News 49ers Team Notes

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers 90-in-90: Demarcus Robinson has a chance to be the most important newcomer on offense

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Breaking down the 90 players on the 49ers’ offseason roster in 90 posts (over 90 or so days). Today is wide receiver Demarcus Robinson

The San Francisco 49ers signed Demarcus Robinson this offseason, despite knowing the veteran was facing a “likely” three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy related to a DUI arrest from November 2024, where Robinson was arrested for speeding and driving under the influence.

If Robinson’s suspension holds up, that means he’ll miss two divisional games and leave the 49ers with only Jauan Jennings as an established veteran among the receiver core. While Robinson’s absence would be a temporary blow to a team getting used to not having Deebo Samuel and still without the services of Brandon Aiyuk, nobody would confuse Seattle, New Orleans, or Arizona for an elite secondary.

San Francisco signed Robinson to make an impact for 17 games. The good news is that he can still, even if he misses September.

Basic Info​

Age: 31

Experience: 9 accrued seasons

Height: 6’1

Weight: 203 pounds

Cap Status​

Robinson signed a two-year deal with the 49ers this offseason worth $8 million, including $6 million fully guaranteed. That would be the largest contract Robinson signed as a pro, and double the amount that the Los Angeles Rams gave him in 2024.

Robinson has a signing bonus of $2.32 million as well as an option bonus of $2.09 million. The 49ers added four ghost years onto Robinson’s deal to help with cap purposes. So, he’ll earn $464,000 of that signing bonus through 2029, and $418,000 of his signing bonus, which will be paid through 2030.

What will be Robinson’s role?​

Kyle Shanahan isn’t going to reinvent the wheel with Robinson. He had a career high in receiving yards last season under Sean McVay. The prevailing thought might be due to injuries to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, but some of Robinson’s most targeted games happened when those two were in the lineup.

Robinson’s best game of the season came in Week 9 on the road against Seattle, when both Nacua and Kupp were in the lineup. Robinson had six receptions on eight targets for 94 yards and two touchdowns against the Seahawks.

One area where Robinson should certainly help the Niners is in the red zone. He caught five of his ten targets — which were second on the team — last season, and each of those resulted in touchdowns. The one area where the Niners' wide receivers struggled the most last season was when they got inside the 20-yard line.

Here’s a video of every target Robinson had against the NFC West in 2024. He ran just about everything, from shallow crossing routes to double moves down the field. That’s important so defenses don’t get to key on a singular route.

Not only does Robinson bring the threat of winning in the red zone, but he also proved that he can win at every level with the Rams. If I were to critique one part of his game, it’s winning after the catch on underneath routes.

Shanahan knows his personnel. Players like Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, and Jordan Watkins all excel at creating after the catch. There’s no need to pepper targets to Robinson underneath since that’s not his strong suit.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...-to-be-the-most-important-newcomer-on-offense

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: Kyle is diabolical

Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Wednesday, July 9th, 2025

49ers’ Brock Purdy: The moment Kyle Shanahan panicked him during 2022 cutdowns

“We’re in the quarterback room, and then Kyle opened up the door,” Purdy recalled. “He goes, ‘Hey, Brock, can you grab your stuff and come talk to me?’ I was like, ‘Bro.’ I was like, ‘Am I getting cut?’ I was like, ‘Dang, dude.’”

“And then he goes, ‘No, I’m kidding. Set your stuff down,’” Purdy said. “He’s like, ‘Congrats, bro,’ and then dapped me up.”

Purdy added, “I was like, dude, my heart was pounding.”

‘I need my binky’: 49ers’ Brock Purdy reveals Trent Williams’ impact—and his funny Toyota tale

“He does this ninja move thing, and then pushes guys in the ground,” Purdy said. “And then, outside of that, just pass [protection] and stuff, he’s locked down over there. And so, year after year, for me, blindside as a quarterback, right-handed quarterback, knowing that my left side is good, I can’t even describe to you. It’s like a sense of freedom.....He’s like my little safety blanket,” Purdy said with a laugh. “I’m like, ‘I need my binky and I need him to be in the game.’”

....

“I literally went up to him and I was like, ‘Hey, dude, Toyota’s helping us out. We got 10 of them for all the O-linemen and stuff. Just curious, do you still want yours or not?’” Purdy said. “And he’s like, ‘Hell, yeah.’ He’s like, ‘I’ll paint that thing pink.’ And I’m like, ‘All right.’

“But then, sure enough, he forgets about it somehow. Everyone gets their cars and stuff, and they’re like, ‘Trent, what’d you think about yours?’ And he’s like, ‘Brock, what did I get? A truck or a car?’ And I was like, ‘Bro, Trent doesn’t even know.’”

49ers legend draws comparison between Brock Purdy and Joe Montana

“Joe Montana was, in my mind, the greatest processor that I’ve ever seen,” Jones told Haberman. “He knew where he was going to go with the ball. And it could be the fifth read on a play, but he knew instantaneously that it was going to that guy just because of the way the defense ended up moving or checking or bouncing. He’d read it immediately, no matter what, and he knew where he was going with the ball a majority of the time.”

“What I started to see early on in Brock’s career was, man, he processes fast, and gets rid of the ball, and is accurate, and a lot of times, hits the open man,” Jones shared. “And I think it’s been fantastic to watch him......You don’t have to have the strongest arm in the NFL, and his arm is plenty strong,” Jones added. “But Joe wasn’t [John] Elway or Jim Kelly or Dan Marino [when it came to arm strength], but he’s the one with all the Super Bowl rings. And it’s because his anticipation and his accuracy and his ability to read the defenses were unlike anybody that I’ve ever seen.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...ning-camp-offseason-trent-williams-toyota-nfl

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Which player will the 49ers miss the most this season?

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The 49ers had plenty of roster turnover this offseason. But which player who didn’t return will they miss the most?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in San Francisco 49ers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

You wouldn’t be wrong if you said the San Francisco 49ers cleaned house this offseason. It sure felt that way with multiple departures along the defensive line, and a couple of players who struggled with injury saw their contracts not renewed.

Today, you’ll vote for one of five players who left this offseason. One of them was traded and plays a position that you can never have enough depth at. Now that Jordan Mason plays for the Minnesota Vikings, I fully expect him to stay healthy all season and rush for 1,200 yards. What Mason fails to provide in the passing game will be supplemented by Aaron Jones.

