 49ers and Jennings reached an agreement on a deal that will add $3 million of play-time incentives to Jennings’ original contract. Jauan was initially set to earn $7.5 million. Now, he has a chance to earn up to $10.5 million.

Interestingly enough, there were no years added to Jennings’ contract. Per Schefter, Jennings declined a multi-year offer from the 49ers. He plans to bet on himself and earn a bigger contract, perhaps elsewhere, next offseason.

Shanahan said the team wanted to keep Jennings and Colton McKivitz in the building for the long term. He also acknowledged that he didn’t think the team would be able to do it. That sounds like the 49ers had a number in mind, but it wasn’t to the liking of Jennings.

We will provide an update once Jennings’ contract details are available, so we can see what those specifics are as far as escalators go. Judging by the 49ers’ wide receiver room heading into Week 1, Jennings should have plenty of opportunities to rack up early-season statistics.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ti-year-deal-from-the-49ers-to-bet-on-himself

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers defense vs. Seahawks offense preview: A pair of new coordinators looking to right the wrongs of 2024

Every game is a big game, but divisional games matter more. They just do. The magnitude of the San Francisco 49ers-Seattle Seahawks rivalry took a bit of a nosedive last year. Thankfully, much has changed for both teams since the previous meeting.

The year is 2092, and as much as football will evolve by then, it’ll still come down to stopping the run and running the ball. Christian McCaffrey’s absence was felt on many levels, but his red zone efficiency and nose for the end zone propelled the Niners’ 2023 offense to unseen levels. They were one of the most prolific offenses of the century. When you take an MVP-caliber player away, your rushing attack is going to call off a cliff. Shocking, I know.

Stopping the run has been an issue for San Francisco since DeMeco Ryans left. You can point to injuries and personnel, but the attitude hasn’t been there. We are about to find out how quickly Robert Saleh injects attitude and violence into his unit. Let’s start on that side of the ball as we preview Week 1 between the 49ers and the Seahawks.

Getting new Grubb on the plate​

Seattle fell for a collegiate offensive coordinator who had an NFL quarterback and three NFL receivers. Oh, and NFL offensive linemen. That same coordinator is back in the college ranks after a one-year stint in the league. If you’re not a college football fan, the coordinator we’re referring to had all offseason to come up with a game plan against an unranked opponent coming off a 2-win season.

How did he fare? After scoring a touchdown on the first drive, Alabama didn’t score again until the fourth quarter. Moreover, they had zero identity in the running game. That was a glaring issue for the Seahawks last season.

Out with Ryan Grubb, in with old friend, Klint Kubiak. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan believes we’ll see an offense that we’re used to watching every Sunday:

“I think there’s some similarities. It’s always different how you adjust to your players, but I know they’re going to be a balanced team that wants to put Sam in some good situations and give that ball to their good running backs. Then it usually comes down to third down, so it’s real similar to us. There’s window dressing that’s different, but the way that they want a game to go, I think it’s going to be very similar to how we want it to go.”

Some may chalk it up to “It’s just the preseason,” but it’s almost as if Kubiak was trolling Grubb’s 2024 offense the way Seattle was on the opposite end of the spectrum when it came to running the ball. Last year, the Seahawks threw the ball at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL. And it’s not as if they were a 3-12 team always playing catch-up. Not even close! They were a 10-win team.

Geno Smith lined up in the shotgun over 76 percent of the time, while Seattle only used play-action on 19 percent of its dropbacks. It would be difficult to find a worse split than that. It would also be challenging to come up with five offensive linemen in the NFL who would look good under those circumstances.

When the quarterback lives in shotgun, the pass rushers know where they’re going to be. You’re begging to be pressured. Coincidentally, among qualifying quarterbacks, Geno was pressured more than any other QB.

Run the damn ball!​

Seattle’s preseason rushing stats would make any offensive line coach drool. In Week 1, they ran the ball 32 times for 170 yards. There were a pair of 20+ yard gains, but the theme was death by a thousand cuts. That wasn’t an outlier. In fact, in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs — and they did this against the Chiefs’ starters — it got better.

The Seahawks ran the ball 48 times, as if they weren’t allowed to throw, for 268 yards. Again, this wasn’t Jalen Milroe running for 60 yards like he did at Alabama. Nope. The Seahawks were doing whatever they wanted, mainly relying on the same zone concepts the 49ers run.

Seattle ran the ball only 24 times in the final preseason game for 130 yards. They didn’t play any starters from the looks of it. Why? Based on reading the reports from joint practice, they took it to Green Bay during the week.

Kubiak and the Seahawks aren’t re-inventing the wheel. They’re getting under center, relying on their athletic offensive lineman to create running lanes so their backs can maximize yardage after pinballing off tackles and gaining a couple of yards after contact. Sound familiar? It should.

Kubiak aligned his quarterbacks under center at the fourth-highest rate last year at 41.7 percent with the New Orleans Saints. Conversely, Brian Grubb used the eighth-lowest at 21.8 percent. Sam Darnold will feel at home. When he was with the Minnesota Vikings, they were under center at the second-highest rate at 48 percent.

Not only will Seattle be doing away with shotgun formations, but Saleh and the 49ers can expect to see plenty of two-back sets. The Saints used two or more players in the backfield (excluding the QB) on a league-high 23.8 percent of snaps. Seattle was at 6.1 percent, which is the ninth-lowest.

Kubiak isn’t trolling. This is who he is as a play caller.

Shifting back to Saleh​

National pundits are certain the 49ers will take a step back after losing Leonard Floyd, Javon Hargrave, and Maliek Collins along the defensive line. Even at Hargrave’s peak, neither of those three felt like the kind of players who resembled the type that made the Niners defense dominant during the Saleh/Ryans days.

Rolling with the youth movement doesn’t come without risk. Shanahan said the kids up front may present a challenge this season. But the style and structure should already be an improvement from the trio listed above.

The transition from finesse pass rushers to “good luck moving that guy” should make a world of difference, not just in the running game, but when it comes to tackling. First, a look at the difference in the average starting defensive line heading into Week 1 last year compared to this season:

’24 avg: 6’2″ 3/4 & 279 pounds, 32″ arms
’25 avg: 6’4″ 3/4 & 290 pounds, 33.5″ arms

The likelihood of smaller defenders falling off tackles is higher, which in turn leads to more yards after contact. There were several issues with Nick Sorensen’s defense last year. If we can pinpoint it to three, one of those was the missed tackles.

The 49ers’ defense missed a tackle on 13.8 percent of their tackling opportunities, per Next Gen Stats. That was the ninth-highest rate in the NFL and the highest rate on the team since Fred Warner’s rookie year. Those Seattle games were rough. San Francisco missed 23 tackles in both meetings against the Seahawks last year.

The 49ers were unusually static defensively last season, even for a coordinator who has never called plays. That led to outlier results. Nick Bosa, a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, lined up over the right tackle on 70 percent of his snaps in nine of the 14 games he played in, including both matchups against Seattle.

Think about that. You have one of the best players in the league, and instead of creating mismatches or trying to open up a clean runway for him, Sorensen was like, “Nah, right here is good.”

Fred Warner is a Hall of Fame blitzer. He had the fewest pass rush attempts last season, despite playing more snaps than in some other seasons where the numbers were close. If the argument is that Sorensen didn’t trust [redacted], then I get it. Perhaps consider finding another player to put your best players in a position to succeed?

Speaking of rushing the passer with your best players, the 49ers recorded the third-lowest blitz rate on early downs and the fourth-lowest blitz rate on third downs. When they did blitz, they sucked. The Niners generated pressure 4.3 percent more often when they blitzed, compared to when they sent four or fewer rushers. The percentage difference created the second-lowest increase in the NFL. Shanahan had no choice but to part ways with Sorensen, regardless of the injuries and the personnel issues.

Meanwhile, the mad man of a coordinator Saleh did not hold back on third downs in the preseason:

It's 3rd & 6 in the 1st quarter of Week 1 in the preseason and Robert Saleh has all 11 defenders within 7 yards of the line of scrimmage pic.twitter.com/oyculadCD9

— Kyle Posey (@KP_Show) August 11, 2025

We’ll also see a seismic shift in the type of coverage the Niners run. The 49ers ran zone 71.4 percent of the time last year, but had a 2-high shell only 19 percent of the time. That tells me Sorensen was living in Cover 3 — just asking to get beaten on elementary passing concepts.

