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[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers special teams coordinator reveals offseason plan for Jake Moody, kicker competition

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The Niners could challenge their third-round kicker with competition this offseason.

The San Francisco 49ers are just a few weeks away from the next stage of their offseason program, as things begin to ramp up following rookie minicamp.

Each of the team’s coordinators got to speak with reporters this past week, sharing updates on players and the plan for the remainder of the offseason.

One of the positions that still has questions is kicker, where incumbent starter Jake Moody struggled in 2024, hitting just 70.6 percent of his field goals and ranking in the bottom half on extra point percentage as well.

At the end of last season, it seemed clear that the 49ers would bring in competition for Moody, although head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed confidence in the kicker.

Now, heading into the offseason, what is the team’s plan for the position and where do they stand on Moody?

“There isn’t a special teams coach in this league that didn’t have him rated number one coming out [of the 2023 NFL Draft], that I know of,” special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said of Moody. “He’s as talented a kid as it gets. I think that the injury issue, where he was fighting injuries, going back and forth, I think that had a lot to do with it.”

Moody did have a strong start to the season, hitting 13 of his first 14 field goals before suffering an injury that cost him over a month. After that, the kicker really struggled, only going 11/20 the rest of the year on field goals.

Boyer also believes that the move to bring in long snapper Jon Weeks will contribute to Moody’s growth and confidence, which will be important this upcoming year.

“I think us bringing in [long snapper Jon] Weeks is going to help,” Boyer continued. “I think that the kid [will get] his mind right, which I think he’s doing. He’s doing a hell of a job for us, so far. I think he’ll do a heck of a job for us. I really do.”

Still, with the confidence in Moody, Boyer understood that Moody would need to win the job in the preseason to be San Francisco’s kicker in 2025.

“Well, yeah. I mean, it all comes down to what happens in the preseason and everything, just like in any other position, for sure,” Boyer said about Moody being the starter.

San Francisco still has several options that it can bring from the free agency pool to serve as competition. But, it seems that the coaching staff has confidence in Moody and believes he can bounce back from a rough year in 2024.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5...boyer-offseason-jake-moody-kicker-competition

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers sign undrafted free agent linebacker to a 3-year deal

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Stone Blanton has agreed to a three-year deal with the 49ers. The undrafted free agent played linebacker in the SEC at both Mississippi State and South Carolina.

San Francisco 49ers undrafted free agent linebacker Stone Blanton recently got married. That was a scheduling conflict, as it meant Blanton would need to be excused for rookie minicamp.

On Monday, the team announced they had signed Blanton to a three-year deal. Blanton started 24 games over three seasons in the SEC. Twelve came in 2024 at Mississippi State, where Blanton finished the year with a career-best 125 tackles. Blanton had seven career games with double-digit tackles, including an 18-tackle performance against Missouri this past season.

The 49ers must’ve liked the way the junior finished the season. Blanton had 14+ tackles in three of the final four games. Instead of returning for his senior season, Blanton entered the draft. Blanton being around the ball that much should help him carve out a role as a special teamer — an area where the 49ers need help.

Blanton’s rookie season will effectively be his senior year, so the Niners might see him as a developmental prospect who plays their style and could help on special teams or defense in a year or two.

We’ve seen the Niners roster multiple undrafted free agents at linebacker during Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch’s tenure. Azeez Al-Shaair was one. Perhaps Blanton will serve as Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles’s (another UDFA) replacement.

The current linebackers are Fred Warner, rookie Nick Martin, Dee Winters, Luke Gifford, Tatum Bethune, Jalen Graham, and Curtis Robinson.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5/12/24428780/49ers-stone-blanton-fred-warner-udfa-azeez-al-shaair

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Report: 49ers host former 4th round wide receiver with 29 career touchdowns

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Gabe Davis spent one season in Jacksonville before spending 3 seasons in Buffalo. The veteran wideout is visiting the 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are hosting former Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis, per Fox Sports’s Jordan Schultz.

Davis was drafted with the 22nd pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of the University of Central Florida. Davis had at least 35 receptions in every season except 2024. Davis’s best season came in 2022 when he had 49 receptions for 836 yards and seven touchdowns. He followed that year with a 45-catch season for 746 yards and seven touchdowns.

Davis faced the 49ers once in his career, back in 2020. That game, some believe, led Kyle Shanahan to want a mobile quarterback. In that game, Davis caught three of his four targets for 68 yards and a touchdown.

Davis left Buffalo for Jacksonville, signing a three-year contract worth $39 million. Jacksonville released Davis after he suffered a season-ending injury. Jacksonville released Davis with a failed physical designation.