The 49ers are hoping Isaac Guerendo stays healthy in 2025 and Jordan James can produce as a rookie. Ideally, Christian McCaffrey never misses a game, and both players will remain role players. That’s the outcome in which the Niners wouldn’t miss Mason.

Deebo Samuel is the most notable name and likely the most popular answer. Fans soured on him after a brutal drop in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams that would have resulted in a touchdown and a potential season-altering outcome. Samuel seemingly always came up with a much-needed explosive play when the offense needed it most during his tenure in San Francisco.

The additions of Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, and now Jordan Watkins can all replace Samuel’s 2024 production at a fraction of his salary. That’s what Kyle Shanahan is hoping for, at least.

Aaron Banks was a starter for much of his rookie contract. He’s listed for consistency purposes. The last thing 49ers fans should take for granted is somebody who was on the field consistently during his time in San Francisco.

The lore of Dre Greenlaw was never higher after he missed three quarters of the Super Bowl. You could see his impact in one half against the Rams last season. The 49ers attempted to re-sign Greenlaw, but will now roll with Nick Martin and Dee Winters, now that Dre is in Denver.

Lastly, Talanoa Hufanga is on the list. The playmaking Hufanga showcased early in his career was awesome. The 49ers never recaptured that magic with Hufanga after he battled multiple injuries. It wasn’t all that surprising to see Hufanga not re-signed, but the depth at safety remains a concern, especially with Malik Mustapha’s injury.

Which player do you think the 49ers will miss the most? Vote below, then scroll down and let us know in the comments.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...muel-aaron-banks-dre-greenlaw-talanoa0hufanga

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: Brock’s answering the hard-hitting questions

Photo by Bruce Yeung/Getty Images

Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Thursday, July 10th, 2025

‘I would go to prison’: 49ers’ Brock Purdy reveals extreme measure he’d take to win a Super Bowl

“Purdy also declined the idea of cutting off his foot to guarantee a championship. But once he heard about Kittle’s prison-for-a-ring stance, the same scenario was posed to him.

“I would go to prison for a year, yes,” Purdy admitted. “I don’t want to cut off any limbs because after that year, I’d like to get back, and hopefully go chase more.”

49ers WR Demarcus Robinson sentenced in DUI case, potential suspension still looms

“Court records show that Robinson entered a no contest (nolo contendere) plea to one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol. The judge sentenced him to 36 months of probation and imposed a $390 fine.

“As part of the pact with prosecutors, he also must complete several programs, including a MADD victim impact program,” TMZ reported.

Robinson’s attorney, Jacqueline Sparagna, stated: “Mr. Robinson has taken this process extremely seriously by already completing most of the terms of his probation. We expect that his probation will terminate early at the 18-month mark, after which his case will be expunged.”.... Robinson’s status for the start of the season remains uncertain as the NFL continues to deliberate a potential three-game suspension related to the DUI incident. With the legal process now finalized, a decision from the league could soon follow.”

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...shanahan-demarcus-robinson-dui-suspension-nfl

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: Less than two weeks til open practice

Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Friday, July 11th, 2025

49ers insider: Brandon Aiyuk has ‘a chance’ to be ready for Week 1

“They want to be extra cautious with him,” Maiocco explained. “Even though the timeline, everything being equal, might point toward, hey, there’s a chance Week 1, and there still might be a chance Week 1, I think the feeling inside the organization has always been don’t take any chances, start him off on PUP when they report to training camp on July 22, and then more than likely, just have that carry over into the regular season.”

While Aiyuk remains likely to miss at least the first four games of the season, the positive updates are encouraging for fans worried that the team could be without one of its top offensive weapons for an extended period.

“And then, it’s quite possible that he could be ready Week 5 or Week 6, getting up to speed quickly,” Maiocco added. “But everything I’m hearing is that things are looking good, and that the progress is even ahead of where the markers were that the 49ers put on him when he had that surgery.”

Matt Ryan highlights 49ers QB Brock Purdy’s underrated traits, addresses contract criticism

“I think his ability to throw the football over the middle of the field, that’s huge for them and fits within the scheme and what they do,” Ryan told Maiocco. “He’s a really good athlete; I think underrated, in terms of mobility, but also accuracy on the run. The ability to be accurate in the intermediate passing game, moving around — that fits with how Kyle wants to run the football........It’s nice to have a big arm — no question about it. … But those [big] plays rarely come up,” Ryan explained. “They might be two, three, four times a game. Your bread is buttered, particularly in [San Francisco’s] system, in the intermediate passing game, and getting the ball out of your hand quickly and having trust in guys to be where they’re supposed to be.

“And I think [Purdy’s] vision, anticipation, and accuracy fits really well with that.”

49ers announce 11 open training camp practice dates for 2025

• Wednesday, July 23
• Thursday, July 24*
• Friday, July 25
• Sunday, July 27
• Monday, July 28
• Tuesday, July 29
• Monday, August 4
• Tuesday, August 5
• Thursday, August 7*
• Monday, August 11
• Tuesday, August 12”

49ers’ George Kittle catches passes, smacks shots, muses on season ahead (paywall)

“You forget Tahoe is in California,” Kittle said as he walked down the No. 16 fairway, on the Nevada side of the lake. Reminded he was technically in Nevada, and merely gazing at California, he added, “It makes no sense to me that there’s a state line in the middle of the lake. That’s crazy.”

49ers’ George Kittle is enjoying his golf debut, eagerly awaiting training camp (paywall)

“Kittle jumped in the lake at 6 a.m. to wake himself up and get ready for his 7:45 tee time. While his only goal on the course this weekend is to finish ahead of Charles Barkley, he also hopes to tackle WWE nemesis The Miz when he sees him — and he teased a possible Taylor Swift appearance(Travis Kelce is also playing in the event).

“She probably wouldn’t be able to walk around,” due to the crowds, Kittle said. “She would probably be in a helicopter.”

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...podcast-training-camp-open-dates-practice-nfl

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Name one player on the 49ers to root for in 2025

Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

Christian McCaffrey? Ricky Pearsall? Fred Warner? Brock Purdy? Who?