Watching Saleh evolve over the years has been a joy. Saleh-led defenses ranked top three by highest Cover 4 usage rate in each season from 2019 to 2023. In 2020, Saleh’s last year with the Niners, the 49ers led the NFL in quarters usage with a 31.7 rate. That’s who he is, and it allows the defensive backs to be multiple and defend routes in a way they couldn’t from a structural standpoint in Cover 3.

Welcome back, Bob.

The Jimmys and the Joes​

Kubiak could have the best play call possible, but if Nick Bosa runs through Abe Lucas’s face, we’ll never find out. Saleh may have dialed up his favorite blitz, but if 73-year-old Cooper Kupp takes rookie Upton Stout to task, the Seahawks stay on the field, and it was all for naught.

It’s a player’s league. It’s about the Jimmys and the Joes.

Seattle invested in athletes up front, and their plan looked to be coming to fruition in the preseason. They are as young as the Niners up front.

A scheme change will almost assuredly benefit Lucas and leave tackle Charles Cross. Rookie Grey Zabel was mocked to the 49ers in the top 15. He was a draft community favorite. Seattle’s center also went to North Dakota State a year earlier. There should be some cohesion between the two. Right guard Anthony Bradford is 332 pounds. It’s safe to say he’s the least athletic. I think we can also assume he is a people mover.

It’ll be a quality test for the likes of Bryce Huff, who is not known as a run defender, and the rookies. Mykel Williams was drafted to be a star. But it’s Week 1. Like Zabel, there will be inevitable struggles. It’s a nice luxury for the 49ers to counter Bradford with a mammoth of a man in Alfred Collins. Players like him and C.J. West were brought in to pull the 49ers out of the dumps when it comes to defensive rushing statistics.

Fred Warner and Dee Winters will man the middle. Another shocking stat about the 49ers’ defense last year was their inability to stop passes over the middle. Warner’s completion percentage allowed was ten percentage points higher than he allowed in any previous season. Again, outlier season.

Winters is excellent in coverage. He’s aware, and not only should he allow Warner to blitz, but he also has a knack for getting into throwing lanes or taking away the pass before it’s thrown. Speaking of outliers, Warner and Winters will face a 274-pound fullback. I wouldn’t worry about them confusing Sam Darnold. But it’s not every day you have to take on a fullback that’s bigger than Nick Bosa.

Can Darnold play mistake-free football? Will Saleh’s coverage bait him into a mistake? How will Kubiak use Jaxon Smith-Njigba? He seems poised for a breakout season. JSN led the league in receiving yards out of the slot last year. But that’s also been where Kupp has made his living.

It’ll be a wait-and-see for the Seahawks’ passing offense. Kupp thrives off motion, but Kubiak-led offenses have been under 20 percent motion when it comes to their receivers. So we’d be guessing when it comes to their passing game. Just as we would when it comes to Deommodore Lenoir, Upton Stout, and Renardo Green, and how they’ll be deployed.

Running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet run hard and force miss tackles, but they like to bounce runs when they don’t have to. That could play into the hands of the speedy Winters. Both backs may pop a run or two, but if the Niners can force them to be efficient on a down-to-down basis, Saleh has to like his odds.

The game plan feels pretty straightforward for Saleh. Stop the run. Confuse Darnold on obvious passing downs—no cheap penalties. Limit missed tackles. Field goals won’t beat you. Explosive plays will.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...rdinators-looking-to-right-the-wrongs-of-2024

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Cowboys vs. Eagles Thursday Night thread: Will Vic Fangio flex his muscles in the season opener?

Week 1 is officially here, and that means the Super Bowl champion is featured in the season opener. Tonight, we’ll see the Dallas Cowboys travel east to take on the Philadelphia Eagles.

A week ago, the Cowboys traded their best player and one of the best defenders in the league, Micah Parsons. Dallas received draft compensation and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. The prevailing thought was that the Cowboys would struggle to get any stops against an Eagles offense that features Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jalen Hurts. New defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus will have his hands full.

On the other side of the ball, Vic Fangio isn’t walking into an easy out himself. Dak Prescott gets a new toy in George Pickens. CeeDee Lamb remains one of the most dangerous weapons in the league. But can Prescott be successful without a running game? That hasn’t been the case yet. Now, the Cowboys turn to Javonte Williams, a Denver Broncos castoff. Williams is known more as a receiving threat.

What are your predictions? I’ll go Eagles 28, Cowboys 20.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/game-d...-fangio-flex-his-muscles-in-the-season-opener

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: Here we go again

Robert Saleh, Brock Purdy, Klay Kubiak preview 49ers-Seahawks Week 1 matchup
“San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, and quarterback Brock Purdy addressed reporters following Thursday’s practice as the team prepares for its Week 1 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Here’s everything they said.“

Kawakami: ‘You’ve gotta reload’: How Nick Bosa got with the 49ers’ new plan (paywall)
““Just that it can’t revolve around one player being in or out,” Bosa said. “We have to play with the intensity that has made us who we are over the years.”

Do you think there was a slippage of intensity last year?

“Yeah, yeah, I do. I think when you’re losing games and you’re losing confidence and you’re starting to play in meaningless — not meaningless, but in terms of playoff-contention, meaningless — things do slip, details slip,” Bosa said. “I think every person is guilty of losing a little bit of that focus and intensity.”

Where youth-infused 49ers finish in Matt Maiocco’s 2025 NFL season predictions
““I think it’s possible,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said on Wednesday. “There are a number of challenges. We’re going to play a lot of young guys as this year goes. We’re going to start out doing that.”

The 49ers finished in last place in the NFC West a year ago with a 6-11 record. Even with so many young players, they still have enough top players to make another run.“

Brock Purdy was the NFL’s darling as Mr. Irrelevant. Who will he be as a $265 million man? (paywall)
““When I was a rookie, I came in and I knew nothing but the quarterback (package of plays),” Purdy said from outside the locker room after practice last week. “It didn’t matter who was out on the field with me — I was just going through my progressions and ripping it. I was a machine.

“So this offseason, I was getting back to that standard of being hard on myself, being disciplined, and obviously not trying to do too much.”….. Purdy has become one of those leaders. Williams said he gets a kick whenever the quarterback yells at receivers.

“They’re not used to quarterbacks getting back to the third read, and maybe they’re not where they are supposed to be,” Williams said. “And this is early on. Mr. Irrelevant, no status off the jump. He had one of the most uphill battles that anybody can have, and he strided up that hill like it was flat ground.”

Purdy had an instant connection with Shanahan, who takes pride in the plays he draws up and wants them carried out.

“I came in and was just going through reads … and he saw that I was playing like a machine, and he loved that,” Purdy said. “He can call a pass play on first, second and third down multiple times and trust that I was gonna make the right decisions over and over again.”

Will the 49ers’ renovated, rookie-riddled roster return to NFL elite? (paywall)
““There are all sorts of holes in the roster that need to be filled by either traded or young players that we haven’t seen before,” Young said. “The fans are going to be wearing certain jerseys right now. (George) Kittle, (Christian) McCaffrey, Brock, Warner. That’s fine. But if this team is going to transition super fast and threaten to go the distance, you’re going to be wearing jerseys by Thanksgiving of guys who you don’t even know the names of right now.

“If there are four or five of them, then we’re transitioning pretty quick. And you better watch out. But if not, and a couple guys get hurt, especially Trent, that’s an entirely different narrative.”

49ers’ Colton McKivitz makes rare admission as he enters contract year (paywall)
“Where many pro athletes in that circumstance might say they’re not focused on money because that can be a distraction, McKivitz is different. He speaks with candor rather than in cliches.

During his first five NFL seasons, the 2020 fifth-round pick has admitted he initially lacked the urgency and work ethic that a later-round pick needs to survive. And he has openly discussed his wavering confidence and on-field failures.

But things are now looking up, and his authenticity hasn’t changed. McKivitz was on-brand Wednesday when he was asked about his thoughts entering his contract year.“

With 49ers rookie Jordan Watkins back in practice, which WRs will play Sunday? (paywall)
“Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) was also back at practice after missing Wednesday.

