News 49ers Team Notes

The 49ers waived another player from their 2023 NFL Draft class

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The San Francisco 49ers announced that they’ve promoted linebacker Curtis Robinson from the practice squad to the active roster. Robinson played 16 special teams snaps last week against the Seattle Seahawks. Quarterback Adrian Martinez and tight end Brayden Willis were also elevated to the active roster.

To make room for Robinson, the team announced that they’ve waived defensive end Robert Beal, who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. It’s been a rough week for the 2023 NFL Draft class—first kicker Jake Moody, now Beal.

Martinez will serve as Mac Jones’ backup. He was undrafted out of the 2023 NFL Draft. Martinez has not thrown a regular-season pass in the NFL. The 49ers are hoping it stays that way, although Kyle Shanahan did say he was happy with how Martinez ran scout team practice this past week.

Willis joins a tight end room that features Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell. Kyle Juszczyk figures to take plenty of snaps at tight end in the coming weeks. Shanahan said the roles of fullback and tight end are essentially interchangeable.

Russell Gage remains on the practice squad, which means Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Kendrick Bourne, Jordan Watkins, Skyy Moore, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling will be the 49ers’ wide receivers in Week 2. Watkins made a splash in the preseason. His speed could open up things for Pearsall and Jennings underneath.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...nother-player-from-their-2023-nfl-draft-class
 
Golden Nuggets: Victory Monday!!

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Mac Jones steps in for Brock Purdy, helps 49ers sink Saints
“”He was like, ‘Just go hoop, dude, go make plays,'” Jones said. “And I was like, ‘All right, if Trent Williams can say that then, I can do it. So that kind of just got me calmed down a little bit.”

Indeed, after his rough start, Jones settled in and authored one of the best starts of his career, finishing 26-of-39 passing for 279 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 113.1. He was even better in some of the game’s biggest moments, going 7-of-12 for 121 yards and all three scores on third down, becoming the first 49ers quarterback since Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 9 of 2019 to throw that many third-down touchdowns in a game.“

Mac Jones overcomes nerves, rewards 49ers’ confidence and buys Brock Purdy time (paywall)
“Jones’ next drive ended with an Eddy Piñeiro field goal — both of his field goal attempts went right down the middle, though he missed an extra point — and the one after that was capped by a 46-yard score to Jennings.

The play is a favorite of Shanahan’s, one in which three receivers line up on the right side with Jennings on the left. The Saints played it a little differently than expected by dropping a linebacker deep into coverage. It wasn’t a problem. Jennings and Jones read it the same way, allowing Jennings to coast into the end zone untouched.“

Nick Bosa says Week 2 hero Bryce Huff is seeing ‘resurgence’ with 49ers (paywall)
““I mean, he’s a hand-in-the-ground player,” Bosa said Sunday. “He’s not an outside backer. He could rush like anybody in the league. We knew that. Obviously, Saleh knew that. And I’m really happy to have him. … His time in Philly, obviously, winning a Super Bowl is great, but I don’t think they utilized him great. So kind of a resurgence for him.”

An Alabama native, Huff said about a dozen family and friends were in attendance as he properly introduced himself to the many 49ers faithful in attendance at the Superdome: “The lower levels looked like a home game almost. It really got louder that last play, especially.”

Battered 49ers limp home with plenty of swagger at 2-0 after gutty win in New Orleans (paywall)
““All our guys have bruises on their arms after practice because Fred is always trying to punch the ball out at practice,” Pearsall said.

On Warner’s forced fumble, Kamara caught the ball on a swing pass at a weird angle and was trying to bring the ball down from near his head when the thundering footsteps of Warner got louder and louder.

“I came in thinking I was going to catch the ball when it flies off his head, but time kind of slowed down, and I was able to punch it out,” Warner said. “I knew he was still up — that’s why they didn’t show it on the big screen.”

Trey who? Mac Jones finally got his chance to show how well he fits with 49ers (paywall)
“Mac Jones’ teammates ran to the right corner of the end zone to greet running back Christian McCaffrey on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback jogged left, nonchalantly, his arms at his side, headed to the sideline.

Jones had just led a 77-yard drive, capping it with a scoring toss to McCaffrey seven seconds before halftime. Quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi excitedly greeted Jones by grabbing his helmet with both hands and shaking it. A parade of teammates slapped him on the back. And yet Jones barely broke stride, moving quickly through his well-wishers before finding a seat on the bench and grabbing a cup of water.

It looked like a been-there, done-that celebration from Jones. And of course he had. Before the 49ers’ 26-21 win over the Saints on Sunday, however, it just had been a very long time.

In a private moment, Jones cackled again when he was asked about his low-key reaction to his scoring pass to McCaffrey. Was that an example of his “swagger” that McCaffrey mentioned after the game? Jones broke into a broad smile.

“I was tired as crap is what happened,” Jones said. “I mean, I was really tired. The offensive line was trying to celebrate with me, but I was like, ‘Guys, I need some water.’ I definitely wasn’t being cool.”

49ers pull off 26-21 win over Saints to remain undefeated, despite new injuries (paywall)
“49ers pull off 26-21 win over Saints to remain undefeated, despite new injuriesGuys like (Bosa), Bryce Huff, they’re closers,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said earlier in the week. “I joke about it, but it’s also hard truth: Even in baseball, you got this guy who comes in and closes the ninth inning, he plays once every (several) games … and he gets paid a junk-ton of money.”

What we learned as Mac Jones fills in admirably in 49ers’ Week 2 win
“The 49ers open the season with back-to-back road wins, and return to Levi’s Stadium for their next two games against the Arizona Cardinals and Jacksonville Jaguars.”

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/golden-nuggets/150272/golden-nuggets-victory-monday
 
Monday Night Football thread: Jim Harbaugh and DeMeco Ryans coach tonight

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Houston Texans are a quarter into the first of two games tonight. It’s a relatively high-scoring game already, as both teams scored touchdowns on their opening drives. C.J. Stroud found Nico Collins on a 29-yarder. Not to be outdone, Baker Mayfield connected with Ryan Miller for a 20-yard touchdown. The Texans have since added a field goal, but the Bucs are driving again.

Tampa Bay is short-handed as they are without Tristan Wirfs. They’ve also lost another lineman, so Baker Mayfield might be running for his life. DeMeco Ryans will look to take advantage, but so far, Tampa Bay is doing what it wants to in this game.

Tonight, Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers take on Pete Carroll and the Las Vegas Raiders. In a game where both quarterbacks figure to throw it a ton, points are expected. Geno Smith may not have Brock Bowers, but Jakobi Meyers and Michael Mayer might be enough, especially if Ashton Jeanty can find success on the ground.

I think the Raiders and Geno outscore the Chargers at home.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/game-d...d-jim-harbaugh-and-demeco-ryans-coach-tonight
 
Golden Nuggets: On to Arizona

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49ers Week 2 rookie report: Top pick Mykel Williams stuffs the stat sheet (paywall)
“A week removed from being targeted more than any other player in the 49ers secondary, Stout was the least targeted in New Orleans while playing 27 more snaps as Rattler threw his way only once for a 14-yard completion. Stout’s PFF grades placed him second in run defense, fourth in coverage and seventh overall among teammates. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh also sent Stout on multiple nickel blitzes; Stout finished with one sack and two hurries.”

