News 49ers Team Notes

[San Francisco 49ers]

Kyle Shanahan underlines the challenge facing rookie Jordan Watkins

There was a substantial amount of hype around Jordan Watkins heading into preseason after the fourth-round pick’s strong performances in OTAs and training camp.

Following an encouraging showing in the preseason opener, Watkins has essentially had no opportunities to justify that hype, with a succession of injuries keeping the wide receiver from making his 49ers’ regular-season debut until last week’s loss to the Houston Texans.

Watkins had one catch for seven yards and also let a pass go through his hands on third down in the fourth quarter.

The former Ole Miss wideout will hope to have more chances to impress against a depleted New York Giants secondary, but, as Kyle Shanahan articulated on Friday, Watkins’ long road to getting on the field leaves him with an especially difficult challenge to make an impact in his rookie year.

Shanahan said:

“He had a really good OTAs and he got hurt in that first preseason game. I thought Jordan really needed the preseason to fully get ready and I think he would have been, but he missed all of it from there. I think he came back I think Week 2, and then it’s almost like he’s right back to the beginning of training camp, so you hope he can get that in a couple of weeks of practice. He started to do it, and then he hurt something in those two weeks, he pulled something, and then he get another month back, so now he’s getting back into it, but it’s tough for these guys. Same thing happened with Ricky [Pearsall in 2024]. He missed all of training camp as a rookie, then right when he came back he got shot, then it’s a month off and he’s playing the whole season kind of like a rookie training camp. It’s real tough when those guys miss it, puts them really behind the 8-ball, but he’s had two good weeks and hopefully he can continue to stay healthy. If he does, he’ll get there.”

Where there is a difference between Pearsall and Watkins is that, because of the injury to Brandon Aiyuk, Pearsall had a prominent role in the offense right off the bat following his Week 7 debut last year.

Aiyuk has still yet to return from the serious knee injury he suffered in that game, while Pearsall also remains on the sideline with a PCL issue that has seen him miss the last four games.

Still, with Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey ahead of him in the pecking order in the passing game, Watkins is not in a position to have a huge influence down the stretch as he works through his extended training camp.

Yet Watkins has the physical tools and the route-running savvy to make the most of the opportunities he does get. With a favorable matchup in Week 9, he could to take the first steps towards turning a challenging first season into a successful one.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...es-the-challenge-facing-rookie-jordan-watkins

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Asking price for 49ers pass rush targets is Day 2 pick

The NFL trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and the rumor mill is churning, with the San Francisco 49ers expected to be buyers on Tuesday.

San Francisco started things off with a trade for New England Patriots defensive lineman Keion White, sending a 2026 sixth-round pick and receiving a 2026 seventh-round pick as well.

But, they may not be done, as the 49ers have been making calls on several players and could even acquire more pass-rush help this week. Among the players involved is Miami Dolphins defensive end Jaelen Phillips, who has been involved in a ton of trade talk over the last few weeks.

After the firing of general manager Chris Grier, as well as a 2-7 start to the season, the Dolphins should be inclined to move off pieces, especially expiring contracts like Phillips’s.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported on Saturday that San Francisco is among the teams showing interest in Phillips, but the asking price remains fairly high.

“Miami has received interest from the Eagles, 49ers, Patriots and others on OLB Jaelan Phillips (The Dolphins are looking for at least a third-rounder in return),” Russini reported. “They’re also getting calls on DE Bradley Chubb and OLB Matthew Judon.”

San Francisco has traded a third-round pick for a pass-rusher at the deadline in the past, sending one to the Washington Commanders for Chase Young. If they want Phillips, it might be a similar trade.

Phillips has been productive in the past, having 8.5 sacks as a rookie in 2021, seven in 2022, and 6.5 sacks in 2023. He suffered a season-ending injury in 2024, however, and has three sacks in 2025.

The 49ers have their own third-round pick and are currently projected to have three fourth-round compensatory picks, so they do have some midround capital that could be used in a trade. But, there seems to be a clear interest in Phillips from playoff contenders, so the asking price for Miami could very well be met by Tuesday’s trade deadline.

Another potential trade candidate could’ve been New York Giants defensive end Kavyon Thibodeaux, but Russini reported that he is not likely to be traded, with the asking price being a first-round pick. Thibodeaux has 2.5 sacks and 5.5 run stuffs so far this season.

It’s unclear how many moves the 49ers will be willing to make, but another pass-rusher could definitely make sense, especially after the news that Yetur Gross-Matos may be heading to Injured Reserve yet again. San Francisco not only needs healthy bodies, but also more production from pass-rushers, as they rank among the league’s worst in sacks and pressure rate.