A high ankle sprain had sidelined Watkins, a fourth-round draft pick, leaving his Week 1 availability in limbo. Head coach Kyle Shanahan may still opt to list Watkins as inactive for Sunday’s season opener against the Seahawks in Seattle; someone has to be. The 49ers had their entire 53-man roster and 17-man practice squad participating in some capacity during the portion of the session open to the media, meaning some tough decisions will need to be made in the coming days.“

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/golden-nuggets/149814/golden-nuggets-here-we-go-again

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers injury updates: Christian McCaffrey is officially questionable for Week 1

We all got the same notification: “Christian McCaffrey returned to practice!” National reporters took that and ran with it, saying, “A big sigh of relief for the San Francisco 49ers.”

The Niners have several level-headed media members who aren’t looking to go viral. It’s important to remember that we are only allowed to watch 15-20 minutes of practice, generally just the stretching and individual drills, before getting kicked out.

Matt Maiocco clarified an initial report, citing that McCaffrey was working on the side field as the Niners began practice. He was not with the rest of the team during their pre-practice routine. Eric Branch noticed McCaffrey briefly going to the weight room at the start of individual drills. Cam Inman caught video and photos of McCaffrey, who typically warms up on his own:

McCaffrey not part of running back warmups and doing own routine activations (stop, start, weave, high knees) while trainer watches. Shanahan/Lynch not watching him nearby fwiw pic.twitter.com/J6JYTdoj7X

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) September 5, 2025

Now is a good reminder that we aren’t owed anything. Why would the 49ers risk McCaffrey showing a limp while the media is present? What sense does it make to share that the focal point of your offense is potentially hobbled 48 hours before kickoff?

Here’s more of McCaffrey’s warm-up:

CMC warming up on the side…

pic.twitter.com/HeX7XseP2r

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) September 5, 2025

The one player who was not present was edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos. His lone practice of the week was Thursday, which is generally a sign that the player won’t suit up for Sunday’s game. However, Gross-Matos is not listed on the injury report, despite not participating during Friday’s practice. Kyle Shanahan said he’s a full-go for Sunday.

Shanahan provided the final injury report ahead of Week 1’s matchup against the Seattle Seahawks:

Doubtful:

WR Jordan Watkins (ankle)

RB Jordan James (finger)

Questionable:

Christian McCaffrey (calf)

Christian McCaffrey did not officially practice on Friday. Kyle Shanahan was asked what his level of concern was, and he said, “Questionable. Questionable concern.” He went out of his way to say, “I’m not going to say anything about our injured guys.”

Shanahan said McCaffrey did a limited amount during Thursday’s practice, but wouldn’t confirm whether he participated in any team drills. He did confirm that whatever injury McCaffrey suffered happened during Thursday’s practice.

Remember, McCaffrey was also questionable ahead of Week 1 last year, only to miss the next eight games.

Brian Robinson is in his first full week of practice and is still getting to know the playbook. Shanahan said that Robinson knows the game plan, and you don’t have to know the entire playbook to know the game plan. Robinson and Isaac Guerendo are the next running backs in line to get touches after McCaffrey.

McCaffrey told reporters in the locker room that he feels great physically, and he’s proud of himself for feeling something in Thursday’s practice and dialing it back. McCaffrey admitted that he can be his own worst enemy at times. He also acknowledged that reports can get blown out of proportion on social media:

Nothing serious, I can tell you that. Like I said, I feel great about where I’m at. Unfortunately, when you have an injury history like I have, sometimes when you don’t practice things get, uh, blown out of proportion.

As for Jauan Jennings, he’ll play. Shanahan believes Jennings had a good week of practice: “Real confident. I think Jauan has had a real good week. He’s gotten better and better throughout the week. I’m excited to see him out there on Sunday.”

Right guard Dominick Puni was limited for the first two days of practice, but he participated in full on Friday.

Everybody else on the roster was a full participant at practice and will be good for Sunday.

The Seattle Seahawks ruled out pass rusher Uchenna Nwosu, wide receiver Jake Bobo, and wide receiver Dareke Young. No other player on their injury report is questionable.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...caffrey-is-officially-questionable-for-week-1

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers promote 2, but don’t elevate a running back for Week 1 vs. the Seahawks

The San Francisco 49ers promoted wide receiver Russell Gage and linebacker Curtis Robinson from the practice squad on Saturday ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan had said it was likely that Gage would be up to give the 49ers an extra receiver on gameday. San Francisco initially had Gage on the 53-man roster, but released him and signed him to the practice squad to promote recently-signed Marques Valdez-Scantling to the active roster.

Now, both will be available for the Badgers for the season opener, with Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, and Sky Moore as the other receivers as rookie Jordan Watkins was ruled doubtful with his ankle injury.

San Francisco also promoted Robinson for the game, likely for special teams. Robinson was a regular to be promoted from the practice squad last year for gamedays. The 49ers had initially released him on cutdown day, but brought him back to the practice squad once again and will now have him for Week 1.

Notably, the 49ers did not promote a running back. Running back Jordan James was ruled doubtful with his finger injury, so it would’ve made sense for San Francisco to bring up Sincere McCormick if they had questions about Christian McCaffrey’s availability.

But, with McCaffrey trending to play, the 49ers are going with just three running backs for Week 1: McCaffrey, Brian Robinson Jr., and Isaac Guerendo.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...s-promote-2-players-for-week-1-practice-squad

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: At long last…. can you believe it… it’s…finally… GAME DAY

49ers elevate Russell Gage, Curtis Robinson from practice squad to face Seahawks
“The 49ers opted against elevating running back Sincere McCormick from the practice squad.

Rookie running back Jordan James is listed as doubtful with a finger injury.“

Both Christian McCaffrey, Brian Robinson Jr. prepare as 49ers’ Week 1 starters
““I prepare like I’m going to start every game, regardless of Christian, him being a starter here,” Robinson said. “This is how I got to prepare — prepare like I’m ready to start at any given moment. That’s how you become a starter in this league.”

Likewise, McCaffrey said on Friday he is taking the approach that he will be on the field when the season begins. McCaffrey missed the first eight games of last season with Achilles tendinitis in both legs. The 49ers originally identified his condition a year ago as a calf injury.“

49ers’ Christian McCaffrey plans to play vs. Seahawks after calf injury scare: ‘I feel great’ (paywall)
“Still, there are some differences between 2024 and now.

A year ago, McCaffrey was bothered by flare-ups of Achilles tendinitis in both legs throughout the summer, and he practiced sporadically as a result. This year, he was on hand throughout the spring and summer — with an occasional “veterans rest day” — and hadn’t been held out with an injury until Thursday. He was asked if he removed himself from the session out of an abundance of caution.

“Yeah,” he said. “I’m not supposed to go into anything that happened, but I felt like it was the smart thing to do to not finish the practice. Because I’ve been there before, and I’ve been my own worst enemy in situations like that. I’m proud of myself for not doing that again. Like I said, I went through a whole training camp (and) feel great about where I’m at.”

How Deommodore Lenoir won over 49ers, even his old enemy, and became captain (paywall)
“A yearslong beef between Lenoir and new 49ers nickel back Chase Lucas boiled over at the NFC Championship Game in 2024, when Lucas played for the opposing Lions. The two had exchanged trash-talking tweets dating to their college days. And no matter how much time passed, neither forgot his disdain for the other. A clip of their postgame confrontation went viral.

Mere months later, after the 49ers added Lucas via a one-year deal, Lenoir said he called assistant special teams coach Matthew Harper: “Why we sign him?” They did not speak a word to each other during the opening weeks of offseason workouts. No spats ensued. The occasional side-eyed stare sufficed.

“When I came here, I kind of already knew it was like, man, this is his house, this is his team,” Lucas said. “He’s been here, he got drafted here. I’m not coming here to cause problems. I feel like he found that out probably a month later.”….. Lucas was originally locker mates with Samuel, who warmly welcomed the former seventh-round pick, to the chagrin of Lenoir. “I had told Deebo, ‘You better not talk to him,’” he said. Samuel was friendly enough, at least until he learned of Lucas’ tidiness, or lack thereof.

The star wide receiver put in a complaint, according to Lucas, whose locker by the start of training camp had been promptly moved without notice — one down from Lenoir’s.

Such proximity helped bridge the gap from nemesis, to teammate, to friend.

“It ended up being the best situation,” Lucas said.

“Like my grandfather always said, your biggest enemy might be your best friend.”