49ers vs. Saints PFF grades: Best and worst from the game, plus snap counts
“Left tackle Trent Williams bounced back after a rough Week 1 (55.3 grade), posting an 83.4 offensive grade—the best among 49ers offensive players. He was also the highest-graded offensive lineman in the game and did not allow a single pressure.

Williams earned a 90.0 pass-blocking grade, the best of the game, while his 74.2 run-blocking grade ranked second only to center Jake Brendel (85.0).“

49ers minutia minute: Rookies Mykel Williams, Connor Colby jumped out vs. Saints (paywall)
“Williams was hard to miss Sunday, finishing with three quarterback pressures and two tackles for loss, including one play in which he shoved Saints tight end Moliki Matavao backward into Alvin Kamara and dropped the tailback for a 2-yard loss. His pressures came the same way — not by dashing around his blocker, but by forcing him backward and collapsing the pocket. Williams played 40 snaps at defensive end and eight at defensive tackle.

Collins, who played 17 percent of the defensive snaps against the Seahawks, boosted that to 34 percent against the Saints and recorded his first quarterback hit.“

Kyle Shanahan provides 49ers injury updates after Week 2 win vs. Saints
“San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters during a conference call on Monday, the day after the team’s 26-21 win over the New Orleans Saints. Here’s everything he said.“

How Mac Jones gives 49ers rare luxury as capable, experienced backup QB
“He took what New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s defense gave him, and appeared sound in his decision-making.

Jones might have held onto the ball a little too long at times, but that also might have been a product of playing with a bunch of targets in the passing game who were not altogether crisp.

Pearsall, who caught four passes for 56 yards, has been healthy and practicing since early in training camp.

But Jauan Jennings practiced just four times in six weeks entering the game, due to calf (and maybe contract?) and shoulder injuries. Kendrick Bourne signed with the 49ers six days before suiting up for the Week 2 game at the New Orleans Saints.“
https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nf...-jones-backup-quarterback-win-saints/1874635/
Kawakami: Nakase’s stale referee complaints, Kuminga end game, and more thoughts (paywall)

“I’ve heard that Saleh was open with the 49ers when he came back last January — he definitely wants another shot at head coaching after his uneasy stint with the New York Jets. If the 49ers’ defense keeps playing like this, Saleh will be back at the top of many search lists.

But the 49ers will make a run to keep Saleh. They’ve already committed to paying him at the top of the DC market once his Jets’ contract runs out at the end of the 2026 season, if he’s still here by then.

And they backstopped themselves on this situation last offseason by bringing in longtime coordinator and Saleh mentor Gus Bradley as assistant head coach/defense.

There won’t be a repeat of the 2024 Nick Sorensen experience this year, for sure, and there’s already a coach in place to make sure it doesn’t happen even if and when Saleh leaves.“

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/golden-nuggets/150327/golden-nuggets-on-to-arizona
 
Is Kyle Shanahan better than ever in Year 9?

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The San Francisco 49ers are off to a 2-0 start to the season, pulling off close victories over the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints on the road to kick off the year.

The narrative around the 49ers this offseason has changed quite a bit, from a team initially with Super Bowl aspirations to doubts after a quiet free agency to division favorites with an easy schedule, and on and on.

Ultimately, though, it all comes down to what happens on Sundays, and the 49ers have delivered in different ways to come away with consecutive wins.

San Francisco has already been dealt its fair share of adversity to kick off the year. Tight end George Kittle and quarterback Brock Purdy were injured in the season opener and are expected to miss multiple weeks. Defensively, the 49ers are already relying on a number of younger pieces to play significant snaps.

And yet, they’re 2-0, with Mac Jones helping lead the team to a 26-21 victory over the Saints this weekend.

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has gotten significant praise over the first two weeks, and deservedly so. He’s managed to turn around a defense that was in the bottom half of the NFL, getting key stops when needed and forcing turnovers.

But, the coach at the forefront of it all is quietly having one of his best campaigns yet: head coach Kyle Shanahan.

In Year 9, Shanahan has been completely in his bag to start the year as a playcaller. That was always expected from him, but it’s been seen on film, even with a backup quarterback in the mix.

However, his biggest growth could be as a leader. Shanahan has long been a culture builder with the 49ers, earning the acknowledgement of being a players’ coach. But, sensing a change within the team this offseason, he hosted a veterans-only meeting to stress the importance of developing younger players ahead of the season.

That message clearly resonated with the team, as stars like Nick Bosa were around for the entire offseason, helping develop rookies Mykel Williams and Alfred Collins.

Then came the willingness and the understanding of playing those rookies early. Williams, Collins, third-rounder Upton Stout, fourth-rounder C.J. West, fifth-rounder Marques Sigle, and seventh-rounder Connor Colby have all seen early reps and could all emerge as starters or rotational pieces at some point this year.

And now, the 49ers are finding a way to be resilient and win the close games that evaded them and killed the team in 2024. In two straight games, they’ve closed out the game with strong defensive stands. They’ve also had a go-ahead touchdown drive to beat Seattle.

Of course, the 49ers would prefer to beat teams convincingly as they’ve done during their best years of the Shanahan era. But, in a year of development and growth like this season, the resiliency and finishing out close games is a major positive, and a testament to Shanahan’s offseason preparation.

The results at the end of the season are what matter at the end of the day. But, it’s been a strong start to the season for Shanahan in Year 9 as head coach.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...e-shanahan-better-than-even-year-9-head-coach
 
Kyle Shanahan explains why the 49ers’ ground game has yet to take off in 2025

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The 49ers’ offense has made a typically efficient start to the 2025 season, even with several injuries to key players.

With Brock Purdy forced to miss out because of turf toe, George Kittle out with a hamstring injury and Brandon Aiyuk conspicuous by his absence as he recovers from torn knee ligaments, the 49ers still put up 26 points in Week 2 in a game with the New Orleans Saints that saw them lose fullback Kyle Juszczyk to a concussion.

San Francisco ranks 10th in EPA per play on offense and second in success rate, with 49.6% of the 49ers’ plays gaining the required yardage to represent a successful play. The 49ers are seventh in dropback EPA and third in success rate throwing the ball (54.7%).

That is all hugely impressive for a team that has had to operate without several stars and play a full game with a backup quarterback. However, there is an area of concern for the 49er attack through two weeks.

Indeed, the run game has fallen well short of matching the 49ers’ production through the air.

The 49ers have done a decent job of producing successful run plays, with their 41.8% success rate ranking 13th in the NFL. In terms of explosive runs, though, the 49ers have struggled mightily.

Even with a healthy Christian McCaffrey supported by a solid backup in Brian Robinson Jr, the 49ers are a lowly 26th in EPA per play on the ground, with that metric in essence a measure of the rushing attack’s ability to deliver big plays.

The 49ers, per Pro Football Focus, have just three runs of 10 yards or more, one of which came from quarterback Mac Jones. In his first press conference of the week ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Arizona Cardinals, head coach Kyle Shanahan gave his explanation for those struggles.

Asked if the issues on the ground were a consequence of teams loading the box against them, Shanahan replied:

“No, it’s actually more of the opposite, more two-shell defenses and stuff. The Blitzes and stuff was considered loading the box, but we’re doing it with more two-shell stuff. But we haven’t got a big one. I think it’s harder to get big ones with versus two-shell. And I think versus the Saints, I think we had the longest carry on them versus two-shell defense in a year and one games, and I think it was 13 yards. But there’s a couple plays that we’ve been one guy off on that I thought we could have got a big one on, especially versus some eight man fronts. But it takes 11 guys to do it. You can’t get a big one when one guy’s off. But I’m not too concerned with the run game, but I’d like to get more production.”