The San Francisco 49ers have consistently acquired a good deal of likable players. We don’t need to bring up all the swooning around here when Jimmy Garoppolo was a quarterback. So we all have players we want to root for. Maybe the story behind them, proving fans of other teams wrong, or whatever your reason is.

NFL.com’s Tom Blair put together a list where he named one player from each team in the NFL to root for. Like the 49ers, there are teams where it’s hard to find just one guy to root for on a roster of 53 players.

The 49ers don’t have the character issues we’ve seen when Trent Baalke was running things, so once again, they are one of those teams where singling someone out is difficult. Blair picked Christian McCaffrey as his 49ers player to root for

I know McCaffrey doesn’t really need a boost in the fan department. This is more about a certain level of greediness I’m feeling about one of the most prolific offensive talents of our time. McCaffrey has topped 1,800 scrimmage yards in four separate seasons, a total surpassed by just four other players in NFL history (Hall of Famers Walter Payton, LaDainian Tomlinson, Marshall Faulk and Emmitt Smith). He did it as recently as 2023, when he hit the 2k mark for the second time — then lost most of last season to injuries, finishing with less than 100 touches for the first time in his career. Maybe 2024 was just a natural step-down from such a high workload, and he’ll easily bounce back again, just as he did following a similar blip in production following his first 2,000-scrimmage-yard effort, in 2019 with the Panthers. Then again, he’s 29 now, with that much more mileage on his legs. Knowing how time and age generally work, it would be great to get to watch at least one more mega-wattage McCaffrey campaign.

I can’t argue with McCaffrey as the guy to root for. Getting sidelined for the length of time he was in 2024 had to be horrible. Plus, his attitude off the field deserves a medal. The 49ers haven’t had to worry a second about him or any antics he could get into.

That said, my pick for player to root for isn’t McCaffrey, it’s wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. Around this time last year, Pearsall was showing some good things when training camp started. At the end of August, he suffered a gunshot wound to the chest during a failed robbery attempt. The incident derailed his rookie season and could have ruined his career. Instead, Pearsall came back and turned a lot of heads with the limited time he had.

There are a lot of things we can say come with the territory of being a professional athlete, getting shot in the chest is a gig nobody should be in line for. Especially if it’s in your inaugural season as a rookie, there’s enough you have to worry about coming into a professional sports league—gunshots shouldn’t be added to that list.

The fact that Pearsall returned and played at a high level should be enough for any naysayers against his drafting to change their tune. But he deserves a whole season to show what he can be. He has the opportunity. With Deebo Samuel shipped off to the Washington Commanders and Brandon Aiyuk’s return still up in the air, Pearsall can show he’s the future. Both his play and resistance helped him earn that opportunity. Well, to me, anyway.

What is the one player you are rooting for on the 49ers?

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7/12/24466071/49ers-roster-player-to-root-for

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

An old 49ers’ nemesis predicts the team goes 9-8 for 2025

Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images

Adam Rank became a meme with his 3-13 prediction for the 49ers in 2019. Now he has them going 9-8, do you agree?

If you were around these parts in 2019, you might remember a sort of running gag going on with the San Francisco 49ers. They had a lot of people saying they weren’t going to do much in the 2019 season, but no one got the pure vitriol and fan backlash than one Adam Rank.

I certainly didn’t make things any better, posting his infamous 3-13 prediction after every 49ers win that season. Rank was a good sport about it, though, and engaged with the fans, made jokes about himself and the prediction, and proved to be a class act where other analysts could get defensive over something that is just trivial at the end.

With that in mind, his predictions are something that we have to illustrate around here. There’s probably more predictions on the NFL season records than there are drops of water in the ocean, but given his history with us, Adam Rank’s prediction deserves mention.

This year, Rank has the 49ers going 9-8 and getting back on track, so to speak. Here’s his prediction:

Week 1: at Seattle Seahawks - Loss
Week 2: at New Orleans Saints - Win
Week 3: vs. Arizona Cardinals - Win
Week 4: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars - Win
Week 5: at Los Angeles Rams - Loss
Week 6: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Loss
Week 7: vs. Atlanta Falcons - Win
Week 8: at Houston Texans - Loss
Week 9: at New York Giants - Win
Week 10: vs. Los Angeles Rams - Loss
Week 11: at Arizona Cardinals - Loss
Week 12: vs Carolina Panthers - Win
Week 13: at Cleveland Browns - Win
Week 14: BYE
Week 15: vs. Tennessee Titans - Win
Week 16: at Indianapolis Colts - Loss
Week 17: at Chicago Bears - Loss
Week 18: vs. Seattle Seahawks - Win

So 9-8 and what Rank calls “bouncing back.”

A couple of things with this: first, Rank has the 49ers taking losses to the Rams. I don’t know how all of a sudden Sean McVay got this “better coach than Kyle Shanahan” or the “Rams play the 49ers tougher” talk with everyone, because right up until the end of the 2023 season, the 49ers beating the Rams was a punchline. And the loss suffered at the end of that aforementioned 2023 season was one where they were playing the backups because playoff seeding was already solidified.

Yes, the Rams beat the 49ers to go onto the Super Bowl one season, but they had also been beaten by the likes of Nick Mullens before. This isn’t some single Seattle Seahawks regular-season blowout I’m hanging my hat on. I’m just saying the 49ers have racked up wins against the Rams for a while.

Starting in 2019, Shanahan had the roster turned around and Jimmy Garoppolo healthy, and up to 2023 in the regular season with 10 contests between them, there was only one (1) Rams win. Again: Nick Mullens beat the Rams once. So he’s beaten the Rams just as many times as they’ve beaten the 49ers up to 2024. Kyle Shanahan is 10-4 against the Rams. Sorry, I just don’t get it.

And if your response is “The 49ers always got the Rams when they were injured/on the skid/etc,” what the hell were the 49ers for all of 2024? That’s some “Brock Purdy isn’t a good quarterback unless the system is good” rhetoric right there.

In 2024, the Rams beat the 49ers twice. Yippie! One game had Ronnie Bell dropping passes and Jake Moody missing kicks, while the other had Deebo Samuel forget he was Deebo Samuel.

2025 has two games against the Rams I think the 49ers can win.