Lenoir and Lucas ultimately realized they were more similar than different. Day 3 draft picks. Humble beginnings. And a hunger to match.“

Inside Nick Bosa’s quest to reach his peak: Secret might be in his 49ers rookie tape (paywall)
“His debut included Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and a mindset that since has become “convoluted” as he has worked to add elements to a repertoire that was already elite.

“I think my rookie tape is kind of enlightening because I wasn’t thinking at all,” Bosa said to the Chronicle. “I was just going out there. I think there’s a certain skill set that I have, and it comes out naturally when I’m not thinking.”…Bosa cares deeply about his craft. At times, perhaps, too much. As he has labored to improve each season, adding to his pass-rushing arsenal, he also has dealt with stress partly because his own expectations and those of others have increased. He has combated anxiety by dabbling in meditation, visiting a team psychologist, staying off social media, reading books and focusing on family relationships that ground him.

Job stress didn’t inspire Bosa’s decision to get back to basics, but a byproduct, he said, has been a “peace of mind” entering his seventh season.

“The best things I do are a certain group of things that I can stray away from if I’m maybe trying to work on this during this camp and I’m trying to get better at this,” Bosa said. “I have these conversations every single year: What am I going to do to get better? I think it’s just about simplifying things and relying on what makes what I do elite. And everything else is just icing on the cake.

“In the NFL, everyone is too good to try to be elite at five different things. You are in the position you’re in for a reason. And you need to identify what makes you one of the best players in the league and make sure that’s the focus.”

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/golden...g-last-can-you-believe-it-itsfinally-game-day

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers-Seahawks: The story thus far in the Kyle Shanahan era

The San Francisco 49ers begin their 2025 campaign against the Seattle Seahawks. Weirdness doesn’t begin to describe what happens when these two teams meet. A five-game winning streak over the Seahawks was snapped in Week 11 of the 2024 season when the 49ers imploded (as the 2024 San Francisco 49ers tended to do) and then-Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith strutted into the end zone.

The 49ers go to Lumen Field for this game, a place Brock Purdy is yet to lose, as of this writing. Given the extensive history between these two teams during 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s tenure, I thought it would be fitting to share the story thus far in this rivalry. We start before Purdy arrives.

The era of our quarterback: B.B.P: Before Brock Purdy​

Whenever you think of the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan being bad, think of 2017. This is when they were definitely not good. They drew the Seahawks in Week 2, at then-CenturyLink field in a 12-9 snozefest. The 49ers almost had a chance of pulling this out-field goal-ing the Seahawks to death, until the fourth quarter rolled around and Russell Wilson did some fourth-quarter theatrics to score a touchdown with seven minutes left. In true Seahawks fashion, the extra point was missed, leaving an opening for the 49ers to tie the game. The next drive ended in a punt, and the Seahawks sucked up what little time remained.

The home game in Week 12 was not much better, at least on the win-loss record. And for a majority of the game, it wasn’t much different from what you’ve seen, until the final minute. Quarterback C.J. Beathard left the game after an injury, and Jimmy Garoppolo, fresh off his trade more than a month earlier to the game, came in for his first action with the team. What followed was Garoppolo taking the team down the field efficiently and finding Louis Murphy Jr. for a touchdown as time expired

This made the score 24-13 Seahawks. That’s not important. What was important to this series was the transformation of the 49ers into Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers. From then on, until the injuries mounted, they were no longer an “easy” win on the schedule.

In 2018, the two would not meet until Week 13. Unfortunately, it was obvious a loss was in the cards since Garoppolo suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Seahawks took an early 20-3 lead, and the game ended 43-16. Another game where the less said, the better.

Much like 2017, there were some moral victories. The 49ers faced the Seahawks two weeks later in a game with the team on opposite ends of the spectrum: the Seahawks chasing a playoff spot, the 49ers in the conversation for the No. 1 pick. Despite those differences, the 49ers pulled out a win. It is also one of those rare times you see the 49ers’ special teams take a kickoff back for a touchdown.

With a field goal in overtime, the 49ers beat the Seahawks 26-23, and that wild-card berth that the Seahawks thought was a certainty had to wait another week. It was also emotional for cornerback Richard Sherman, who had come to the 49ers in the 2018 offseason after the Seahawks cut him.

It wasn’t until the following year that the 49ers would finally get the monkey off their backs…at least for a year.

2019 saw the Seahawks back and being pesky as ever, with that football luck some 49ers fans have criticized them for in full force. This game, on Monday Night Football at Levi’s Stadium, had the 49ers at 9-0. That Seahawk luck had to kick in somewhere, and in this case, it was the kicker. And the tight end.

Both George Kittle and Robbie Gould were out of this contest, and the absence of those two players leveled the playing field (another 49ers’ staple). In for Gould was kicker Chase McLaughlin. Despite these setbacks, the 49ers had a shot to end this thing in overtime, but McLaughlin shanked a field goal that Robbie Gould would make in his sleep. The Seahawks got the ball and hit a field goal as time expired to give the 49ers their first loss of the year. And when you think of the history between these two teams, it was a weird, weird loss. One that came down to a kicker being injured.

What is notable is the follow-up game in CenturyLink Field. This game decided the NFC West, and the San Francisco 49ers hadn’t won there in almost half a decade. More craziness and outright weirdness ensued in the game with phantom holds, extra seconds on play clocks, laterals, and the Seattle Seahawks getting a delay of game at the worst possible time (or best, if you’re a 49ers fan). The penalty pushed back the 1st-and-goal a few yards to give the 49ers breathing room. After three plays—and a no-call on pass interference that benefitted the 49ers, something YOU NEVER see—fourth-and-goal came up, which transpired with linebacker Dre Greenlaw doing his best Dan Bunz impression.

Wild ending, weird game. Exactly what you expect from these two teams.

The 2020 season brought the usual rash of 49ers injuries. The Seahawks won both games, one in Week 8 — a 37–27 drubbing in Seattle — and the other a 26–23 comeback in a game that only got exciting in the fourth quarter, with the Seahawks trailing by six points to start. It’s worth noting that this was the COVID year.

If you thought the 2020 season was strange, 2021 took it up a notch, even if there was no COVID. This was Trey Lance’s rookie season, backing up Jimmy Garoppolo. While Lance was called on for some package plays (notably Week 1 against the Detroit Lions), the Seattle game was the first time he actually came in to lead the offense on more than one play, when Garoppolo went down with a calf injury that sidelined him through the following week against the Arizona Cardinals. Trey Lance played through the entire second half. Looking back, that might be the only memory of this one.

Was Lance bad? Depends on who you ask. He looked like a rookie is the best way to describe his play. A lot of ducks, a lot of runs up the middle. If anything, Lance’s speed (or the misleading aspect of it) was on display and may have been the first sign he wasn’t as fast as advertised.

Before the third quarter was over the game went 21–7 Seahawks, but it wasn’t Lance’s fault. The Seahawks stormed down the field against what was a decent 49ers defense that day to score one touchdown, and then the 49ers’ special teams did what you hope they won’t do in 2025 — muffed the ensuing kickoff.

Lance had some moments, notably a 67-yard touchdown pass to Deebo Samuel. But Samuel was wide open, and the throw wasn’t exactly a tight spiral. In the fourth quarter, the 49ers had a chance to take over, but a lack of urgency prevented them from getting the ball into the end zone with just over a minute left. They obviously didn’t recover the kickoff. Once again, the Seahawks won.

The game in Seattle went a different way. The 49ers still lost, but many of us thought they might pull this one out. At one point, they were in control with a 10-point lead and matched a Seahawks touchdown with one of their own to keep the lead, even though the extra point was missed.

But then the officials made their presence felt with a pair of controversial roughing-the-passer calls to help move the Seahawks down the field and get another touchdown before the first half came to an end. The 49ers’ special teams felt nostalgic about the last game in 2021 and coughed up the opening kickoff to allow the Seahawks another touchdown rather quickly, and suddenly that nice lead went “poof.”

An underlying theme of this entire recap is the 49ers’ special teams. Please be good this year. Or at least less bad.