Two-high safety defenses have become prominent around the league because of the impact they can have in keeping a lid on opposing pass games, yet, for the 49ers, it is their limiting influence on huge runs that has been most apparent so far this year.

San Francisco would appear to be among the teams best-placed to be able to break into the open field against two-shell defenses with how effectively the 49ers run block downfield and how traditionally adept they have been at getting linemen to the second level on zone runs.

But, as Shanahan articulated, they have yet to get all 11 defenders accounted for in such situations, preventing then from turning a run game that has been effective on a down-to-down basis into one that can produce the kind of field-flipping gains the 49ers have become accustomed to from McCaffrey in recent years when healthy.

Right now, the passing game is carrying the load in terms of explosives. While Shanahan is not concerned at this point, he’ll surely be keen for the ground attack to find that elusive big gain sooner rather than later.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...explains-why-49ers-ground-game-struggles-2025
 
Multiple 49ers defenders say Robert Saleh has some tricks up his sleeve to contain Kyler Murray

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The San Francisco 49ers allowed Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray to have 542 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns in 2024. Murray had a 50-yard touchdown run in Week 5. On the season, Murray had six carries of at least 20 yards. He had another highlight-reel scramble last week against the Carolina Panthers for 30 yards.

The Niners have limited Sam Darnold and Spencer Rattler on the ground to a combined 28 rushing yards, although Rattler had two first-down runs. Murray is a different beast.

Anybody who has watched the 49ers’ defense throughout the years understands that mobile QBs have been their Achilles heel. Fred Warner acknowledged as much on Wednesday when speaking about Murray:

Kyler is always a really tough player to go against, one of the best in this league. I think the thing with Kyler, obviously, is his legs, the ability to make the off-schedule plays. That’s always kind of given us fits, him using his legs.
Budda Baker on #AZCardinals QB Kyler Murray:

"He's outrunning everybody all the time. Even like that 49ers game, we're in San Fran, he points out to the touchdown 40, 50 yards away, knowing he was going to score. I haven't seen a QB do that." (via Mina Kimes Show) pic.twitter.com/BC0kybS5A4

— Donnie Druin (@DonnieDruin) July 1, 2025

Warner believes Murray will make plays at the end of the day. It’s up to the defense to limit the damage. He also said, “I’m excited about the plan this week, and I think Saleh’s been good at it before, so he’s got some good tricks up his sleeve.”

What makes Murray such a challenge? Here’s Warner:

He’s slippery. He obviously has really great quickness and speed. Never ran a 40, so you don’t really know what the 40 time may be, but you can feel it out there on that field when you’re trying to run after him and he’s separating. But then, the ability to continue to look down the field and still be able to throw the football. So, he’s just very dynamic in a lot of ways.

Murray unofficially ran a 40 at Oklahoma in 2017 during spring practices. His time back then was a 4.38. On that 50-yard touchdown run above, he reached 21.27 miles per hour, which was the fastest speed by a quarterback in the last eight seasons. Suffice to say, he’s fast.

Nick Bosa echoed Warner about Saleh’s plan for Murray:

What it takes means very much about him and what he brings to the table, and how we need to rush him, how we need to take care of the QB run game, and their run game as a whole. So, I’m excited about the plan this week. I think Saleh’s been good at it before. He’s got some good tricks up his sleeve.

Saleh has faced Josh Allen multiple times over the years during his time with the New York Jets. He’s also seen Jalen Hurts, Justin Fields, and other scrambling quarterbacks, who have largely been held in check. We will see if that continues against Murray this Sunday.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...-tricks-up-his-sleeve-to-contain-kyler-murray
 
Bills-Dolphins Thursday Night Football thread: Time might be running out on Mike McDaniel

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The Miami Dolphins are in a tough spot as they face a red-hot Buffalo Bills team on a short week. Josh Allen looks like one of the best players in the league, while Miami just lost to the Patriots. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mike McDaniel:

“Stephen Ross, the Dolphins owner, does not want to fire Mike McDaniel. He doesn’t,” Rapoport said. “He wants this to work. He likes him, he believes in him, he has invested in him. … My sense is nothing is imminent for the Dolphins on that front. However, there’s a caveat—that can change. If fans suddenly stop showing up to the stadium, or if players stop playing for him, that can alter the situation.”

After tonight, the Dolphins get the Jets at home and then face the Carolina Panthers. After facing the Chargers, they get the Cleveland Browns. So, the next four games are likely a litmus test to see how the Dolphins respond to McDaniel.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/game-d...ad-time-might-be-running-out-on-mike-mcdaniel
 
49ers safety says he’s Top 5 in the NFL

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The San Francisco 49ers shifted their vision to playing more younger pieces this season, electing to be quiet players in free agency and instead take 11 players in the 2025 NFL Draft.

One of those was fifth-round pick Marques Sigle, who was impressed early on and recently won the starting safety job over 2023 third-round pick Ji’Ayir Brown. It’s been a tough start to his career for Brown, who has dealt with inconsistent play and lost his job last year in favor of fourth-round pick Malik Mustapha.

With a big opportunity this offseason, Brown didn’t impress enough to earn the starting job, but the 49ers still wanted him on the field, playing him as a big nickel in Week 2.

How did Brown feel about his demotion and playing as a big nickel instead?

“I think most of my pro approach and humility to the situation, whatever you want to draw it up as, most of it is because I know who I am as a player. I know for sure I’m one of the best safeties in the league. Top 5 if anything, in the league,” Brown said, via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch. “This has nothing to do with me moving from safety. This is just me being a football player and moving down to big nickel, is a showcase of my many talents.

“I also play the post (at safety) better than anyone in the league. I also do a lot of great things in the run game. This is just me being a versatile football player and showcasing my talents in many different ways. Y’all will see me back at safety again. This is not a permanent move for me. This is just how I can help the team out best. Just knowing I’m one of the premier safeties in this game. I will be back at safety, eventually. Whether it’s here or whether it’s wherever, I am a safety. I’m a safety that can do many things.”

Brown’s path to a starting role seems very murky this season, as he was already beaten out by Sigle and free agent signee Jason Pinnock. To make matters more complicated, Malik Mustapha is expected back near midseason and will likely occupy one of those starting spots, taking away playing time from Brown and the rest of the room.

Nonetheless, the safety is confident he’ll be a starter once again.

“[I’m confident] just knowing that I’m one of the premier safeties in this game,” Brown continued, via Branch. “I will be back at safety, eventually, whether it’s here or whether it’s wherever. I am a safety. I’m a safety that can do many things.”

“I would definitely love to be here, career-wise, for the rest of my career. But we all know this is a business. And I’m willing to adapt to whatever comes my way.”

With the logjam at safety, Brown is showing some of his versatility at big nickel, which could be his primary role as the 49ers continue to develop Upton Stout in the slot.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...wn-says-hes-top-5-safety-in-nfl-kyle-shanahan
 
What position should the 49ers target (if any) before the trade deadline?