Ok, now that I have that out of my system, second: While I’m curbing expectations this year with how young that team is, 9-7 would be disappointing. At least, how this reads on paper in July.

Don’t misunderstand here: I think a playoff appearance is a very successful season. Winning in the playoffs is another story. I also don’t see the 49ers losing to the Bears. So now we’re 12-5. The 49ers aren’t going 17-0, that much is certain. And they do have a very easy schedule—on paper. We don’t know who in the NFL will get hot in July, but the 49ers should be cracking double digits with this schedule, provided the injury bug doesn’t come to say hello.

The postseason opponents will (obviously) be light years better than the schedule the 49ers get, which is why I think the playoffs will be a different beast, as they usually are. And yes, I do think some losses come from some youthful boneheaded decisions. But 9-8? Ehhhhhh, I dunno about that.

Regardless, Rank is saving himself a lot of memes by giving the 49ers a winning season. Of course, I’m sure once they beat the Seahawks in Week 1, it starts all over again.

What do you think of this one?

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...s-nemesis-predicts-the-team-goes-9-8-for-2025

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers need to make sure Brock Purdy’s freedom isn’t solely dependent on one All-Pro in 2025

Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

Trent Williams is the star of the 49ers’ O-Line, but there’s a strong case to be made that the group up front is too reliant on the future Hall of Famer.

Perhaps unsurprisingly following a season in which he missed seven games due to an ankle injury, Trent Williams’ reputation as the premier tackle in football has slipped in the eyes of many.

Jeremy Fowler’s annual poll of NFL executives, coaches and scouts ranking the top 10 players at each position for ESPN saw Williams ranked fourth among offensive tackles. Williams was ranked first in the same poll after the 2023 campaign.

Still, in explaining Williams’ drop-off, Fowler revealed a stat that illustrated why the All-Pro left tackle remains critically important to San Francisco’s hopes of success in 2025.

In his blurb on Williams, Fowler wrote in part: “Williams allowed an average time to pressure of 3.78 seconds last season, per Next Gen Stats, the longest among left tackles with at least 25 pressures allowed.”

Simply put, Williams rarely allowed pressure and, when he did, he still managed to afford Brock Purdy a considerable amount of time to throw.

Purdy recently articulated what it is like having Williams protecting him in an appearance on the ‘Bussin’ with the Boys’ podcast.

He said of Williams:

“He does this ninja move thing, and then pushes guys in the ground. And then, outside of that, just pass [protection] and stuff, he’s locked down over there. And so, year after year, for me, blindside as a quarterback, right-handed quarterback, knowing that my left side is good, I can’t even describe to you. It’s like a sense of freedom.”

Purdy held the ball much longer last season as the 49ers transitioned to a more dropback-heavy passing attack in 2024. He was often guilty of holding the ball too long, but it was clear his process was rapidly sped up down the stretch when Williams was sidelined.

Indeed, per Pro Football Focus, Purdy’s average time to throw from Week 1 to Week 10 was 3.15 seconds. Only Jalen Hurts (3.16) had a longer time to throw among quarterbacks with a minimum of 100 dropbacks in that span.

Between Weeks 11 and 18, Purdy’s time to throw decreased to 2.7 seconds, the ninth-quickest average in the league (min. 100 dropbacks).

The 49er passing game since Shanahan took the helm in 2017 has primarily put the onus on the quarterback to process efficiently and get the ball out quickly to playmakers who can create after the catch.

Processing efficiently is still extremely important, but with more of an emphasis on attacking downfield with dropback concepts, the freedom Williams gives Purdy takes on a greater importance.

But, for the 49er passing game to bounce back in 2025 after a dip in 2024, San Francisco will ideally need others on the offensive line to step up and ensure that freedom is not entirely dependent on Williams’ health and his stellar play in pass protection.

San Francisco is set to start a new left guard, which will likely be Ben Bartch, in 2025, while Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni and Colton McKivitz will all be expected to stay in their respective positions at center, right guard and right tackle. The 49ers will be hopeful of Puni taking a step forward after a promising rookie year in 2024.

If the 49ers get that progress from Puni and the positive flashes Bartch has shown in limited playing time translate into strong performances over the course of a full season, the 49ers’ line will be in much better shape to give Purdy the platform he needs to thrive throwing the ball this season.

Williams remains the most important piece on the O-Line, a player who elevates the entire group around him with his play. However, San Francisco’s fortunes up front can’t be entirely dependent on him. The focus this offseason in terms of additions has been on the other side of the trenches, but the development of the O-Line into a more reliable all-round group figures to be just as crucial to the 49ers’ prospects of contending in the NFC this year.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...rock-purdy-freedom-dependent-one-all-pro-2025

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers legend feels the team added ‘too many pieces’ this offseason

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The 49ers kickstarted their youth movement this offseason. Was it the right move?

The San Francisco 49ers had a different type of offseason in 2025 than in years past, electing against making many splashy moves and instead looking to get younger at several positions.

That meant releasing veteran starters like Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd, while also trading away wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Then came free agency, where the 49ers let linebacker Dre Greenlaw, cornerback Charvarius Ward, guard Aaron Banks, safety Talanoa Hufanga, and other starters walk.

In return, the 49ers didn’t make many splashy moves, with their two biggest signings being backup tight end Luke Farrell (three years, $15.75 million) and backup quarterback Mac Jones (2 years, $8.41 million).

San Francisco did heavily focus on the draft, however, making 11 selections, with Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams being the headliner at No. 11 overall.

As it stands, the 49ers are likely looking to rely on several rookies this season, as they transition into a new window and hope to return to contention in the NFC.

Was the strategy to go younger the right move? One 49ers legend had some reservations.

Speaking to The Bay Area News Group’s Cam Inman, Jerry Rice shared his thoughts on San Francisco’s offseason, acknowledging he felt they went too young.

“I just feel like we added on too many pieces,” Rice said. “The reason why I say that is these guys are young guys. Super Bowl 60 is going to be here in San Francisco. I would have preferred to sort of leave everything like last year, add on to that, and have a chance for this coming year.”

“[It’s] a lot of young guys. Now, can Kyle Shanahan pull it together and can these guys jell? We have to wait and see. But there’s this big question mark if it’s going to work. I’m always going to go Niners no matter what. But we’re bringing in so many young players. It’s going to take a while for that team to jell. If it doesn’t happen this year, then maybe the next couple of years.”