Davis tore his meniscus in his left knee in November. It was believed that he’d need six months to recover from the injury. Perhaps Davis is ahead of schedule, or the 49ers are keeping tabs on Davis. Despite his shortened season, Davis had a 20-yard reception in four of his ten games last season.

There will always be an appetite for a receiver capable of the big play. During Davis’s four year stint in Buffalo, he had 35 receptions of at least 20 air yards. That tied him for 13th in the NFL during that span.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5/12/24428889/49ers-gabe-davis-brandon-aiyuk-ricky-pearsall

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers waive safety to make room for an undrafted free agent from rookie minicamp

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The San Francisco 49ers today announced they have signed CB Derrick Canteen to a three-year deal. To make room for Canteen, the team waived S Quindell Johnson.

The San Francisco 49ers today announced they have signed defensive back Derrick Canteen to a three-year deal. To make room for Canteen, the team waived safety Quindell Johnson. It’s safe to assume that Canteen made an impression this past weekend during rookie minicamp.

Canteen was a redshirt senior who played one season at the University of Cincinnati. He started all 12 games in 2024 and recorded 44 tackles, three tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and one interception.

In 2023, Canteen started three games for Virginia Tech but played in all 13 games. Canteen spent three seasons at Georgia Southern, where he was a freshman All-American in 2020 and earned All-Sun Belt honors in 2020 as well as 2022.

This past season, Canteen played on every special teams unit. He played 535 defensive snaps, with most of those coming in the box. Canteen played 197 snaps in the slot and 265 in the box. He also played 63 snaps at free safety, with nine coming out wide at corner. So, he played all over the place.

At his Pro Day, Canteen measured 5-foot-11, 197 pounds. His vertical jump of 30.5 was uninspiring. It doesn’t say that he ran a 40, but one report had Canteen running a 4.54.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5...anteen-quindell-johnson-nfl-draft-free-agency

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: No international games? What a relief

Rob Schumacher-Imagn Images

Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Wednesday, May 14th, 2025

49ers avoid any massive road trips according to 2025 NFL schedule leaks

“None of those involve the 49ers despite a handful of opportunities for the NFL to send the club to one of its five out-of-country sites.”

49ers rumored to open the 2025 season on the road vs. Seahawks

“According to Mahler, head coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers will open the season with an NFC West showdown at Lumen Field against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, September 7.”

Stout ready to back up draft night promises for 49ers at nickel

“It’s a lot of work, a lot of film study,” Stout said. “But I feel that’s the best part about the nickel because you’re the most versatile player on the field. The receiver can go in any direction and you have to go with him, and you’re an extra hat in the run fits.

“I just feel like you always got to be on your P’s and Q’s. And always got to be on your A game. I feel that’s the best part about the nickel position.”

49ers make roster moves, sign cornerback and waive safety

“In 2024, Canteen made 12 starts and registered 44 tackles, five passes defensed, three tackles for loss, one interception, and one forced fumble. In 2023 at Virginia Tech, he appeared in 13 games (three starts) and notched 43 tackles, five passes defensed, two tackles for loss, and one interception. In 2022 at Georgia Southern, he appeared in 11 games (10 starts) and totaled 64 tackles, 12 passes defensed, two tackles for loss, and one interception. As a sophomore in 2021, Canteen started two games and tallied five tackles. In 2020, he started 13 games and registered 48 tackles, 10 passes defensed, six interceptions, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble. As a true freshman in 2019, he appeared in three games.”

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5...-opener-upton-stout-international-brock-purdy

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

The 49ers are benefitting from a last-place schedule

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

The official 2025 San Francisco 49ers schedule is out. We’ll walk through each game.

We’ve tracked each rumor about the San Francisco 49ers schedule that hit the internet today. Unlike last season, the 49ers face zero teams coming off a bye. They’ll also see six first or second-year quarterbacks. Plus, the East Coast trips with 10 a.m. starts are against the Saints and the Giants.

The official schedule is out, so let’s get into it.

Week 1: September 7 @ Seahawks - Sunday, September 7, 1:05 p.m. PT​

The San Francisco 49ers won’t have to travel far for their first road game. The Niners will face an old friend in Sam Darnold. Seattle is projected to regress in 2025. Darnold is a step back from Geno Smith, and the offense replaces DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett with Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Week 2: @ Saints - Sunday, September 14, 10:00 a.m. PT​

If you’re going to travel across the country early in the year, the week after playing a divisional rival, let it happen against a team without a quarterback. New Orleans has a new head coach and just lost their quarterback to retirement.