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The NFL trade deadline hits on Nov. 4 (1 p.m. PST). That’s more than six weeks away, but the 49ers are off to a great start at 2-0 despite being inundated with injuries, which means they may need a piece or two to get to the finish line. There aren’t going to be Kendrick Bournes for every position waiting to come back. Or maybe they see a player with potential they can bring in, and they can get them into the building a bit early. That possibility is there too.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano put a post together on the trade deadline and had the 49ers listed as a team that could make a move to get some new faces in the building during the season:

Last season fell apart for the Niners because of injuries, and they’re being walloped with them already this season. But they’re also 2-0 and one season removed from an overtime loss in the Super Bowl. It might not be as big a splash as San Francisco made when it acquired running back Christian McCaffrey from the Panthers in the middle of the 2022 season, but it’s easy to imagine the Niners looking for help at wide receiver or in the secondary as the deadline gets closer.

The problem with the 49ers’ 2025 roster is that one piece isn’t going to improve anything exponentially. There’s a great team here, but it consists of quite a few younger pieces, both starters and depth, that may just need experience more than anything. The injury bug may be a blessing in disguise since it’s opened up extensive looks to players like Connor Colby. Sure, losing George Kittle was a blow for the tight end position, but how else would we have found out about Jake Tonges? For the record, Tonges is no Kittle, but I’m saying Kittle’s absence let the 49ers turn to see what else they had, and maybe can keep them in mind when Kittle is back.

The 49ers tend to entertain trades when they are a piece away from a Super Bowl squad. This is how Emmanuel Sanders, Christian McCaffrey, and others entered the picture.

On the line, sure, the pass rush has question marks, but there’s been improvement over the past two weeks. The best one that comes to mind is the Week 1 to Week 2 progression of Mykell Williams and Alfred Collins. So those youngsters are getting valuable experience with the roster as it is—and getting better.

What I’m getting at is—and don’t hate me for this: the 49ers do not have a Super Bowl-caliber squad, yet. They have a very good team, but they also have a lot of rookies and second-year players with potential who need experience. Adding a piece in a trade complicates all of that. Pushes someone back who might just be ready to show they can take advantage of their opportunity.

Though if there are any pieces with a future in mind, I’d look to either left tackle or a wide receiver, each for very different reasons.

For wide receiver, the 49ers have Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings. Kendrick Bourne is back, and Brandon Aiyuk should follow in a few weeks. If anything with Aiyuk goes to a setback, having someone there for depth isn’t a bad idea, but that takes time away from Jordan Watkins. However, he did get back on the injury report on Friday. The question is, does sacrificing a pick truly improve things this year, and couldn’t that pick be better used in the draft?

For left tackle, looking to a trade is not so much for plug and play, or depth, but for the future. This trade isn’t about replacing anyone; it’s about acquiring a young player the 49ers want to sign, who can provide depth and be seen as the future left tackle. The problem is that’s a pretty difficult move to make in the middle of an NFL season. With injuries on the line, however, there would be a chance for them to fill in in case of disaster, while learning under one of, if not the best, in the league to play the position in Trent Williams. I’m not saying replace Williams, I’m saying get someone to learn the position so when and if Williams calls it a career, the 49ers aren’t caught with a glaring hole that they have to “develop” later.

Overall? I’d save the picks. The last two drafts are on a positive trend, and it’s going to make 2026 very fun, but for 2025, let those homegrown picks play and figure things out. Use that pick next year.

Do you think there’s a position the 49ers should target for a trade?

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...49ers-target-if-any-before-the-trade-deadline
 
49ers OC on run game: ‘We’re doing a good job in the run game’

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The San Francisco 49ers are taking on the Arizona Cardinals this weekend, getting another divisional test early in the year after beating the Seattle Seahawks 17-13 in the season opener.

San Francisco has started the year 2-0, beating the Seahawks and the New Orleans Saints in close games on the road. In both games, they’ve had clutch offensive and defensive plays, but one aspect that hasn’t really gotten going is the run game.

The 49ers have averaged just 3.2 yards per carry over the first two games, with both Christian McCaffrey and Brian Robinson Jr. averaging 3.5 yards per attempt. San Francisco has been fairly consistent in the run game, but they have not been able to create any explosives.

So far, their longest rush has been 13 yards. Have they been executing as they’ve wanted to so far?

“I think the numbers aren’t crazy. They’re not going to wow you,” offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak acknowledged this week. “But when you really watch it on tape, I think we’re doing a good job in the run game. We’re running the ball efficiently. We’re doing what we kind of want to do. And then there’s been some opportunities where we’re a hair off for one reason or the other.

“Whether it’s one block we don’t finish or just a back making a guy miss or making a cut differently. But we’re close. But, I’ve been happy with our run game and we haven’t had negative runs. We’ve had efficient runs, which is good. And if we keep doing that, and we need to keep doing that, I think it’s a matter of time before we do pop some and we get some of those explosives, but we’ve been good. We’ve got to keep getting better though.”

The 49ers haven’t gotten those negative plays, but the explosives are a must.

One big issue has been running the ball in the red zone. San Francisco has been one of the more active rushing teams inside the 20-yard line, but they’ve failed to muster any success. Christian McCaffrey is currently fourth in the NFL in red zone rushing attempts with nine, but he’s only gotten five total yards on those carries.

Two years ago, when they were the best red zone team in the NFL, McCaffrey averaged 3.1 yards per carry in the red zone, while easily leading the league in touches. That number bumped to a respectable 4.3 yards per carry between the opponent’s 10 and 20-yard line.

San Francisco’s passing attack has had the answers when needed so far. But that rushing attack will need to grow and start generating for more explosives for the 49ers to be a more balanced team.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...-klay-kubiak-kyle-shanahan-run-game-struggles
 
Golden Nuggets: GAME DAY!!!

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49ers’ Bryce Huff finally feeling the love after years spent feeling unwanted (paywall)
““I don’t think it was football,” Huff said. “It was more that the energy was off and it was messing with my head. And I couldn’t get in my routine because I was thinking about what I’m going to say to the media. It was just weird. Mentally, that’s probably the worst I’ve been in my career.

“Because you’ve got people saying stuff, people that are supposed to be getting you to be the best version of yourself, talking about you in the media in a negative light. And that comes back on me as far as social media and people saying all kinds of stuff. That was my first time dealing with that type of stuff. And it just took me out of my flow, I guess.”

Why Kyle Shanahan believes 49ers benefit from ‘energetic’ rookie defenders
“Obviously, as the season progresses, adjustments will come, but Shanahan – no stranger to coaching elite defenses – broke down how San Francisco benefits from a sense of inexperience, in an exclusive interview for NBC Sports Bay Area’s “49ers Game Plan” with Matt Maiocco.“

Jauan Jennings injury update: Will 49ers WR play vs. Cardinals?

All signs point to Kendrick Bourne playing a bigger role if Jennings can’t play. Bourne, despite signing ahead of Week 2, is the 49ers No. 3 WR with three catches for 32 yards. Aside from Jennings and WR Ricky Pearsall, Bourne is the only 49ers WR with a catch this season. The only other WR with a target is veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling who didn’t catch the lone pass thrown his way.

Why Kyle Shanahan pushed for 49ers to wear road white jerseys during home games

“Yeah … I was bothered last year [against the Cardinals] because of how hot it was, so we tried to wear our whites,” Shanahan told Maiocco. “When I coached in Tampa Bay, or [when] you’ve coached on the East Coast and you know how hot and humid it’d be earlier in the year, we’d do this a lot.