The San Francisco 49ers still had a chance to win this thing. In the fourth quarter, with an opportunity to put the game out of reach, the Seattle Seahawks fumbled near the 49ers’ goal line. The 49ers recovered, and an efficient offense drove down the field. This was despite the officials calling penalties like a phantom holding flag after Jimmy Garoppolo scrambled for a few yards. The 49ers made it to the Seahawks’ 4-yard line. Then an arguable pass interference no-call and a batted ball left the 49ers walking away as losers. Kyle Shanahan later said that had the 49ers managed to get it into the end zone, they would have gone for two.

Despite Garoppolo having his usual bonehead interceptions that fans have come to expect, he actually looked stellar in the final minutes—until his fourth-down pass got batted away. Of course, the era was about to change.

The era of our quarterback: A.B.P. After Brock Purdy​

As you know, Brock Purdy was drafted with the final pick of the 2022 NFL draft. And if you knew he would be starting that same year, once you heard his name, you are a liar. Purdy was No. 3 on the depth chart behind Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. This is where we start to see the Seahawks lot of games against the 49ers. That shift didn’t come without setbacks and turning points that would change the 49ers’ future forever.

The first came in Week 2 of the 2022 NFL season. The Seahawks came to Levi’s Stadium, and the 49ers had just finished playing in a monsoon against the Chicago Bears in Trey Lance’s first game, where he was officially handed the keys. On the Seahawks side, Russell Wilson was gone, and Geno Smith was in. So, logic said the next few years would be Lance vs. Smith, right? Wrong.

A few plays in, Lance broke his ankle and was done for the season. That was the bad part; the good part was Garoppolo coming in and the 49ers walking away with a win. Something you didn’t see much then. I think this video, which I made back then with sound effects, displays the emotions perfectly:

FINISH HIM!!!! #49ers pic.twitter.com/pwtZOXPDLE

— Patrick Holloway (@patoholloway) September 19, 2022

The 49ers started Week 2 of the season with a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. This was supposed to be the game that put Jimmy Garoppolo back into the driver’s seat and had the 49ers chasing another Super Bowl run, right? Well, that was until the Miami Dolphins game, where Garoppolo himself went down with an injury and Purdy got his shot. Yes, there were some rookie things to start, like some ducks thrown, but at the same time, he looked the part. By the second half of that Miami game, you might have forgotten he was a rookie.

The 49ers went to the Seahawks in Week 15 with the NFC West crown on the line—something they hadn’t held since the 2019 season-ending Dre Greenlaw body slam at the goal line. Only this time, it was Brock Purdy, and he wasn’t scared of any Lumen Field crowd. Words don’t do this game justice, so I’ll just say watch the recap here.

There are two highlights worth pointing out. First is a play later nicknamed “Hollywood.” The play was two fake passes and then a dart to the tight end. And Purdy played it beautifully:

"FAKE PRA LÁ, FAKE PRA CÁ!"

No 49ers x Seahawks de 2022, Brock Purdy fez uma jogada muito engraçadinha para encontrar George Kittle livre no meio do campo para o touchdown! #FTTB

: #SFvsSEA | 22:15 | @ESPNBrasil pic.twitter.com/3dmxTbuzdW

— NFL Brasil (@NFLBrasil) November 23, 2023

This is even better with the ESPN Brazil call.

The other was Purdy’s scamper. On third-and-1, Purdy rolled out and took off, sliding (something San Francisco 49ers fans don’t often see from their quarterbacks) and extending his arm to get the first down. Jordan Mason would later take the ball to the 1-yard line, but getting the fresh set of downs with just over two minutes left via Purdy’s rollout was pretty much the dagger to this game.

The 49ers won the NFC West, and Brock Purdy won his first start in Seattle. As of this writing, Brock Purdy has never lost in Seattle either.

2023 brought change. This game was on Thanksgiving. If you want the history of the Thanksgiving fiasco, you can go here. The short story: the Seattle Seahawks went into Levi’s Stadium on Thanksgiving in 2015 and beat the 49ers 19–3, then ate a turkey feast on the 49ers’ field. That infuriated fans.

To kick things off for 2023, the first game was in Seattle, with a chance for the 49ers to have their revenge. The 49ers went into Seattle 7–3, and in a game, 49ers fans will say almost every second was pure Thanksgiving entertainment, and they had their way with them. The 49ers won 31–13, which included another Brock Purdy window throw to Brandon Aiyuk, the kind you only see from the better quarterbacks.

This game was also remembered as one of the many games that gave evidence that then-49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks was not long for the job. His game plan for Charvarius Ward was reportedly overwritten by John Lynch once word came back that Wilks wasn’t covering Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf.

The second game of the year, played only two weeks later, was more competitive. The Seahawks didn’t have Geno Smith and started Drew Lock. The 49ers built a 21–10 lead by halftime, but the Seahawks stormed back. One of their touchdowns came with the Seahawks doing what they do best: copying other teams. They ran their own version of “Hollywood” to get into the end zone. They failed the two-point conversion to make it 21–16, but if you know the weirdness of this rivalry, you were a little nervous. That was until Purdy turned it around and went on a tear.

Despite Brandon Aiyuk fumbling the ball in the fourth quarter and the 49ers’ defense having its usual Steve Wilks brain farts, Fred Warner sealed it with an interception. Seattle wide receiver D.K. Metcalf got ejected after Warner’s interception—something Metcalf had a knack for.

Regardless, the 49ers began another winning streak over the Seahawks, sweeping them for two seasons in a row—four straight wins.

The sweep continued in 2024. Despite injuries and everything else, you could still count on a trip to Lumen Field to right the ship. The rookies of 2024 stepped up, and once again, Brock Purdy left Seattle undefeated.

Unfortunately, that was where the streak stopped. In the second meeting of 2024, the 49ers’ issues caught up. The two teams traded leads throughout, with the 49ers going up 17–13. The ensuing defensive performance, however, was the final straw that gave the Seahawks the game. Looking back, this might have been the drive that put the nail in the coffin of Nick Sorensen’s career as 49ers defensive coordinator.

The 49ers bent and bent and bent until Geno Smith finally managed to waltz in on a 12-yard scamper for a touchdown. This was after Smith had already hurried for a batch of yards just running by defenders.

Probably one of the more painful losses to the Seahawks. Defensive injuries had mounted, and the 49ers were in a bad spot. But the question was how they could let someone like Smith walk into the end zone.

And there you have it. A batch of disappointing games, a brief glimmer of hope, and eventually a stretch of five straight wins over the Seattle Seahawks. Yes, after winning in Levi’s in that final game, you got all the jargon that comes with a “disappointing win,” but it really was a bad season. No one likes the 49ers losing to the Seahawks, but the Seahawks caught the 49ers on their worst day—something that happens often in this rivalry.

Today, Brock Purdy returns to Seattle. He hasn’t lost there in his three years in the league. That’s all you need to know.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...s-the-story-thus-far-in-the-kyle-shanahan-era

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

3 quick takeaways from the 49ers 17-13 win over the Seahawks: We saw both sides of Brock

The San Francisco 49ers edged past the Seattle Seahawks 17-13 thanks to a go-ahead touchdown drive in the final minutes that pushed them over the top.

It was a back-and-forth battle with many highs and many lows, but nonetheless a major victory over a division rival on the road to start the season.

Here are three key takeaways from the 49ers’ 17-13 win over the Seahawks.

Defense shines under Robert Saleh

After two years of inconsistent defenses, the 49ers flourished in Week 1 under Robert Saleh on that side of the ball.

Saleh absolutely shut down Seattle’s offense, limiting the Seahawks to a measly 4.6 yards per play and 146 passing yards.

Early on, it was clear that Saleh was going to put quite a bit on the secondary’s plate, looking to blitz more often than his predecessors and speed up Sam Darnold’s clock in the pocket. As a result, Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak didn’t seem to trust his quarterback for much of this game, calling quick passes and screens that the 49ers were able to sniff out.

San Francisco’s front seven rallied to the football well, with Fred Warner and Dee Winters both looking really good in the season opener. In the secondary, Saleh left his cornerbacks without much help, and both Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green rose to the occasion.

Green was tested more, but he had several really good plays. Of course, as a cornerback, you’re going to get beaten here and there against tough competition, as Green was on the 1-on-1 to Jaxon Smith-Ngijba on Seattle’s final drive. But, San Francisco’s top two corners both played very well on the outside.

The lone blemish defensively was the learning curve of nickelback Upton Stout, who had tough matchups against Cooper Kupp and Smith-Njigba in the slot. Being in 1-on-1 matchups quite a bit, it was evident that Kubiak and the Seahawks offense were looking to pick on the rookie, and they got their way for much of the afternoon.