Now, Rice was optimistic about the team’s defense, despite the number of moving parts, thanks to the return of esteemed defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.

“I feel like you win championships with defense,” Rice continued. “Maybe that’s why they brought Robert [Saleh] back. If that defense can get rolling like it did the last couple of years when he was around, I think we have a legitimate chance.”

Ultimately, there is still optimism around the 49ers in 2025, but much of it is in wait-and-see mode with how quickly the team is able to come together with the younger pieces.

One serious question the 49ers will have to deal with ahead of the season is the status of their wide receiver position after current No. 1 option, Jauan Jennings, publicly expressed his desire for a new contract on Monday.

Without Jennings, San Francisco would have an even younger wide receiver room, as Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from the torn ACL and MCL he sustained last October. Currently, Jennings and 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall are slated to lead the room to kick off the 2025 season.

The 49ers have the potential to surprise people in 2025 and return as a top contender in the NFC. But, in order to do that, there are several questions to be answered, both on and off the field.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...-niners-added-too-many-young-pieces-offseason

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Can you guess this 49ers center in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Niners player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Niners Nation! We’re back for another day of the Niners Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Niners Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Monday, July 14, 2025
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Saturday, July 12, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Niners Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct 49ers player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7/15/24468164/sb-nation-49ers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Who will be the next man up for the 49ers if Jauan Jennings is traded?

Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The 49ers wide receiver wants a new contract.

Just when it seemed the San Francisco 49ers would get through a drama-free offseason, reality struck once again.

Wide receiver Jauan Jennings publicly expressed his desire for a new contract on Monday, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting that the wideout would demand a trade if one’s not in place by training camp.

Jennings is in the second year of a two-year, $15.4 million extension he signed last offseason. He has a $1.17 million salary this season.

Jennings’s request comes on the verge of a lot of movement at the wide receiver position this offseason. The 49ers traded Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders back in March, signed DeMarcus Robinson on a one-year deal, and drafted Jordan Watkins and Junior Bergen.

In addition to that, they still have star Brandon Aiyuk, who is recovering from the torn ACL and MCL injuries he sustained last October. Aiyuk is expected to miss the start of the season, with the Physically Unable to Play (PUP) list being a possibility.

All of the movement makes Jennings the current No. 1 wide receiver for the 49ers, with 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall filling in as the No. 2 in place of Samuel.

Behind the duo, San Francisco doesn’t have much experience with Aiyuk still rehabbing. Also, Robinson is expected to be suspended for three games due to a DUI arrest last year.

That provides Jennings with some leverage to make his demand, as the 49ers valued his breakout campaign in 2024, when the wideout caught 77 passes for 975 yards and six touchdowns.

Given the continuously improving market for wide receivers, Jennings could ask for a new contract worth $15 million annually, which the 49ers may not accommodate, given their commitment to Aiyuk and Pearsall.

So, in the off chance Jennings is traded, who would be the next man up for the 49ers?

Ricky Pearsall​

Immediately, the thought goes to Ricky Pearsall, who was expected to take on a bigger role in Year 2.

Pearsall flashed, especially near the end of the season, when he caught eight passes for 141 yards and a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in Week 17, and six passes for 69 yards against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18.

He finished the season with 31 catches for 400 yards and three scores, with over half of that production coming in the final two weeks.

The start of his rookie campaign was derailed by injuries and a shooting incident, but the hope was that he’d be fully healthy for the entire 2025 offseason.

Unfortunately, he has dealt with another injury, causing him to miss minicamp, but he should be a full go for training camp. Injuries are a factor to watch, but Pearsall is the prime candidate to step up if Jennings is traded.

Jacob Cowing​

The receiver getting the most buzz this offseason has been Jacob Cowing, who has been lauded by coaches and teammates for his work ethic and improvements over the past few months.

Cowing, who stands 5’9, 171 pounds, is an unusual fit in San Francisco’s offense because of his size, which naturally mitigates his blocking ability. But, he has good twitchiness and speed that allows him to get open, and the rapport with Brock Purdy is seemingly coming together this offseason.

Cowing would be a natural Jennings replacement because he’s a slot-only wideout. However, he will need to become stronger and work well in the run game to fit in a Kyle Shanahan offense.

Jordan Watkins​

Perhaps a surprise name to kick off the offseason, fifth-round pick Jordan Watkins could make a quick ascent up the depth chart if Jennings isn't on the team in 2025.

Watkins also flashed early in the offseason, drawing the eyes of his coaches and teammates, with Brock Purdy raving about the rookie back in June.

“He’s balling, man,” Purdy said. “Jordan Watkins has been balling from day one, really. He’s come in and has done everything pretty right, and he’s been on point. I mean, he’s had a lot of explosive plays down the field, and obviously, in the short game, the intermediate. He’s making plays all around.

“I’m excited for him. Obviously, we know it’s a process throughout this whole thing, from OTAs to the 40 days away to camp. I know he knows that, but I’m really excited to keep working with him, and for him to keep learning our offense and how we do things. But definitely a rookie that has popped out in front of everybody.”

With rookies, it’s tough to get on the field early in a Shanahan offense, but Watkins seems to have the confidence, and his speed is a big boost. At 5’11, 196 pounds, he could be a fit in the slot or on the outside, but, like with Cowing, blocking will be a factor to watch.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...e-request-ricky-pearsall-brock-purdy-shanahan

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers trivia: Your in-5 daily game, Wednesday edition

Think you can figure out which Niners player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Niners Nation! We’re back for another day of the Niners Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Niners Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Monday, July 14, 2025
Sunday, July 13, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Niners Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct 49ers player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7/16/24468747/sb-nation-49ers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers practice squad, waiver wire tracker: Kendrick Bourne has been released

It’ll be interesting once we find out which players the San Francisco 49ers claimed. It won’t be surprising to see the team active, especially in the wide receiver market. After all, outside of Ricky Pearsall and the recently acquired Skyy Moore, there aren’t many, if any, healthy wideouts on the roster.

So what will Wednesday bring? Per Aaron Wilson, wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling will decide between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Niners. Valdes-Scantling only caught two passes in six games with the Buffalo Bills last year. The 30-year-old has extensive experience, but his most recent productive season in the NFL was 2022.