“Out here, we don’t worry about it that much; it never got that hot out here. But it definitely did that week, and we knew it was going to come, so we tried to wear our whites, and the league said we couldn’t do it unless we told them at the beginning of the year. So we had to decide in like April this year, and definitely don’t know if it’s going to be hot or not, so we just had to guess.”

Judge rules teen who shot San Francisco 49ers Ricky Pearsall won’t be tried as adult: ‘Opportunity of redemption’

“Enormous relief and joy. He was looking at life in prison as an adult. This was a radical different outcome,” said Bob Dunlap, SF public defender representing the teen.

The five-day hearing included multiple witnesses including the SFPD officer who ran towards the sound of gunshots and found Pearsall covered in blood.

The public defender asked the judge to consider the teens’ childhood filled with trauma, abuse and neglect. Also pointing out that while in custody for the last 13 months, the teen graduated high school and is starting community college online.

3 things the Cardinals must do to beat the 49ers this weekend

And why isn’t OC Drew Petzing getting Marvin Harrison more targets? Five against the Panthers and six versus the Saints? Really? Why doesn’t Petzing treat this year like Harrison is on a Pro Bowl trek and see what happens with this offense? He can’t if he doesn’t get more throws his way.

The 49ers have the league’s sixth best pass defense so far in 2025. But they have a weakness: San Fran is allowing 71.9% of passes to be completed. McBride and Harrison would be a great test to show the rest of the NFL that the Cardinals have offensive players, too.

Where the Cardinals rank statistically after the Week 2 win over the Panthers

Offense​


Points per game: 23.5 ppg / T-11th

Passing offense: 170.5 ypg / 27th

Rushing offense: 114.0 ypg / T-13th

Total offense: 284.5 ypg / T-24th

3rd down conversions: 40.91% / T-17th

Red zone scoring: 57.14% / T-16th

Sacks allowed: 6 / 9th

Turnovers: 1 / 18th

Arizona’s offense must be better to keep stacking wins. A 52-yard run by Trey Benson and a 30-yard run by Kyler Murray help push up the rushing yard average. However, if you take those two runs away, they’re only averaging 3.1 yards per carry. James Conner has been held to less than 40 yards rushing in back-to-back games. It all starts up front, where the offensive line has struggled to generate push and open up lanes. As for the passing game, they rank near the bottom of this department because they aren’t getting the football down the field. Most of their production has come from short and intermediate throws. Trey McBride continues to be a reliable target, catching six catches in each of the last two games for a combined 139 receiving yards. After being held to just two receptions for 27 yards, Marvin Harrison Jr. is still looking to play to his draft status.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/golden-nuggets/150478/golden-nuggets-game-day
 
Injury updates: Mac Jones re-aggravated an injury from training camp

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The San Francisco 49ers gritted out a win at home against the Arizona Cardinals. Mac Jones completed 20 of 21 passes of 0-9 air yards for 154 yards and a touchdown. He was precise, under control, and apparently playing through the same PCL injury he suffered in training camp. That injury prevented Jones from playing in the preseason finale.

Jones told reporters he wished the injury hadn’t impacted his play, believing it made his job tougher going through reads. Brock Purdy was ruled out, but he was a limited participant this week, suggesting he has a chance to play in Week 4. If Jones’ injury lingers throughout the week and Purdy remains limited, practice will be interesting for the 49ers, to say the least.

Kyle Shanahan commented on Nick Bosa’s knee injury, initially ruling out a potential ACL injury:

“No, we can’t rule anything out. They checked for ACL and stuff there. He was good with that, but we’re still not sure, so we gotta check with more things tonight and tomorrow.”

Shanahan clarified his earlier comment:

“They haven’t ruled it out. We’re not sure. There is concern because of how he feels. They did the tests on the sideline, and usually they say whether he definitely did or not, and they didn’t say that. But we are concerned.”

Bosa was seen in the locker room after the game by the media without crutches. Hopefully, that’s a positive sign. We’ll have updates on Monday about Bosa and the rest of the injury news.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...es-re-aggravated-an-injury-from-training-camp
 
Ricky Pearsall’s Week 3 showing draws bold claim from Trent Williams

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Ricky Pearsall is making up for lost time in a big way.

The 49ers’ first-round pick of 2024 once again came up huge as San Francisco improved to 3-0 with a 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals as he recorded his second 100-yard receiving performance in three games.

Pearsall finished with eight catches on 11 targets for 117 yards, averaging 0.25 EPA per play and recording a success rate of 67% as he provided another compelling demonstration of why the 49ers took him 31st overall.

With 281 receiving yards through three games, Pearsall leads the NFL with 12.2 yards per target while his 14 first-down receptions are tied for second in the league.

Pearsall’s most significant contribution to Sunday’s win came on a spectacular over the shoulder 34-yard reception from Mac Jones on a fourth-and-2 that set up the 49ers’ lone touchdown of the day. His reliability in producing clutch plays is quickly becoming a consistent factor for the San Francisco offense, Pearsall having set up the 49ers’ game-winning touchdown in Week 1 with a 42-yard catch from Brock Purdy in Seattle.

4TH AND PEARSALL!

AZvsSF on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/dAhqo6Khgc

— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025

His success in hitting the ground running in year two comes after a rookie season that saw him wait until Week 7 to make his debut after he miraculously avoided injury to his internal organs in a shooting in August, 2024.

And All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams was effusive in his praise for Pearsall’s performances so far this season, with the future Hall of Famer confident he will continue to ascend.

Williams said of his Pearsall’s display:

“I don’t know how that should surprise anybody, but his rookie season was derailed by something that he couldn’t control. So I mean, it’s a blessing just to see him out there playing the best we’ve seen him play. I mean, obviously he’s a quarterback’s safety blanket. So Ricky’s a baller, and we always knew that from day one. Obviously, it got off to a rough start, but I mean, I think he’s going to cement himself as one of the top receivers in the league here soon.”

That might be considered a bold claim, but Pearsall’s knack for building chemistry with different quarterbacks makes it more likely it will be justified.

Pearsall developed a rapport with Purdy down the stretch last season that was on show in Week 1, and his understanding with Jones has been clear for all to see across the backup quarterback’s two starts in relief of the injured Purdy.

The strength of their connection was most apparent on the fourth-down play, which head coach Kyle Shanahan said came on the play-call ‘Trips right, 3 jet Florida’.

Jones detailed in his press conference that Pearsall was the alert on the play.

“We don’t really throw it that often, so it was just a great catch,” Jones said. “I don’t know how he caught that. It was a great play. He did a great job in the game. He was open a lot, could have hit him even more.”

Jones’ faith in Pearsall is such that he was willing to throw the alert and trust him to come down with it. The confidence in Pearsall in the quarterback room will only increase after that catch and his latest standout showing, with more balls and more opportunities to prove Williams’ prediction correct sure to come his way as the 49ers aim to continue their hot start.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...eek-3-showing-draws-bold-claim-trent-williams
 
Monday Night Football thread: Jared Goff takes on Lamar Jackson

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The 1-1 Baltimore Ravens host the 1-1 Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football. Detroit is off a 52-21 thumping of the Chicago Bears, where they were gifted the ball in plus territory or advantageous situations thanks to Caleb Williams. The week prior, the Lions looked hopeless against the Green Bay Packers.

The Lions averaged 3.8 yards per play against Green Bay and couldn’t run the ball. Will we see the same road woes in Baltimore tonight?