Robert Saleh will game-plan against second-rounder Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, or former Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener.

How could we forget about the Chase Young revenge game?

Week 3: vs. Cardinals - Sunday, September 21, 1:25 p.m. PT​

The 49ers have a soft home opener. They’ll travel back from New Orleans to take on a familiar opponent in the Arizona Cardinals — a team that swept San Francisco in 2024.

The 49ers owe the Cardinals some payback from last season. Arizona overachieved in 2025. They had a strong NFL Draft by adding Walter Nolen and Will Johnson, but the offense should regress. Can the 49ers contain Kyler Murray?

Week 4: vs. Jaguars - Sunday, September 28, 1:05 p.m. PT​

Back-to-back home games come here in Week 4, with the 49ers taking on Trevor Lawrence, Travis Hunter, and the Jaguars. Jacksonville could be a sneaky team to watch after a disappointing 2024 season now that they’re fully healthy.

Jacksonville has a tough three-game slate with Cincinnati, Houston, and now San Francisco. That could play in the Niners’ favor.

Week 5: at Rams - Thursday, October 2, 5:15 p.m. PT​

The first primetime matchup of the season comes against the reigning NFC West Champions. It's the same team that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat last season. (That’s not entirely true. The season could have gone a lot differently had Deebo Samuel caught the pass that hit him in the chest.)

The Rams are another team that bested the Niners in 2024. Los Angeles upgraded from Kupp by adding Davante Adams. Other than that, there were no game-changing additions. The Rams are banking on their young defensive line to grow up.

When Sean McVay is your coach, anything is possible. I wouldn’t count the Rams out or as a regression candidate. They’ll always be a handful for the Niners.

Week 6: at Buccaneers - Sunday, October 12 - 10:00 a.m. PT​

The Niners get extra rest to compensate for back-to-back road games, and this one is against Baker Mayfield and the Bucs. But it’ll be another early start on the east coast.

San Francisco has won the last four matchups in the series. Here, they’ll get one of the tougher matchups on their schedule in the first third of the season.

Week 7: vs. Falcons - Sunday, October 19th - 5:20 p.m. PT​

The NFL sure is confident about the Falcons this season. Either that, or they want to show off former first-round pick Michael Penix. Regardless, the 49ers get a favorable matchup against a team that did nothing to help Penix out this offseason. The Falcons drafted two defensive players in the first round, but you could argue that neither of those players proved they were first-round talents. This is a game San Francisco needs to win if they are hoping to make the playoffs.

Week 8: at Texans - Sunday, October 26 - 10:00 a.m. PT​

In the first of two road games, the 49ers find themselves against another playoff contender. DeMeco Ryans and one of the top defenses in the league will be a challenge. Not to mention, it’ll be one of the lone early-morning games this season.

But how will C.J. Stroud look in his third season? The 49ers are 5-1 all-time against the Texans and will look to keep their winning streak alive against Houston.

Week 9: at Giants - Sunday, November 2 - 10:00 a.m. PT​

If you’re going to fly across the country for an early start, let it happen against a team projected to be one of the worst in the NFL. The Giants had an eyebrow-raising offseason. They signed Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson but then drafted Jaxson Dart. Good luck with that!

Week 10: vs. Rams - Sunday, November 9 - 1:25 p.m. PT​

After initially meeting on primetime back in Week 5, the 49ers close out their season series with the Rams here in Week 10. Los Angeles has its bye week in Week 8 and then faces the New Orleans Saints at home before making the short trek to the Bay Area for Week 10.

The Niners need to win their division games. Getting one (or even both) from the Rams would help them push for the NFC West in 2025.

Week 11: at Cardinals - Sunday, November 16 - 1:05 p.m. PT​

Back-to-back division games come in Weeks 10 and 11 as the 49ers travel to Arizona for a matchup with the Cardinals next. Arizona also has its bye in Week 8. They then face Dallas and Seattle on the road before returning home versus the 49ers.

San Francisco was also swept by Arizona in the season series in 2024. That came after four straight wins for the 49ers over the previous two years. Which trend will prevail in 2025?

Week 12: vs. Panthers - Monday, November 24, 5:15 p.m. PT​

The third primetime game of the season is in Week 12 against Carolina, a team that was a bottom-seven team in the NFL in 2024.

The Panthers made some serious investments in the offseason but could still end up being one of the worst teams in the NFL in 2025. Coming off extra rest at Levi’s Stadium, this is a must-win for the 49ers in 2025.