Prices do seem high for pass-rushers, so the 49ers may look for a cheaper option, such as Tennessee Titans edge rusher Arden Key, but San Francisco has clearly been evaluating the market and should make another move before the deadline.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...rush-targets-price-day-2-pick-jaelen-phillips

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers will have to wait to get a starter back on offense; Yetur Gross-Matos is headed to the IR

It has been a frustrating tenure with the San Francisco 49ers for edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos. He struggled to stay on the field during his first season as a Niner because of a lingering knee injury. Gross-Matos hasn’t played since Week 5, when he suffered a hamstring injury.

After reportedly re-aggravating his hamstring injury during practice this week, Gross-Matos has been placed on the Injured Reserve List. In addition to Keion White making his Niners debut, Clelin Ferrell will make his return after being elevated from the practice squad.

Spencer Burford was activated from the Injured Reserve List. However, Ben Bartch will have to wait at least another week. Bartch was downgraded from questionable to out. Kyle Shanahan said on Friday that Burford was closer to returning than Bartch was.

With Bartch missing another week, Nick Zakelj was elevated from the practice squad. We’ll see if there is a rotation at left guard between Zakelj and Connor Colby.

The New York Giants elevated wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud and linebacker Zaire Barnes from the practice squad. They also activated cornerback Rico Payton from the injured reserve.

Deommodore Lenoir and McCloud have had their back-and-forths on social media:

Let’s hope we get at least one target between the two.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...s-matos-ben-bartch-nick-zakelj-clelin-ferrell

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers-Giants game thread: Can the offense get right against New York?

Injuries on both sides may have robbed us of what could have been a heck of a game between the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants.

Recency bias would lead you to believe Jaxson Dart is about to have a field day against a defense that just gave up a handful of explosive plays to an anemic Houston Texans offense. It doesn’t help that most of those chunk plays came against the area of the field where Robert Saleh’s defense has been most susceptible all year: The slot.

Rookie Upton Stout will prevent Wan’Dale Robinson in the slot, who had 95 and 84 receiving yards in two of the three previous games. If the secondary can win that matchup, the defense has a good chance to keep Dart and the Giants at bay.

The Giants have allowed the third-most air yards on the season. They have not been good, regardless, but having two cornerbacks out should mean Kendrick Bourne and Jauan Jennings can get back on track. New York also has a shoddy run defense. Last week, Christian McCaffrey rushed for 25 yards. The week before, he had a season-high 129. Kyle Shanahan hopes his offense can run the ball as it did against the Falcons.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/game-d...ad-can-the-offense-get-right-against-new-york

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers inactive list: We could see another change along the offensive line today

The San Francisco 49ers’ inactive list is out for today’s game against the New York Giants:
QB Brock Purdy
C Jake Brendel
DE Bryce Huff
WR Ricky Pearsall
RB Jordan James
DT CJ West
S Marques Sigle

Sigle is a healthy scratch after playing 23 special teams snaps last week and is a seven-game starter.

The defensive line will have Jordan Elliott and Sam Okuayinonu. Linebacker Dee Winters, who was also questionable, is active.

Local reporters Cam Inman and Matt Barrows hinted that Spencer Burford, who was activated from the Injured Reserve Saturday, will start at left guard. That is not something we anticipated, but it makes a ton of sense. Connor Colby has not worked out. Shocker, a seventh-rounder isn’t ready to play. Nick Zakelj, in backup duty when there was a rotation, wasn’t much better.

That’s where Burford, who hasn’t played at all this year but saw time at left guard in limited action during the 2024 season, steps in. Burford played 81 snaps last year at left guard in three stints. He came in Week 1, Week 6, started Week 14, and played again in Week 16. It was limited action, but there were positive flashes.

Burford allowed only two pressures in pass protection. The biggest difference came in the run game, where Burford’s athleticism made a difference when it came to moving laterally down the line of scrimmage, pulling across the formation, or sprinting out of his stance to cut off a linebacker at the second level.

And that’s precisely where whoever is playing left guard this year has struggled. Too often, Christian McCaffrey has been forced to make somebody miss in the backfield or hasn’t been able to reach the second level because there has been too much traffic behind the line of scrimmage.