The Ravens should be undefeated if not for a collapse against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. Baltimore averaged 8.6 yards per play, scored 40 points, but lost thanks to some spotty defense and a Derrick Henry fumble.

Everyone is expecting tonight to be higher scoring. There will be plenty of firepower on both sides of the ball. There are also enough injuries on both sides that could lead to big plays.

I’ll take Lamar Jackson at home to put on a show, 30-23.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/game-d...ball-thread-jared-goff-takes-on-lamar-jackson
 
3 games in, Dee Winters shows the 49ers moving on from Dre Greenlaw was the right call

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When it was announced that San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw was signing with the Denver Broncos, the heartbreak was felt through the fanbase. The 2024 season saw Greenlaw play very little due to rehabbing an Achilles injury he suffered in the Super Bowl. The result was a near-season-long vacancy as sidekick to Fred Warner and the 49ers, as the team struggled to stop the run without Greenlaw to punish poor ball carriers.

Plus, it’s Greenlaw. Losing him just sucks.

The 49ers have turned to Dee Williams, a 2023 sixth-round pick, and after three games, it seems like letting Greenlaw walk was the right move—as painful as it is to say and admit that. Winters has been a heat-seeking missile for three games straight, flattening any poor ball carrier in his zipcode, just like Greenlaw did two years prior. If there were no numbers on the jerseys, you could be fooled into thinking that he was Greenlaw. In the 49ers’ 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Winters had eight tackles, four of which were solo, one quarterback hit, and one pass defended. The stats don’t do him justice; he was flying around the field.

And at this point, it’s safe to say the 49ers have found a sidekick to Fred Warner. And if Williams can even give 75 percent of what Greenlaw had, it’s a win. One, because that’s how good Greenlaw is, and two, Greenlaw has yet to suit up for the 2025 season.

It gets worse: Greenlaw was placed on injured reserve Saturday, which means he has to sit out another four games before he can return. The injury stems from a pair of quad injuries in the offseason—one in the spring and another at Broncos training camp.

No one wants to see this happen, especially to a player like Greenlaw. The facts are that if the 49ers were saddled with that $31.5 million contract he signed with Denver in the offseason, it could have been another injured player and more salary cap money to figure out.

Instead, they turned to Williams. Since comparing Williams to 2024 Greenlaw isn’t possible, I instead took Winters’ three games to start the 2025 season and compared them to Greenlaw’s first three games of the 2023 season:

Through the first three weeks, Greenlaw had 22 tackles (14 solo), one pass defended, and one quarterback hit. One tackle was for a loss.

Williams: 22 tackles (15 solo), one pass defended, and two tackles for a loss.

Those are pretty similar numbers. And something the 49ers didn’t have in 2024. Winters has a slightly higher snap count (which helps him get more stats), but beyond that, the two are similar in usage as well.

Now, the above is not the greatest comparison to make. Greenlaw’s first three games in 2023 were the Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Giants, while Winters had the Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, and the Arizona Cardinals.

Regardless, that type of production was something sorely missed in 2024 while Greenlaw rehabbed his injury. In fact, many (myself included) said the absence of Greenlaw was one of the (many) factors influencing the underwhelming 49ers defense in 2024. Winters was on the roster in 2024, but he didn’t play anything like what we’re seeing now. Which also might be a credit to Robert Saleh, but we’re getting off-topic.

The point is, the 49ers either could have tried to throw money at Greenlaw, especially after knowing how much they needed him, even though the goal was to get some cap space. Instead, they let him walk and got someone putting together a similar production whose cap number in 2025 is just over $1 million.

It’s disappointing the 49ers couldn’t get something worked out with Greenlaw. But when you see what they are getting from Winters for a fraction of the cost, you can’t help but praise the front office for making the right (and difficult) call to see what Winters has. And despite comparing numbers, the fact that Winters has played and Greenlaw won’t until Week 7 reinforces that they made the right move.

Winters’ rookie contract runs through 2026. They selected Nick Martin in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and if Winters keeps playing like he is, Martin could provide valuable depth. Assuming the 49ers can figure out how to keep him after 2026, of course.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...oving-on-from-dre-greenlaw-was-the-right-call
 
The 49ers are projected to have their highest scoring game of the season against the Jaguars

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The San Francisco 49ers are undefeated heading into Week 4. We believe they’ve beaten a quality team, a mediocre team, and a bad team.

Coming away with two victories with a backup quarterback should be viewed as a positive, regardless of the opponent. San Francisco has managed to do so without several of its core players. George Kittle didn’t play in the previous two games. Nick Bosa missed the majority of Week 3. They still don’t have Brandon Aiyuk. That hasn’t prevented the Niners from leaving each game victorious.

This week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Niners have their highest total to date on FanDuel Sportsbook. San Francisco is favored to win by 3.5 points, with a total on the game of 46.5, which is slightly juiced in favor of the over. The total in each of their previous games was anywhere between 43 and 43.5 points. Brock Purdy’s return could have something to do with that.

Trevor Lawrence led Jacksonville to a 26-10 victory in Week 1 over the Carolina Panthers. In Week 2, the Jags had a commanding lead over the Cincinnati Bengals. Then Joe Burrow went down, and Jacksonville forgot how to play defense. Last week, Lawrence and the offense looked awful. He completed 50 percent of his passes for only 222 yards. There were drops, but it was a game Jacksonville loses to a competent opponent. So far this season, that hasn’t been the Houston Texans.

Jacksonville’s secondary looks good statistically, but Jake Browning and the Bengals threw it all over them in the second half of Week 2. The Texans left countless yards and points on the field. The 49ers should score closer to 30 than 20.

That means it’ll be up to Robert Saleh to manufacture a pass rush to limit the Jaguars. Brian Thomas has been shaky at best to start the season. But he’s a first-rounder, and Jacksonville also has Travis Hunter, whom they’ve tried to get the ball to on quick-hitting passes. Travis Etienne has a 71-yarder and a 30-yard rush this season. His big-play ability will be something else the Niners must attempt to contain.

Based on the spread and the total, the 49ers are expected to win by a score of 25-22.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...coring-game-of-the-season-against-the-jaguars
 
6 winners and 3 losers from the 49ers Week 3 win over the Cardinals: The arrow is pointing up for Mykel Williams

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The San Francisco 49ers escaped with a victory on Sunday, despite playing what felt like their worst game to date. The offense had one turnover, but went 2-for-10 on third down, failed to score on a goal-line sequence, and once again struggled to run the ball. The offensive line looked overmatched throughout the game.

The defense fared better, but they were also the beneficiaries of a dropped touchdown near the goal-line and another drop by Marvin Harrison that could have been a touchdown.

Ultimately, both sides of the ball made plays when it mattered the most, and a short-handed squad won a divisional game with a backup quarterback. If the 49ers end up winning double-digit games this season and earn a home playoff game, it’ll be because they won games like the one they did on Sunday.

Let’s get into the winners and losers from Week 3.

Winners​

Mykel Williams​


We are watching a 21-year-old grow up in real time. He’s progressing as a player and improving each week. Williams continued to make plays in the backfield and at the line of scrimmage in Week 3. However, it’s his arrival as a pass rusher that has been noticeable. Look at the jumps Mykel has made in three games:

Mykel Williams’ pressure percentage in each game:

Week 1 – 0.0%
Week 2 – 3.4%
Week 3 – 13.8%

Mykel Williams’ win percentage as a pass rusher in each game:

Week 1 – 0.0%
Week 2 – 10%
Week 3 – 20.7%

I value win percentage over pressure numbers, as those are less fluky and more sustainable. This rep below is why the production is on the way for Williams:

We're seeing Mykel Williams grow up in real time. His hand usage here is a thing of beauty as the edge rusher. His first contact jolts the left tackle back a couple steps. There's the power.