Perhaps Saleh could’ve shifted the coverage to give Lenoir some more of those 1-on-1 matchups, rather than aligning his corners in their specific spots, but the rest of the 49ers defense played well and came up with key stops when necessary.

None was bigger than Nick Bosa’s pressure + forced fumble at the end of the game to seal the deal, keeping Seattle at 13 points and handing them the loss in the opener. San Francisco only got one sack, but they got enough pressure on Darnold and forced Seattle to primarily operate with a quick passing game, which the 49ers sniffed out.

The biggest issue for the defense in 2024 was stopping the run. While there were some plays to clean up, the 49ers didn’t allow a 10+ yard rush and held Seattle to 84 yards on 3.2 yards per carry. Not bad at all.

This was a strong start to the year defensively, especially given all the moving pieces, and Saleh was at the forefront of it.

The duality of Brock Purdy

The 49ers had quite the ride with Brock Purdy on Sunday, and it ultimately led them to the win with their final offensive drive.

Purdy started the game sharp on the opening drive, finding Ricky Pearsall twice and connecting with George Kittle on a trio of passes as well, with the last one being a five-yard touchdown pass on 3rd & Goal. He was 6/7 for 66 yards and the touchdown, leading a 14-play, 95-yard drive for a score.

He also had some nice throws a couple of drives later while leading the 49ers into another goal-to-go situation, but San Francisco ultimately settled for a field goal attempt, with Jake Moody missing a 27-yarder to start the season.

The Niners opened up the second half with a quality drive, thanks to a Christian McCaffrey 25-yard catch, but Purdy made a major mistake, throwing off his back foot into coverage, resulting in an interception. He was looking for Jauan Jennings over the middle of the field, but Seattle was all over it, as Ernest Jones had a deep drop, and Purdy’s throw didn’t have enough on it.

There were times when Purdy seemed to be doing a little too much, as he acknowledged was an issue last year. Purdy repeatedly held the ball for over three seconds, and a throw like his first interception was unnecessary with options open in the flat on 1st & 10.

That’s the duality of what you get with Purdy. When in rhythm, Purdy can be on one, as seen in the first drive. When things aren’t coming as easily, though, he can try to force things and do a little too much, which results in him holding onto the ball sometimes.

Now, there was also quite a bit of pressure from the Seahawks today, with Purdy getting pressured on over 57 percent of his dropbacks, which was the highest rate of his career. So, there needs to be some cleanup there, but also some with the signal-caller getting the ball out quicker.

But, Purdy bounced back with a nice 24-yard pass to Ricky Pearsall to the outside, placing a ball well to the sidelines with Tariq Woolen in coverage that sparked another potential scoring drive. Later on that drive, though, in a goal-to-go situation, he missed an open Ricky Pearsall for a touchdown, throwing the ball a tad late and with not enough on it, which allowed Woolen to make a break on the ball and force an incompletion.

One drive later, the quarterback threw another untimely interception, forcing a ball into triple coverage despite facing a relatively clean pocket.

Still, Purdy and the 49ers got another chance for a game-winning drive with three minutes left, and the quarterback delivered. He had a great deep ball to Pearsall on a double-move, beating Tariq Woolen for a 45-yard completion. He then completed four straight passes, with the last one coming on a crucial 3rd & Goal, where tight end Jake Tonges made a crazy catch for the go-ahead score.

That ball itself could’ve been interception, but Purdy extended a play and gave his receiver a chance, resulting in the pick.

This game was the perfect epitome of Purdy’s two sides. There’s the side that works well in structure and extends plays to keep drives alive, and also the side that can take unnecessary risks by sometimes doing too much. Honing in the latter will go a long way for Purdy’s growth, but he had enough of the former to help the 49ers win the game at the end.

Christian McCaffrey’s back

Looking at the beginning of the game, it was fair to question how Christian McCaffrey was looking, as the 49ers weren’t getting much traction on the ground at all.

However, in the second half, it was clear how much of an advantage McCaffrey was to the 49ers, and how the team plans to use him.

The running back was a huge mismatch in the passing game, leading the team with nine catches for 73 yards. He also rushed 22 times for 69 yards, while Brian Robinson came in a good amount as well.

With the 49ers not having much stability at wide receiver, George Kittle getting injured, and Jauan Jennings going out in the fourth quarter, McCaffrey was essential for Brock Purdy in the second half.

He was also able to open up a few runs at the end, although the 49ers were extremely ineffective running the ball in the red zone. Assuming he’s able to stay fresh enough, it’s clear how much he changes the team’s ceiling as a do-it-all back.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...-3-quick-takeaways-17-13-win-seattle-seahawks

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Vikings vs. Bears Monday Night thread: Ben Johnson makes his debut

Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears host J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings. Williams benefits from former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who was regarded as one of the best play-callers in the NFL during the past few seasons.

Williams also gets one of the best offensive threats from the 2025 NFL Draft, Colston Loveland. A collegiate teammate of McCarthy, Loveland being selected over Tyler Warren by an offensive guru says a lot.

McCarthy gets Aaron Jones and old friend Jordan Mason in the backfield. He’ll also have arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, Justin Jefferson, to help him out. Star left tackle Christian Darrisaw won’t play, so McCarthy won’t have his blindside protected. That’s something to keep an eye on during this contest.

Ultimately, this game should come down to the head-to-head matchup between Ben Johnson and Brian Flores. They are two of the very best at what they do. Flores is aggressive, but the same is true for Johnson. It should be a fun chess match between a couple of NFC teams that many people are picking to surprise in 2025.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/game-d...nday-night-thread-ben-johnson-makes-his-debut

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Brock Purdy has multiple injuries; George Kittle could miss a month

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said quarterback Brock Purdy suffered a toe injury against the Seattle Seahawks, and his status for Week 2’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints is uncertain. Purdy also has a left shoulder injury, but Shanahan said Purdy’s toe injury is more severe. Shanahan said the team will see how the practice week goes: “Not sure, has to see how it heals and how the week goes on it.”

More evaluations are coming for Purdy. Shanahan did not rule out the 49ers adding another quarterback this week. Besides Mac Jones, Adrian Martinez is the only other quarterback in the building. Adding another quarterback hinges on how Purdy’s injuries progress in the coming days.

Jones would start if Purdy can’t go. Shanahan said that he’s comfortable with how Mac Jones has been progressing and learning the offense.

Tight end George Kittle will miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury. Kittle didn’t return after running a vertical route early in the game against the Seattle Seahawks. Kittle could miss anywhere from 3-5 weeks, which means he might be headed to the Injured Reserve List. “In order to do that, it’s got to be a four-week injury, and we haven’t decided on that yet,” Shanahan said.

Jake Tonges filled in admirably without Kittle. But we saw on the first drive how effective Kittle can be on third down and in the red zone. That’ll be a brutal loss as the Niners play two divisional opponents during the next month.

Week 5 is a short week against the Los Angeles Rams. That should be the target date for Kittle, if he’s healthy enough. That’s October 2. But if the Niners want to be safe, a mini bye after that happens. They won’t play against until October 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The MRI on Jauan Jennings’ shoulder came back clean, although the Niners await his CT scan. That’s good news, though, as it sounds like Jennings avoided the worst-case scenario. Shanahan said Jennings has a chance to play in Week 2.

Starting left guard Ben Bartch has a sprained knee and is day-to-day. He has a lengthy injury history, which is a concern since he’s already appearing on the injury report.

Shanahan was unsure about the direction the team would go at kicker. It’s a topic of conversation in the building. The 49ers are keeping all of their options open regarding Jake Moody, who missed a kick and had another kick blocked in Week 1.

“I haven’t had (that conversation) with (Moody) yet. … Whenever we decide on something, we’ll address it with him.”

I think it’s safe to say we can expect the team to bring in multiple kickers for tryouts this week.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ple-injuries-george-kittle-could-miss-a-month

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

3 things we learned about the 49ers in Week 1: It’s time to change the Mood(y) on special teams

It’s that time of year again. The San Francisco 49ers started their quest for six with a 17-13 win up in Seattle.

But just like last year, instead of looking at the schedule as a series of 17 games, we will look at each game as an individual homework assignment to prepare for the test that is the regular season. Unfortunately, last season, the 49ers didn’t even get the chance to take the test. This year, San Francisco obviously hopes that changes.