The 49ers are hoping Burford brings them some stability and will likely take control of the left guard spot moving forward.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ford-brock-purdy-jordan-elliott-marques-sigle

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Seahawks-Commanders thread: Jayden Daniels can do the 49ers a favor

Jayden Daniels returns for the Washington Commanders as they host the Seattle Seahawks. It’s Sam Darnold on the road against a team that brings pressure and will play a lot of man coverage. From a matchup standpoint, you can’t ask for a better team to play if you’re Washington.

Seattle is off a bye week, but that bye didn’t come at a good time. The Seahawks’ momentum might have been interrupted during the break. Meanwhile, the Commanders are coming off a blowout loss where they didn’t look competitive.

On the flip side, Daniels gets to go against a team that will run a lot of zone. Seattle has the league’s top run defense. If Kliff Kingsbury is smart, he won’t waste his time running the ball and rely on his first-round quarterback.

This has the makings of an upset, especially if the Commanders can force Darnold into one of his Darnold-esque turnovers. Patrick Mahomes threw two last week.

The 49ers could benefit from a Commanders win. Hopefully, Jayden Daniels can do them a favor. Deebo Samuel has always done well against the Seahawks.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/game-d...hread-jayden-daniels-can-do-the-49ers-a-favor

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

NFC Playoff Picture: The 49ers are sitting pretty with a near perfect conference record

There’s one NFC game remaining in Week 9, but it’s between teams ranked 11th and 14th. Even with a win, the Dallas Cowboys would be on the outside looking in of the playoff picture.

Let’s look at the NFC Standings a week a day before the NFL’s trade deadline.

NFC Playoff Picture​

We will break the teams up into perceived tiers:

1) Philadelphia Eagles – 6-2 (5-1 in the NFC)
2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 6-2(4-2)
3) Seattle Seahawks – 6-2 (3-2)
4) Green Bay Packers – 5-2-1(3-1-1)
5) Los Angeles Rams – 6-2 (1-2)
6) San Francisco 49ers – 6-3 (6-1)
7) Detroit Lions – 5-3 (2-2)

Not only are these the playoff teams, but these are the seven who could beat anybody at any point, whether home or away.

The Eagles had a bye week. We’re still not sold on them. They beat the Chiefs and the Bucs, but lost to the Broncos and the Giants. In high-leverage situations, do you really trust Jalen Hurts to make a play?

The Bucs are another team that is difficult to figure out. They took down the Seahawks and the Niners, but looked helpless against the Lions. Tampa Bay is also banged up, but that seems to be the case with every NFC team.

Seattle is the best team in the NFC, as painful as that may be to read. They’re complete defensively, have a star wide receiver, an offensive line to protect Sam Darnold, and a bright head coach. But if Darnold has to go on the road in the playoffs, all bets are off.

Remember when the Packers were crowned Super Bowl champs after Week 2? Well, they just lost to the Carolina Panthers. They also lost to the Browns and struggled to put away teams like the Bengals, Cardinals, and Steelers. Green Bay just lost Tucker Kraft for the season to an ACL injury. They are on fraud watch.

The 49ers likely lost another starter for the season due to an injury. Mykel Williams was quite good as a run defender, but this was never going to be a team that was going to win with its defense. Brock Purdy appears set to return. Ideally, Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk aren’t far behind. If the 49ers are going to make a run, it’s going to be because they score 28+ a game. Sustainable? Unlikely. Doable? Yes.

The next crop of teams is on the outside looking in, and will likely stay that way unless one of these top teams falters. They’re fiesty, but nothing more.

8) Chicago Bears – 5-3 (3-2)
9) Carolina Panthers – 5-4 (3-1)
10) Minnesota Vikings – 4-4 (2-2)
11) Dallas Cowboys – 3-4-1(2-3-1)
12) Atlanta Falcons – 3-5 (2-3)

The Bears’ defense makes Robert Saleh’s look like the ‘85 Bears.

The Panthers have won their last two games by scoring 16 and 13 points. Sandwiched in between that was a 31-point loss to the Bills. The schedule sets up well for Carolina, but when push comes to shove, we have a difficult time believing they can keep up with the upper echelon teams of the conference.

The Vikings upset the Lions, but Detroit seemed to be sleepwalking. Minnesota doesn’t have a quarterback.

The Cowboys have a quarterback, which will always make them dangerous. But that’s another team that can’t seem to get stops.

13) Washington Commanders – 3-6 (1-5)
14) Arizona Cardinals – 2-5 (2-3)
15) New York Giants – 2-7 (1-5)
16) New Orleans Saints – 1-8 (1-6)

These four teams are unserious and there’s no need to waste time discussing them.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...33/49ers-playoff-picture-eagles-bucs-seahawks