The 49ers aren’t in a position to be picky at wide receiver.

Wide receiver isn’t the only position the 49ers could use the help. They could be tempted to add a healthy RB3 or, if a defensive back they feel is an upgrade over Siran Neal, that would also be an option.

We’ll update this post with any rumors that happen throughout the day.

Kyle’s update, 9:04 a.m. PT: The Athletic’s Matt Barrows reports that edge rusher Trevis Gipson intends to join the 49ers practice squad.

That didn’t take long, per his agency, the 49ers signed Valdes-Scantling. Valdes-Scantling was with the Seattle Seahawks this offseason before Seattle released him. He caught three passes for 33 yards in their preseason finale.

Kyle’s update, 9:20 a.m. PT: Kendrick Bourne requested his release. The Patriots have a new coaching staff, drafted a wide receiver, and signed two other wideouts this offseason. Bourne likely saw the writing on the wall, and that’s why he asked for his release. Matt Maiocco said the 49ers have “high interest” in Bourne. How could they not?

Albert Breer said the Niners tried to include Bourne in any Brandon Aiyuk deals last summer. Given the current state of the wide receiver room, a Bourne reunion feels inevitable.

The Patriots used Bourne more as an outside receiver than a slot. That wasn’t the case when he was with the 49ers. Ricky Pearsall is the only true outside receiver that’s healthy, but it’s a problem the 49ers can figure out on the fly. They can get by with Bourne and Jennings for a couple of games until Demarcus Robinson returns. Bourne is a massive upgrade from the other wideouts on the roster.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...day-should-be-another-busy-day-for-the-niners

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers add another offensive lineman to the practice squad

The San Francisco 49ers officially signed defensive tackle Evan Anderson to the practice squad. That felt like a given, even after initially releasing Anderson a couple of days ago. The team added an offensive lineman to the practice squad.

Kilian Zierer, an undrafted free agent out of the 2023 NFL Draft, is now on the practice squad. The 49ers are really beefing up in the trenches, which is wise. To make room for Zierer, the team released edge rusher William Bradley-King.

Since Zierer is from Munich, he qualifies for the NFL’s International Pathway Program. That exception allows you to have 17 players on the practice squad, as opposed to 16.

Zierer signed with the Houston Texans after the ’23 draft. He had an ankle injury during the preseason of his rookie year that landed him on the season-ending Injured Reserve List. He was on the Texans’ practice squad in 2024. This past offseason, Zierer signed with the Atlanta Falcons, but was waived on August 2. The Cleveland Browns signed him one day later, but waived him this past week.

Zierer, 6’7″, 312 pounds, played 27 snaps at left tackle this past season and 32 snaps at right tackle. That positional versatility likely made him attractive to the 49ers, as they can use him on both sides to give Robert Saleh’s defense a better look leading up to games.

Per Pro Football Focus, Zierer didn’t allow a pressure in 33 pass blocking attempts. In the preseason finale, he also earned a 91.1 run blocking grade.

Here’s a look at the 17-member practice squad:

WR Robbie Chosen
DT Sebastian Valdez
DT Evan Anderson
OG Nick Zakelj
OT Kilian Zierer (International Pathway)
LB Curtis Robinson
WR Junior Bergen
DE Trevis Gipson
CB Eli Apple
CB Derrick Canteen
LB Jalen Graham
OL Drake Nugent
WR Malik Turner
TE Brayden Willis

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...other-offensive-lineman-to-the-practice-squad

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Why a 49ers Day 3 rookie is already challenging to start Week 1

The San Francisco 49ers went with the quantity approach in the 2025 NFL Draft, drafting 11 players, which tied the league-high.

But, that doesn’t mean they haven’t found quality. First-round pick Mykel Williams is expected to play a big role, while third-rounder Upton Stout is projected to start at nickel cornerback. Even on Day 3, the 49ers found some players who could be hidden gems as rotational pieces.

Fourth-round pick C.J. West shone early before dealing with an injury, especially as a pass-rusher. But, the biggest surprise may have been fifth-round pick Marques Sigle, who has catapulted himself into the safety rotation.

Sigle, who played college ball at Kansas State, has constantly rotated in with the top unit during training camp, even earning starts during the preseason at safety.

After the third preseason game, he acknowledged the big learning curve and how the game is starting to slow down for him, with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh pointing out his willingness to learn.

“He’s done a really nice job,” Saleh said of Sigle. “All these rookies, if they thought preseason was fast, the regular season is about 100 times faster. So, the good news is that they’re capable and they’re willing to learn and they’re quick studies, so they’ll be fine as time goes.”

Communication has been a big growth spot for Sigle, according to Saleh, which is especially important at the safety position.

“Communication [is where he’s grown the most], ” Saleh said. “Just being on your job, being able to communicate on the sideline when something happens, to have the recall to have those conversations. It happened at practice today, we were talking about a route on how to play a certain route concept. He basically cut me off to talk about what his technique was, what he could have done better, where he was in the play, and you come back in and you watch the play really quick, and it’s like ‘alright,’ he’s recalling it.”

“He’s understanding it. He understands where his body’s at. So, there’s going to be a lot of those moments where he is like, ‘Man, I could have.’ We all trust that if he’s in the same situation he was in practice today that he’ll be in the position that he knows he should have been in. They’re all really cool in that regard.”

The fact that Sigle has been able to get up to speed as quickly as he has after missing OTAs has been impressive, as it isn’t all that common for rookies.

“Not all the time [do you see rookies pick things up that fast],” Saleh said. “Some, like I said, are quick like [Sigle] and some take a couple [of times and] will need to see it three or four times. But, he’s proven that. I mean, shoot, he missed all of OTAs, and for him to step in and do what he’s been doing has been pretty impressive.”

Now, it’s unclear if Sigle will ultimately earn the Week 1 start, with veterans Ji’Ayir Brown and Jason Pinnock also competing at the top of the room. But, the opportunity is there and it seems the rookie has been taking advantage ahead of the season.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ews-marques-sigle-challenging-to-start-week-1

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

How would you split the 49ers’ RB workload in 2025?

The San Francisco 49ers will get Christian McCaffrey in Week 1. That instantly means 2025 is better than 2024 since he was unavailable to start that season. Now, how do you think the 49ers should limit him?