This is how an 86th percentile wingspan and 79th percentile hand size play in the NFL.… pic.twitter.com/5xrFupHluo

— Kyle Posey (@KP_Show) September 22, 2025

Nick Bosa missing the rest of the season means the 49ers will rely on their first-round pick even more than they have through three games. He’s ascending faster than the team could have hoped. Now, we’ll see how the entire defensive line picks up the slack without their best player.

Mac Jones​


Week 2 felt like a “system” game for Mac Jones. He had a couple of impressive throws, but Kyle Shanahan’s scheme won the Niners that game. That wasn’t the case in Week 3.

Jones’ pressure rate from Week 2 to Week 3 jumped nearly 17 percent. He was under duress enough that throws were being made before Jones took a three-step drop. His understanding of where the receivers would be after deciphering what the defense was throwing at him pre-snap was impressive.

Jones did a lot of his damage underneath. He went 20 of 21 on passes from 0-9 air yards for 154 yards and a touchdown. But he dissected the Cardinals in both two-minute drills. On 4th & 2, taking a deep shot instead of throwing a 5-yard out route had to bring tears to Brock Purdy’s eyes, as it was the type of decision Brock makes every day of the week. Jones was rewarded for his decision, and ultimately, it led to a win.

Bryce Huff​


Huff Mykel Williams’ 20 percent win percentage is a sign of growth. For Bryce Huff, that’s just another day at the office. In Week 3, Huff had a win percentage of 29.6, which was the seventh-highest of any edge rusher, and one spot ahead of Myles Garrett.

Huff has brought a level of consistency on passing downs that the Niners simply haven’t had outside of Bosa in years. Huff had five stops, four quarterback pressures, and a sack against Arizona. He also batted a screen pass to help the defense get off the field after it looked like that play would result in a first down. As is the case with Mykel, the team will inevitably put more on Huff’s plate, but both players have proven they’re ready for a bigger workload.

Losers​

The offensive line​


If a Kyle Shanahan offense only puts up 16 points, one or two things have happened. The quarterback left too many plays on the field, or the five players up front did not do their job. In this instance, it’s the latter.

Last week, the 49ers looked competent along the offensive line. This week’s performance made that look like smoke and mirrors. Then again, the New Orleans Saints lost by 31 in Week 3.

Let’s act as if Dominick Puni wasn’t responsible for a safety. That doesn’t absolve him for four other blown blocks in the game, including one on the play before the safety. It’s been three games in a row where Puni hasn’t looked right. We know that he’s been dealing with a knee injury. We also know he hasn’t been listed on the injury report.

Three blown blocks for Colton McKivitz for good measure, despite the scheme doing everything in its power to protect him. McKivitiz also allowed a quarterback hit on a play where Ricky Pearsall was open for an explosive play down the field, and was the reason Christian McCaffrey did not pick up a first down on one carry.

Jake Brendel missed one block in 1-on-1 situations, but held a defender and missed another block on a similar stunt.

As well as Connor Colby played in his debut last week, he was on the opposite side of the spectrum in Week 3.
Seven, that’s right, seven blown blocks for Colby. He’s a seventh-rounder, and this was quite the step up in class. But Colby went from looking like a potential steal to a player who was lucky not to get benched. He had a sack, a holding call, and was losing in two-minute situations where Jones was playing hot potato.

As Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel recently said, “The good news is, I don’t see how it could be worse.”

Tackling​


For the second week in a row, the defense’s tackling was sloppy. Not all missed tackles are created equally. For example, Dee Winters’ missed tackles this season have resulted in tackles for loss because he’s forcing the running back to bounce or take worse angles as they run to the sideline.

Good things don’t happen when your defensive backs miss tackles. A Deommodore Lenoir miss led to a first down. The same is true for Marques Sigle. Technically, Jason Pinnock didn’t miss a tackle, but that’s because he didn’t get a hand on Kyler Murray toward the end of the game when he ran on a designed run right past Pinnock for nine yards.

Murray is slippery and showed how fast he was, but Trey Benson forced four missed tackles in ten attempts. As a receiver, James Conner forced three. It’s an area the 49ers must clean up.

Coverage busts​


For the second week in a row, the Niners’ defense got away with a couple of coverage busts that the opposition didn’t take advantage of. Near the goal line, rookie Upton Stout mistakenly ran with the slot wide receiver when everybody else was playing zone coverage. The running back dropped the ball.

Later on in the fourth, Stout had a similar bust. Although this time, it was a better call by the Cardinals to manipulate the 49ers’ coverage rules. Still, it was a bust.

Marvin Harrison’s wide-open drop was because Pinnock was running with a receiver he had no business running with. Pinnock did the same last week on Stout’s sack.

Once Malik Mustapha returns, I’d pull the plug on Pinnock. He hasn’t been consistent in any aspect, nor has he done anything to prove he’s worthy of staying on the field over Sigle.

Winners​

Dee Winters and Fred Warner​


We gave the linebackers the week off from winners last week in an attempt not to list them every game. They are not making this easy.

Warner was surprisingly targeted six times, which led to a couple of first downs. But Warner batted a third-down pass to get the offense the ball back on the Cardinals’ final third down of the game on his lone pass rush. Against the run, Warner lived in Arizona’s backfield. Eight of his 11 tackles were stops. Coming into this game, Warner had stuffed five rushers for no gain or a loss this season, which was the most in the NFL.

Winters was targeted seven times, but only allowed 20 yards. He did surrender a touchdown, but it was on the goal line in a tough position against one of the better tight ends in the league. Winters leads the league in “hustle stops” after four more in Week 3. He also had a quarterback pressure. The ground he covers from the time the ball is in the air to the time the receiver catches it is astonishing. San Francisco has been dominant in underneath coverage all year, and that didn’t change against Arizona. You can thank Winters for that.

Ricky Pearsall​


Pearsall topped 100 receiving yards for the second time this season. He caught eight of his 11 targets for 117 yards. On the season, Pearsall leads the NFL with 264 receiving yards on downfield targets, aka 10+ air yards. Pearsall had +93 receiving yards over expectation on those targets, which is +24 more than any other player. His efficiency down the field has put him in rare company this season.

Ricky Pearsall leads the NFL with 264 receiving yards on downfield targets. Next Gen Stats has a receiving yards over expected stat. Pearsall is +93 in RYOE on those targets. That is +24 more than any other player.

He's been open more than that 264 number suggests. Example: pic.twitter.com/pfgAnImnUf

— Kyle Posey (@KP_Show) September 23, 2025

Pearsall has caught two-thirds of his targets this season, but is fourth in the NFL in air yards per target. Only Jameson Williams and Alec Pierce are catching north of 65 percent of their passes despite being targeted down the field as much as Pearsall.