So what did we learn from the first homework assignment of 2025? These three things:

Jake Moody has to go​

The time to move on from Moody was probably at the end of the 2024 season, but Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch wanted to give Moody one more chance. Moody’s 55 percent clip over the final nine games of last season proved to be just bad enough for the 49ers to bring in Greg Joseph to compete with Moody over training camp.

That competition was never one, and Joseph was released before the team’s first preseason game.

The decision set the stage for Sunday, when Moody went 1-for-3 on field goals, lowering his field goal percentage to a hapless 52.2 percent since the bye week last season. But it’s not the misses that should be why Moody is moved on from; it’s the trust.

Moody’s first miss came from 27 yards on Sunday when he clanged a kick from the left hashmark off the left upright. That set the tone for confidence in the kicker as he lined up for a much more intimidating 36-yard attempt in the third quarter that ended up being blocked, which isn’t Moody’s fault. He finally split the uprights on his third attempt (the charm) from what should be a manageable 32 yards, but with Moody, nothing is manageable.

On Sunday alone, we watched as Chris Boswell, a 34-year-old who went undrafted back in 2014, nailed a 56-yard and 60-yard field goal at the horn to give the Steelers a victory over the Jets. Then, in the Sunday night game, fifth-round rookie Tyler Loop nailed a 52-yard and a 49-yard field goal to start his career perfect. And to close things out, 41-year-old Matt Prater – who was available to sign last week – went three-for-three, hitting a 32-yard field goal to give the Bills a comeback victory over the Ravens.

Now ask yourself, would you have trusted Jake Moody to hit any of those field goals? If your answer is yes, I am open to taking whatever drug you are on.

But the answer is no, you could not trust Moody to make those kicks because, simply enough, he can’t be trusted to make a 27-yard attempt, let alone anything Boswell hit on Sunday.

The defense is back​

After a tumultuous season under Steve Wilks and a season to forget under Nick Sorenson, big-time Robert Saleh has returned to right the defensive ship, and his re-debut with the 49ers could not have gone any better on Sunday.

After Sorensen’s defense last season allowed more than 13 points in all games except three, Saleh wasted no time holding the Seahawks offense to a lonesome 13 points, forcing Seattle’s offense to earn every point they could get.

The most noticeable change from last season for San Francisco’s defense was the run-stopping ability on Sunday. As much as Seattle tried – running the ball just as much as they passed – the Seahawks couldn’t get anything going on the ground. Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet combined for 67 rushing yards on 22 attempts, a measly 3.05 yards per attempt after the 49ers allowed 4.4 yards per attempt in 2024.

It wasn’t only the run defense, but the pass defense was stout as well. Former 49er and Viking Sam Darnold was in a tizzy for most of Sunday afternoon. It took until the Seahawks’ final possession for Darnold to surpass the century mark in yards, and there was never really a moment when Darnold felt like he was in control of the game.

While Saleh will get plenty of credit (as he deserves), it was a few new additions to the starting lineup, while some familiar names made an impact. Marques Sigle played well in his NFL debut, while Dee Winters might have been the best player on the 49ers’ defense in his debut as the full-time weakside linebacker. Then there was Fred Warner, who played like you’d expect, and Nick Bosa made the defensive play of the game with his strip sack of Darnold to seal the win.

It might be a slight Week 1 overreaction, but one I am comfortable with proclaiming. The 49ers’ defense, which was once feared, is back.

The 49ers can win ugly​

If this game had happened in 2024, the 49ers would have lost this game. But this is the big and bad 2025 49ers, and these 49ers win ugly games.

Last season, the 49ers were 1-4 in games they trailed at the end of the first quarter and 1-7 in games where they trailed at halftime. While they snuck out of the first quarter with a 7-0 lead, a ten-point second quarter saw Seattle take the lead into the half, and momentum was surely on Seattle’s side with Moody’s 27-yard miss followed by a Jason Myers 48-yard kick to put the Seahawks up three at the break.

The third quarter was just as ugly, with the 49ers’ only two drives of the period resulting in a Brock Purdy interception and Moody’s block. Luckily for the 49ers, Seattle failed to capitalize on their lone possession of the third, going three-and-out.

Seattle was driving to start the fourth quarter in an attempt to extend its lead. Sam Okuayinonu punched momentum back towards the 49ers, though, forcing Jaxon Smith-Njigba to fumble, which Sigle recovered. San Francisco responded with an 11-play drive that finally saw Moody split the uprights to tie the game.

Seattle would have one last gasp, intercepting Purdy again later in the fourth and turning the turnover into a go-ahead field goal, putting the Seahawks up three with three and a half minutes left in the game.

With their back to the wall, Purdy turned it on, completing every pass on a drive that would lead to the quarterback hitting Jake Tonges for the game-winning touchdown. The touchdown pass was Purdy’s first career touchdown pass in the final four minutes of a game with the 49ers tied or trailing.

That was a game 49ers fans were conditioned to lose last season, but in their first try of 2025, it led to a victory. Ideally, San Francisco plays better from here on out, but it’s good information to have that the 49ers can win a game where they don’t play their best.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...its-time-to-change-the-moody-on-special-teams

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers breathe sigh of relief with major injury update

The 49ers’ Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks was a very damaging one in terms of injuries, with George Kittle now set for weeks on the sideline and Brock Purdy a doubt for Week 2.

But San Francisco got some good news on the injury front on Tuesday concerning wide receiver Jauan Jennings.

Jennings was hampered by a shoulder injury against Seattle, which limited him to 50 of the 49ers’ 76 offensive snaps in their 17-13 win.

Here's the play where Jauan Jennings hurt his shoulder. He's the wideout to the bottom of the screen. You can see that he's in obvious pain after getting illegally hit 7ish yards down the field. pic.twitter.com/vSRoHfwWIF

— Kyle Posey (@KP_Show) September 8, 2025

An initial MRI scan on the injury came back clear, and Jennings now has a chance to feature in the Week 2 clash with the New Orleans Saints after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that additional tests were also clean. Jennings is considered day-to-day.

That is a huge boost for a 49er offense that will be without tight end Kittle for four games after he was placed on injured reserve.

Regardless of whether it is Purdy (shoulder, toe) or backup Mac Jones at quarterback in the Superdome, the 49ers are in need of as many reliable targets as they can get in the absence of both Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk.

Ricky Pearsall hit the ground running to start what the 49ers hope will be his first full season in the league, going for over 100 yards in the opener. With Jennings healthy and Kendrick Bourne re-joining the attack, the 49ers have a receiving triumvirate well-placed to help them survive Kittle’s spell on the sideline.

Demarcus Robinson’s return from suspension in Week 4 will also be a boost in that regard, however, in the more immediate future, Jennings can likely look forward to an increased role in the passing game as he aims to build on his breakout year of 2024.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...eathe-sigh-relief-major-jauan-jennings-update

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers work out 5 tight ends after placing George Kittle on the IR

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team was trying to sign a tight end “now at the podium on Wednesday. According to the NFL’s daily transaction wire, the team worked out five tight ends:

Zach Davidson
Peyton Hendershot
Nick Muse
Messiah Swinson
Cole Turner

The team also worked out veteran quarterback Mike White. Shanahan said he wasn’t sure if the team could add a quarterback due to the team’s roster issues.

Davidson’s only NFL experience came last year with the Buffalo Bills in Weeks 11, 13 — against the Niners, and 14, against the Rams. He’s 6’7″, 245 pounds. Davidson had 18 snaps as an inline tight end, 17 snaps in the slot, six snaps out wide as a receiver, and one in the backfield. He also played on Buffalo’s kick and punt return teams, as well as the point-after team. PFF gave Davidson a 93.6 run blocking grade against San Francisco in Week 13. That was his strong suit during those three games.

Hendershot, a 6’5″, 254-pound tight end, played for the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 and 2023, and appeared in five games with the Kansas City Chiefs last season. He caught all five of his targets for 51 yards. Hendershot played 223 snaps with the Chiefs last season, with most of those coming on various special teams units. He did play 48 snaps as an inline tight end, 21 lined up as a wide receiver, and 15 in the slot.

Muse was drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s played a total of 11 snaps in two seasons, while appearing in three games. Muse has one reception for 22 yards in his career. He’s 6’5”, 259 pounds. There’s a theme here.