One of the things to watch when the San Francisco 49ers begin will be McCaffrey’s usage. Now that the 49ers have Brian Robinson to spell McCaffrey, and hopefully a healthy Isaac Guerendo to serve as the third option (and don’t forget Jordan James), a perfect world would say Kyle Shanahan won’t bat an eyelash at pulling McCaffrey for a play or two. As we know, that doesn’t exist because Shanahan also tends to run McCaffrey more than many may say is ideal.

But, given that McCaffrey is healed up from that nagging Achilles injury that kept him out last year, what would you do to limit carries if you had a say? We’ve already discussed the expectations with McCaffrey, and the general idea is to get him playing through 16 or 17 games.

The 49ers have potential for a quasi-3-headed beast (where one head is large and does most of the heavy lifting) for running backs. Given all the injuries (and money they syphoned to the position) it only makes sense to (finally) cut down on snaps going to McCaffrey. McCaffrey is no doubt going to get the money downs and lion’s share of the carries, but perhaps a bit more rest isn’t out of line.

While the 49ers have Robinson as a great second option, they don’t have Deebo Samuel this year. Which could mean McCaffrey picks up the slack, or Shanahan gets Guerendo and Robinson more involved, regardless. If the latter happens, Shanahan doesn’t seem too worried about someone else coming in, though it could hurt.

“[When] Christian goes out,” Shanahan said during his segment on KNBR’s Dirty Work, “Whether it’s a run play or pass play, it’s tough. Because you know he’s such a good runner and such a good receiver. But now, when you have a really, really good back behind him, and we take Christian out and things like that, you’re not so upset on all these plays because you know you’ve got a guy coming in there who you shouldn’t miss a beat on.”

One has to wonder how comfortable Shanahan would be if it were only Guerendo behind McCaffrey, instead of Robinson.

But back to the running back group: This is all assuming everyone can stay healthy. And we’re yet to see what the splits for 2025 will be. On the positive, it’s nice to see Shanahan admit pulling McCaffrey won’t be as painful as it may have been in previous seasons.

It seems like it might finally be the season where it’s not McCaffrey and a running back to give him an occasional break.’ Hopefully, we see all three with significant time and not just after the 49ers have put a game out of reach.

So, what split would you give this beast? In 2023, McCaffrey’s last full season, he averaged around 81 percent of the snaps. While that’s on the high end, in 2024, Los Angeles Rams’ Kyren Williams was on the field for 87.5 percent of the snaps, so that it could be worse. In 2022, McCaffrey had 72.4 percent of team snaps. This is an attempt to average his numbers with the 49ers only (this was when he was traded from the Carolina Panthers). If you factor in his time with the Panthers, that number is slightly higher.

If I’m in charge, I’m trying to get McCaffrey back to his 2022 snap percentage. Somewhere mid-60s. Nowhere near the 80s unless necessary. 65 percent of snaps go to McCaffrey, 25 percent go to Robinson, and ten percent can be given as something for Guerendo and possibly Jordan James to fight over.

Shanahan acknowledged on the same radio segment that Robinson does bring a different skill set than McCaffrey. KP has also pointed out that Robinson’s strength is around the tackles. Guerendo is just fast. With those behind McCaffrey having different traits, I imagine some packages are already planned so McCaffrey isn’t run ragged by Week 6. Their split seems small, but when they hit the field, they can basically explode without a hint of exhaustion.

How would you split this up? What do you think keeps McCaffrey fresh and, most importantly, healthy?

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...would-you-split-the-49ers-rb-workload-in-2025

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

The 49ers have a plan to combat the early season heat

NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco tweeted that the San Francisco 49ers plan to wear their white jerseys during their early-season home games to offset any potential heat at Levi’s Stadium.

That means we’ll see the Niners’ white primary jerseys in Weeks 1, 2, 4, and 5. For the home opener against the Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers will don their white throwback jerseys. Here’s the entire jersey schedule, per Cam Inman:

Week 1, @ Seattle: White primary
Week 2, @ New Orleans: White primary
Week 3, vs. Arizona: White throwback
Week 4, vs. Jacksonville: White throwback
Week 5, @ Los Angeles: White primary
Week 6, @ Tampa Bay: White primary
Week 7, vs. Atlanta: Red throwback
Week 8, @ Houston: White primary
Week 9, @ New York: White primary
Week 10, vs. Los Angeles: Red
Week 11, @ Arizona: White primary
Week 12, vs. Carolina: Red
Week 13, vs. Cleveland: White primary
Week 14: Bye
Week 15, vs. Tennessee: Red
Week 16, @ Indianapolis: White primary
Week 17, vs. Chicago: Red throwbacks
Week 18, vs. Seattle: Rivalry black

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...s-have-a-plan-to-combat-the-early-season-heat

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: Happy Labor Day!

49ers rookie safety Marques Sigle in position to start Week 1 as newest ‘Sultan of Swarm’ (paywall)
“A certain route concept gave Sigle some trouble. Saleh, as his job demands, attempted to walk the 23-year-old through the play. What went right, wrong, etc. But the rookie cut him off, so as to work through his own mental checklist. Saleh watched the play back after practice; everything Sigle said checked out.

“Some are quick, like him, and some will need to see it three or four times,” Saleh said Thursday, having lauded Sigle’s readiness to play free or strong safety.

This preseason has largely confirmed what the analytics told the 49ers about Sigle. Look for the player with the ball. You’ll probably spot No. 36. Pro Football Focus gave Sigle an 85.9 tackling grade, which on a 100-point scale ranked second among 49ers players and 13th across the league.

“Game came way slower,” said Sigle, who totaled 99 defensive snaps in his three preseason games. “I can finally see things pre-snap, anticipating motions, my alerts, so definitely ahead of the game now instead of behind.”

What NFL head coaches learn from the tough lessons of their top assistants (paywall)
““(Before), you have a feel for his issues but you don’t really understand his issues because you haven’t been through it yourself,” Saleh said. “So there’s more of an empathy this time around. I can feel when (Shanahan) kind of has the burden of the organization on his back and he just needs a ‘Hey, how ya doing?’ …

“You’re on an island. It’s a lonely place,” he added, laughing.