Week 13: at Browns - Sunday, November 30, 10:00 a.m. PT​

The Browns were the story of the NFL Draft for all of the wrong reasons. At this point in the season, who knows who will be their quarterback? Another trip across a couple of time zones with an early start. Still, that is no excuse to drop a game. Not to the lowly Browns.

Week 14: BYE​

Week 15: vs. Titans - Sunday, December 14, 1:25 p.m. PT​

By now, we’ll know whether No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward is legit or not. You can’t lose to a rookie quarterback at home. Not if you’re a serious contender.

Week 16: at Colts - Monday, December 22 - 5:15 p.m. PT​

Will Anthony Richardson be the quarterback? Will it be Daniel Jones? Gus Bradley should know the Colts inside and out. It’ll be the second time in franchise history that the 49ers will face the Colts under the lights. It’s also the first time they’ll travel to Indy since Kyle Shanahan’s first season as a head coach.

Week 17: vs. Bears - Sunday, December 28 - 5:20 p.m. PT​

The 49ers get another crack at Caleb Williams. Things went swimmingly for them last year, but Ben Johnson is now running the show. The 49ers will play primetime games in back-to-back weeks for the first time since the 2022 season when they did it in Weeks 10 and 11.

Week 18: vs. Seahawks - January 3/4​

This game could be on a Saturday or Sunday, depending on how each season turns out for either team. The NFL is acting as if this game will have playoff ramifications. If the Niners are in a “win and you’re in” scenario, you can’t ask for a better situation for it to be at home against Sam Darnold.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5/14/24430464/49ers-schedule-2025-official

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Can you guess this 49ers tight end 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​

Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Monday, May 12, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

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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/2025/5/15/24430803/sb-nation-49ers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers have just 2 draft picks left to sign after making Mykel Williams official

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Mykel Williams has agreed to a 4-year deal with the 49ers

Draft pick signings have become much more of a formality in this era of slotted contracts in the NFL, and the 49ers are closing in on having their entire 2025 class signed after getting their most significant selection under contract.

The 49ers on Thursday made it official that they have signed 11th overall pick Mykel Williams to his rookie deal. According to Aaron Wilson and the rookie wage scale, Williams’s four-year deal is fully guaranteed. He’ll make $24.94 million, including a $14.78 million signing bonus.

Williams’ deal also includes a fifth-year option, as is the case with all first-round picks. The 49ers have taken up just one fifth-year option since doing so with Nick Bosa in 2019. Brandon Aiyuk had his fifth-year option picked up, but the 49ers declined the option on his fellow 2020 pick Javon Kinlaw, while Trey Lance was traded before that became an issue.

The goal for Williams will be to succeed where Kinlaw failed and eventually go on to earn a second contract. To do so, he’ll likely need some help from the two draft picks the 49ers have yet to sign.

Second-round pick Alfred Collins and fourth-rounder CJ West, in whom the 49ers are set to place significant faith as they rebuild the interior of the defensive line, remain unsigned.

It likely won’t be long before that changes. While rookie holdouts are largely a thing of the past, there can still be contract stand-offs with draft picks, which primarily relate to issues around offset language.

But, having avoided any such problems with Williams, the 49ers should have little problem getting Collins and West under contract before OTAs and minicamp.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5/15/24431154/49ers-mykel-williams-top-draft-pick-signed

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Schefter on the 49ers: ‘I’m just gonna warn you: This is a team that has a lot of holes right now’

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter isn’t buying the 49ers “easy” schedule.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter went through the schedule for all 32 teams to discuss intel he’s received. When it came to the San Francisco 49ers, Schefter believes the NFL did the Niners a favor, but he’s reluctant to crown Kyle Shanahan and company:

“Here’s the thing. They place the AFC South and NFC South and have a last-place schedule. Strength of schedule-wise, or weak of schedule-wise, may be the most favorable schedule in the National Football League. It is set up for the 49ers to win.

The league believes in the 49ers. They’ve scheduled them on primetime five times, even after a 6-11 season. So the NFL is saying, ‘The 49ers are going to be back’ after a 6-11 season.

And they might be, but I’m just going to warn you: this is a team that has got a lot of holes right now. We’ll see how this all shakes out, but they’ve got some holes to address, some needs to fill. I don’t know if this is going to be a 49ers team quite as good as teams that we’ve seen in recent years. They’ve lost a lot of talent. The league believes in them. The schedule is favorable. We’ll see how it shakes out.”