The speed Pearsall brings to the table allows the 49ers to isolate him on routes down the field; they’ve only done so with the likes of Brandon Aiyuk under Kyle Shanahan. Those two should feed off each other once Aiyuk returns. For now, Pearsall continues to excel at every level in ways few players in the NFL do. He looks like a player that should’ve been drafted closer to the top 10 than the tail end of the first round.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...s-the-arrow-is-pointing-up-for-mykel-williams
 
3 things we learned in Week 3: The 49ers have a kicker they can trust

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The enjoyment of the 3-0 San Francisco 49ers lasted less than 24 hours. The focus quickly shifted from the 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals to Nick Bosa’s knee.

But it shouldn’t be lost that the 49ers are now 3-0 in games they definitely would have lost last season. The tides are changing. The vibes are good. And despite the injuries, the 49ers have shown that they can be a team that wins games in an ugly manner, and they can win close games.

The 49ers only won one division game and two one-possession games in 2024. They’ve already won two NFC West matchups, and Sunday marked their third one-possession win of 2025, despite the injuries.

And while the 49ers will have to learn about life after Bosa in 2025, here are the three things we learned from the win over Arizona:

The injuries might have gotten to be too much

The 49ers entered the 2025 season without Brandon Aiyuk, Malik Mustapha, and Kevin Givens. Then they lost Brock Purdy and George Kittle for a few weeks after Week 1. Week 2 wasn’t kind either, with injuries to Ben Bartch and Jauan Jennings.

But Week 3 had the most significant blow of them all. Nick Bosa went down with a knee injury early in Sunday’s win, and Monday’s news was the worst-case scenario—a torn ACL, ending the pass rusher’s season.

At least with Aiyuk, Kittle, Purdy, or Jennings, we can expect them to take the field for the 49ers in 2025, but Bosa will be missed. Especially considering how rebuilt the defense is. Mykel Williams was taken with the idea of how to pair him with Bosa, not for him to be an individual entity. Same with the trade for Bryce Huff. Alfred Collins and CJ West were selected to be a part of a defensive line headlined by Bosa.

And with one play, Bosa is gone.

Now, maybe a slight silver lining in it all is that the defense played well and held Arizona’s offense to 13 points after Bosa’s exit. But there is no replacing Bosa, especially for the length of time the 49ers will be without him. As the Golden State Warriors made famous, it’ll be a “strength in numbers” situation for the 49ers’ pass rush from here on out.

The run defense is back

No running back has been a thorn in the 49ers’ side more than James Conner since the running back joined the Cardinals back in 2021. He’s rushed for at least 80 yards in three of his six games against the 49ers, with at least one rushing touchdown in four of those six games.

Before he exited Sunday’s contest with a brutal leg injury, the 49ers defense held him to nine carries for 22 yards. Trey Benson didn’t fare much better in relief, with San Francisco holding him to 42 yards on 10 attempts. If Benson’s outlier 29-yard run is removed, his day would have been nine rushes for 13 yards.

But maybe most importantly, it is how well the 49ers handled Kyler Murray’s legs. While he had a few scrambles for positive yardage early on, the San Francisco defense didn’t let his running ability kill them, holding the mobile quarterback to 37 yards on six attempts. They dared Murray to beat them with his arm, and with the assistance of a few drops from Marvin Harrison, the Cardinals’ offense proved they weren’t up to the task.

A season removed from allowing 124 rushing yards per game, the 49ers have allowed 103 per game through three games this season. But handling Murray’s legs like they did on Sunday shows they are very much on the right track.

The 49ers have a kicker you can trust

After Eddy Pineiro nailed his 51-yard kick to end the first half, his making the 35-yard kick to win the game almost felt like a formality. That feeling wasn’t there when the 49ers would line up for a field goal just three weeks ago.

Pineiro has started his 49ers career a perfect five-for-five on kicks with his long at 51 yards. The last time Jake Moody made at least five kicks in a row was when he made six from Weeks 4 through 10 last season (he missed three games with an ankle injury), and even those kicks weren’t convincing. After that stretch of six kicks, Moody made 11 of his next 22 with a long of 53, making no more than four kicks in a row.

History shows Pineiro won’t have that drop, considering he’s a top-three kicker of all-time by field goal percentage (minimum 100 attempts). Moody lost something that the 49ers had with the likes of Robbie Gould, Joe Nedney, and Phil Dawson, and that was the trust that a kicker would go out there and make the dang kick.

All it took was one roster move, and the special teams group feels better already. Just don’t ask about Skyy Moore calling for a fair catch at the six-yard line.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...week-3-the-49ers-have-a-kicker-they-can-trust
 
The 49ers need to flip the script on these 4 trends in 2025

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Statistics can help paint a picture of a team’s success. The eye test and statistics should complement each other and not contradict one another. Then there is the case of the 2025 San Francisco 49ers. Bottom line, being one of six NFL teams with a 3-0 record is all that matters. It doesn’t matter how you win; it only matters if you win.

No NFL season is perfect. Each team has something it needs to improve on. The 49ers are no different. Here are the biggest trends the 49ers need to flip in 2025.

Red Zone Offense

Kyle Shanahan and the offense are missing valuable pieces. Without Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Jauan Jennings, the 49ers’ offense is reliant on two offensive weapons in Christian McCaffrey and Ricky Pearsall. The 49ers offense has visited the red zone 11 times and scored five touchdowns for a 45.5% clip. That number is more in line with the 2024 49ers, who struggled to convert in the red zone.

Sitting at 24th in the NFL in red zone percentage isn’t the bounce back the team hoped for in 2025. Hopefully, with the return of offensive firepower, the trend will change as the games become more important.

Rushing Offense

Through three weeks, the 49ers haven’t scored a rushing TD. That can’t continue. San Francisco and Miami are tied at 26th in the NFL with 269 rushing yards. The difference is that Miami has 30 fewer rushes than the 49ers, and the 49ers are rushing for 3.3 per attempt to Miami’s 5.2 per attempt.

The most troubling factor is the 49ers’ offensive line as run blockers. The offensive line sits at 31st in stuffed run rate (30.5%) and 29th in run block win rate (67%). According to Pro Football Reference, the 49ers are second-to-last in the NFL in expected points contributed by rushing offense with a -16.35 mark. Brian Robinson has the longest run of the season for 19 yards. The 49ers’ passing offense leads the league with 814 passing yards, but the offense needs more balance.

Special Teams

This isn’t about the kicker or punter. Both of those positions are locked in and safe. However, Brant Boyer was brought in to overhaul and fix the special teams unit in 2025. Different coordinator, same result for the 49ers’ special teams. Right now, the 49ers’ special teams unit ranks 28th in the NFL in DVOA.

Skyy Moore fielding a punt up against his own goal line was almost disastrous. The coverage and return teams have to be better before a costly mistake happens at a critical moment. One has to wonder why the 49ers’ special teams continues to be so bad, when a net-zero unit would be a huge boost to the team.

Zero Interceptions on Defense

The 49ers are third in the NFL with 49 points allowed. As a passing defense, the team ranks fifth in the NFL with 486 passing yards allowed. With only 162 passing yards allowed per game, the 49ers’ secondary isn’t exactly playing poorly, and the team has forced three turnovers at critical moments. However, the 49ers are one of five NFL teams without an interception through three weeks. Only San Francisco and Washington have winning records without a pick. The other three are the Jets, Saints, and Dolphins.

Getting stops on defense is the goal. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a sack, turnover on downs, a forced punt, or a fumble. Timely interceptions can flip field position and change momentum. The team can’t continue without interceptions on defense.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/genera...-to-flip-the-script-on-these-4-trends-in-2025
 
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