Saleh said that a head coach can have phases where it feels like there is “always a fire,” and that he has to solve the problems for everyone. When Saleh notices shades of a familiar stress reflected every so often in Shanahan’s face or demeanor, he makes it known he’s there if needed.

“Just to be an extra set of eyes, another ear for him to talk to, someone who has the empathy to understand what he’s going through — I’m always here for him,” Saleh said. “But, you know, coming in and trying to re-invent the wheel and tell him how I did things, who the hell am I?”…Saleh consulted in Green Bay for head coach and close friend Matt LaFleur in the latter weeks of the 2024 season and sought advice from Belichick about why he once returned to coach under Bill Parcells in 1996 after five seasons as the Cleveland Browns’ head coach.

“It was the same conversations, like he understood why Bill (Parcells) was doing things (after Belichick was a head coach),” Saleh said. “So he went back to a championship format, in terms of how they operated. And it helped him understand the ‘why’. For me, it’s coming back to a championship organization that I was familiar with. And it’s been great, because all of the ‘whys’ are starting to click.”

Some of Saleh’s time in New York feels like a wound, but one he can revisit because of what he learned. Having a larger view of the entire roster — offense, defense, special teams — for a few years as a head coach now informs some of Saleh and Shanahan’s collaboration.

“He can talk to me in a way that is more advanced than he probably talked to me back then,” Saleh said, “and it’s welcome.”

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/golden-nuggets/149677/golden-nuggets-happy-labor-day

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

On the day the 49ers are hosting Kendrick Bourne, Jauan Jennings’s calf feels a lot better

The San Francisco 49ers are having a bonus practice on Labor Day as they prepare for Week 1. According to reporters at practice, starting left guard Dominick Puni, edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos, defensive tackle Kalia Davis, rookie cornerback Upton Stout, and wide receiver Russell Gage were all back at practice.

The big news, on the day the Niners are hosting free agent wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, is that Jauan Jennings is back at practice:

JJ IS BACK!!!

pic.twitter.com/mlUx6PSV72

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) September 1, 2025

Jennings re-aggravated the same calf that bothered him during the offseason. That was August 7. At the time, general manager John Lynch said calf injuries tend to linger.

Nearly a month later, where a trade request presumably happened after neither side had been able to agree to a contract extension, Jennings is back in action.

It’s understandable why fans would be frustrated with Jennings, but minimizing his importance to the 49ers, given their current state of the wide receiver situation, feels wrong.

Jordan Watkins remains out. That means, outside of Ricky Pearsall, Brock Purdy’s wideouts would be Gage, Skyy Moore, and likely Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Needless to say, Jennings could help the 49ers’ offense just as much as last year, if not more, during these first couple of weeks with Demarcus Robinson sidelined.

The Athletic’s Matt Barrows tweeted that there has been no deal struck at this time between the 49ers and Jennings.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ourne-jauan-jenningss-calf-feels-a-lot-better

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: Officially Seattle Week

Ricky Pearsall is the most interesting 49er in 2025. We spent a practice trailing him (paywall)
“He goes through a ground-up warmup, beginning by rubbing a small massage ball on the bottom of his feet.

“Everything starts with your feet, right?” Pearsall said. “And Elliott’s (director of functional performance Elliott Williams) doing some toe stuff. I know it sounds weird, but we’re doing a lot of toe stuff. We’ve got a foot fetish on this team or something.”

Pearsall works his way up his body, stretching and warming his calves, hamstrings, quadriceps, glutes and hips. He pays special attention to his ankles with controlled articular rotations (CARs) and other exercises. For Pearsall, ankle flexibility is paramount.

“When I come out (of breaks), I feel like that foot angle I’m at, it allows me to open up my hips better because I can get in that real deep position,” he says. “I think that’s helped me a lot. I remember in high school, I had terrible, terrible mobility. After getting on top of that, I felt like I was a totally different player as far as cutting and speed.”

With Jauan Jennings back at practice, 49ers’ WR prospects don’t seem so bleak (paywall)
“Others who returned to practice for Monday’s so-called “bonus” practice included defensive tackle Kalia Davis, defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and Gage. Puni, at right guard, and Davis, at defensive tackle, likely will start Sunday if they don’t have any setbacks.

The only member of the 53-man roster who didn’t practice Monday was rookie wideout Jordan Watkins, who is coming back from a high-ankle sprain. Watkins has been running on a side field in recent weeks. He’s unlikely to be ready for Week 1 but could be back soon thereafter.“

Kawakami: How the 49ers won their staredown with Jauan Jennings (paywall)
“I suspect his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, knew most of this was inevitable long ago, but had to play it out. Easy clues: After the initial July ESPN report of Jennings wanting a new deal or he’d seek to be traded, there was zero national coverage of this tense situation. None. Which is a sure sign of a player-driven situation, with the agent kind of riding along and waiting for the losing resolution.”

The punter called his own number: 49ers’ Morstead thrives as his own agent (paywall)
“A mechanical engineering major at SMU, Morstead, 39, first represented himself in 2018. And he did OK for himself. He negotiated a four-year, $15.85 million contract with the Saints that made him the NFL’s highest-paid punter.

He became his own agent partly because he didn’t like receiving secondhand information during contract talks. Did the front office really say that about him? What was the tone? He wanted direct communication. And it helped that it was easier to assess his performance, which includes quantifiable numbers such as hang time, than it is for players at other positions.“

Dominick Puni reveals recovery status after returning to 49ers practice
“”Getting to full strength,” Puni said. “The PCL heels pretty fast, so it’s feeling a lot better.”

As for being back on the field, the 25-year-old admitted there was some adjustment.

“Definitely a little rusty, but it just takes a day,” he noted. “So, I’m excited for Wednesday and Thursday.”

The lineman recalled feeling relieved when he learned the injury affected his PCL and not his ACL. Puni went down while blocking during a field goal attempt following the starters’ only offensive drive against the Las Vegas Raiders.

“That was the good news,” Puni said of learning his ACL was fine. “That’s when I smiled in there (in the medical tent). I was like, ‘All right, let’s go.’ But they said PCL could be anywhere from three to eight weeks, depending on how you recover. I’m on the better side right now, so it’s good.”

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/golden-nuggets/149694/golden-nuggets-officially-seattle-week