Swinson was an undrafted free agent out of Arizona State in the 2024 NFL Draft. He has no NFL experience. However, he does fit the theme at 6’7″, 259 pounds.

Turner, a fifth-round pick by the Washington Commanders from the 2022 NFL Draft, has appeared in 20 games in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Turner caught 11 passes for 120 yards in 2023. He’s 6’7″, 249 pounds. Turner did not play in 2024.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ht-ends-after-placing-george-kittle-on-the-ir

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: Return of the Mac

Brock Purdy to miss practice with injury; 49ers QB ‘a long shot’ to play Week 2
“Shanahan said it is a long shot that Purdy plays Sunday against the New Orleans Saints and he could miss multiple weeks due to a toe injury.”

Kyle Shanahan previews 49ers-Saints Week 2 matchup
“San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed reporters ahead of Wednesday’s practice as the team gears up for its Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Here’s everything he said.”

49ers mailbag: What’s the plan at No. 3 QB? Does Trent Williams always start slow? (paywall)
“[Saleh] is no longer a little-known, first-time coordinator. I think you can see it in his swagger, his confidence and his authority during news conferences. Also, I’m not sure Saleh was initially all that fond of hiring defensive line coach Kris Kocurek back in 2019. (There was no personal issue, but it was not a defensive style Saleh preferred.) That appeared to be a Shanahan-influenced move. I think Saleh is way more comfortable with Kocurek and that style now — they were bro-hugging like there was no tomorrow at the end of Sunday’s game — and I don’t think Shanahan would make a move like that nowadays.”

49ers’ big miss on Jake Moody adds to series of recent draft whiffs. What happened? (paywall)
“It’s worth noting that the 49ers’ poor drafts roughly coincided with a front-office brain drain as the 49ers lost a series of high-level talent evaluators. Martin Mayhew became the Commanders general manager after the 2020 season, Ethan Waugh was hired as the Jaguars assistant GM after 2021 and Ran Carthon became the Titans GM a year later. Still, the 49ers have rebounded a bit since they lost Adam Peters, Lynch’s longtime chief lieutenant who became Washington’s GM after the 2023 season.

Perhaps the reason for the back-to-back stinkers involves the lack of a first-round pick in each year and the crap-shoot nature of the draft.

Whatever the case, the official end of Moody’s tenure this week made those drafts an even bigger eyesore. After they took Moody two years ago, Lynch admitted the response in their draft room was muted, not realizing at the time that most of their 18 picks in a two-draft span wouldn’t merit even tepid cheers.

“There wasn’t the applause that we got when we took Ji’Ayir Brown in our own room, but I think everyone knows it’s necessary,” Lynch said of selecting Moody. “And everyone feels really good about this kid.”

49ers’ Shanahan said Moody decision was obvious after kicker lost must-have quality (paywall)
“Shanahan noted that Moody had recently changed his mechanics, shortening his stride, and likened it to a golfer tinkering with their swing.

“When your stroke in golf is changing all the time and you’re trying to fix things, trying to try not to miss, it’s very hard to succeed at this level that way,” Shanahan said.

In February, general manager John Lynch attributed Moody’s struggles in the second half of the 2024 season to a high ankle sprain he suffered that caused him to miss three games. Lynch said he had regrets about Moody being activated from injured reserve too early.

“We maybe kick ourselves for letting him come back,” Lynch said.

However, Moody’s change to his stroke this offseason made it clear he thought there were other reasons for why he made just 11 of 20 attempts in the nine games after his return. In training camp, Moody said he changed to a two-step approach to achieve more accuracy while sacrificing some distance.“

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/golden-nuggets/150124/golden-nuggets-return-of-the-mac

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Commanders vs. Packers thread: Deebo Samuel is on primetime

A pair of potential NFC playoff teams face each other on Thursday night as the Washington Commanders and Jayden Daniels travel to Lambeau Field on a short week to take on Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers.

Deebo Samuel had ten targets in his Commanders’ debut. He caught seven of those for 77 yards, and took a carry for 19 yards and a touchdown. Samuel will benefit from a wide-open offense and one of the most electric quarterbacks in the game.

Daniels threw for a touchdown in Week 1 and ran for 68 yards en route to a 21-6 victory. He missed a couple of deep throws to Terry McLaurin and Samuel, or else the Commanders would have scored more.

But that was against the New York Giants — who could have easily scored three times if they had a competent quarterback. Love, Josh Jacobs, and a motley crew of pass catchers pose a much bigger threat to the Commanders than the ghost of Russell Wilson and Malik Nabers.

Washington did next to nothing in the second half. I think we see that version of them. That doesn’t mean the Commanders won’t score. That’s inevitable with Daniels. But I’d expect Matt LaFleur to continue to dominate Dan Quinn.

Packers 27, Commanders 20.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/game-d...s-packers-thread-deebo-samuel-is-on-primetime

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Injury updates: Jauan Jennings misses practice for the second day in a row

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy didn’t practice for the second day in a row, as he was listed on the injury report with a left shoulder and toe injury. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Purdy has a turf toe variant:

It’s actually not a turf toe. Turf toe is usually the top and in front. This is the bottom of the foot. I don’t know if people need to know more about the specifics of Brock Purdy’s toe, but there it is.

My understanding is that he’s expected to miss 2-5 weeks, which is a pretty big amount of time. The reality is, it’s swollen. It’s irritated, and it’s really tough to kind of ascertain where it’s at. So, 2-5 weeks is the best estimate, which likely means that Brock Purdy misses the Saints game and the Cardinals game.

Here’s Thursday’s injury report:

Did not participate:
QB Brock Purdy (shoulder/toe)
WR Jauan Jennings (shoulder)
LT Trent Williams (knee/rest)

We can expect to see plenty of rest days for Williams this season. Practice will likely be mental for Trent in 2025. If there’s any cause for concern, it should be directed toward Jennings, who did not practice for the second day in a row after missing time in Week 1 with a shoulder injury. You’d imagine the team gives Jennings all the way up until game time to see if he can play.

Limited:
G Ben Bartch (knee/elbow)
Yetur Gross-Matos (knee)
RB Jordan James (Finger)
WR Jordan Watkins (ankle)

If Jennings is out, getting Watkins back would be a considerable upgrade from Marques Valdes-Scantling and Russell Gage. Those two struggled to get open in Week 1. Watkins worked with Mac Jones enough in August that those two should have chemistry. The same is true for Kendrick Bourne, who played with Jones in New England. So, the trio of Ricky Pearsall, Bourne, and Watkins would put Jones in a far better position to succeed if Watkins can play.

The 49ers also officially announced the addition of Messiah Swinson to the practice squad. He is expected to be elevated to the active roster on Sunday. However, the Niners have yet to add another quarterback.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...s-misses-practice-for-the-second-day-in-a-row

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Trent Williams is officially questionable for Week 2

The San Francisco 49ers tried out a left-footed punter on Friday so punt returner Skyy Moore could practice fielding punts from a left-footed punter. The New Orleans Saints have a left-footed punter, Kai Kroeger.

Jauan Jennings was at practice on Friday. You could tell that he’s bracing his left shoulder. The right one looks fine:

Air Jauan 🌪 pic.twitter.com/cQcsPMmx0R

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) September 12, 2025

Trent Williams has yet to practice this week. He was working off to the side with the strength and conditioning staff. Williams is one of the rare exceptions where he doesn’t have to practice and can still suit up to play on Sunday.

Here’s the final injury report:
Out:

Brock Purdy (toe/shoulder)

Limited:

Trent Williams (knee)
Jauan Jennings (shoulder)

Kyle Shanahan said despite Williams being listed as limited on Friday’s injury report, he was out there for everything. The team went at half speed. He also said the playing surface in New Orleans has nothing to do with Williams’s status for Sunday.

That’s a short injury report, albeit Purdy and George Kittle remain massive losses.. It also means the 49ers will have no injury designations for guard Ben Bartch, wide receiver Jordan Watkins, and running back Jordan James.

The Saints ruled out old friend Chase Young. New Orleans will also be without guard Trevor Penning and starting safety Julian Blackmon. Their starting right tackle and first-round pick from a season ago, Taliese Fuaga, is questionable.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...illiams-is-officially-questionable-for-week-2