Nobody would argue whether the 49ers schedule is easy or not. When we went game-by-game to make predictions, it was a stretch to come away with five losses. The NFL never turns out the way you think it will. So it’s easy to say, “That’ll never happen!” in May despite seeing the most ridiculous things every year during the season.

Are the 49ers talented enough at the top of the roster to overcome the holes at the bottom? That’s what we’ll find out. The health of Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, and Brandon Aiyuk will go a long way in determining the ceiling of the offense. How quickly Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, and Nick Martin get up to speed, not to mention Malik Mustapha returning, will shape the defense.

It’s fair to point out the holes up and down the roster. As we head into the regular season, there are plenty of unknowns for the 49ers. It’s why predicting 12 wins still feels too high, even with that schedule. Still, the number of teams on the Niners schedule predicted to finish last or second to last in their division provides optimism for a team looking to return to the postseason.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5...le-adam-schefter-trent-williams-brandon-aiyuk

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers bring in competition for Jake Moody

Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images

The 49ers are signing Greg Joseph, an 8-year veteran, to a one-year deal.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team would bring in a veteran kicker after the NFL Draft to compete with Jake Moody. According to his agent, Brett Tessler, the 49ers are signing 8-year veteran Greg Joseph to a one-year deal.

Joseph, 30, spent time with the New York Giants last season and bounced around on a couple of teams during the latter half of the season. Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer knows what Joseph is capable of, as one of those teams was the New York Jets.

In 2024, Joseph made all 11 of his extra-point attempts and went 16-for-20 on his field goals, but he was only 5-for-8 from 40-49 yards and 1-for-2 from 50+ yards.

Joseph made 80 percent of his field goal attempts in 2023 with the Minnesota Vikings. However, he was 3-for-6 from 40-40 yards and 4-for-7 from 50+ yards. Joseph missed two of his 38 extra-point attempts.

And if we go back one previous season, where Joseph was also with the Vikings, his percentage drops to 78 on 33 attempts. That year, Joseph made seven of his eight attempts from 40-49 yards, missed six of his ten attempts from 50+ yards, and missed six of his 46 extra point attempts.

Unsurprisingly, the competition on the market isn’t top-tier at this point in the offseason. We’ll see if this ends up being an actual competition or if Moody is pushed at all, but we have our answer as to who the other kicker is to compete with Moody.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5/16/24431828/49ers-jake-moody-greg-joseph

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers scheduled for one Thursday Night game—but that can still change

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Five primetime games means there’s two more openings for flex purposes, Sunday Night, Thursday Night, or Monday Night

The last couple of years have been a depressing tradition in NFL scheduling: the San Francisco 49ers get the BOGO treatment on Thursday Night Football, as in the maximum of two games a year, while some teams get one or none. This year, that tradition might be broken.

Thanks to a 2023 rule change, the 49ers were “beneficiaries” of having two prime time games on Thursday Night in 2023 and 2024. Before the rule change, every team did the Thursday Night thing once a season, and you can ask the players why, given how dangerous it is.

So far, the 49ers haven’t been slapped with the BOGO treatment. They have just one Thursday Night game for now.

The 49ers currently have five primetime games. Some may say it’s because the league loves them—but it’s really about ratings and merchandise. Something their fan base delivers in spades. Regardless, a team's maximum number of primetime games in any given season is seven.

So that leaves two games the 49ers could get flexed into. That could be Monday, Sunday, or even Thursday Night, but the option is open.

There’s only one Thursday night game they could get pulled into because league rules prevent any team from playing more than two Thursday night games. Also, the league must give 28 days' notice to fans and teams about the change. Finally, flexing can only happen twice between Weeks 13 and 17. That means the 49ers could get flexed in from the following games (Note: Week 14 is their BYE and Week 16 is Monday Night Football against the Indianapolis Colts):

Week 13 at Cleveland Browns
Week 15 vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 17 vs. Chicago Bears

Amazon is the broadcaster of Thursday Night Football, so they’d have to approve the flex, but looking at those three matchups there, I’d say the 49ers’ odds of escaping a second Thursday Night Football game are pretty good.

Of course, the schedule is just paper for now. The Titans or Browns could surprise us—or more likely, Shedeur Sanders ends up starting for the Browns and Amazon wants in.

That still leaves two games the 49ers could be flexed into. One could be Week 18 against the Seattle Seahawks. This very scenario happened in 2019 to conclude the season. You know it as where Dre Greenlaw did his best Dan Bunz impression. But that’s asking the NFC West to be decided that late in the season, and I think we would all rather have that locked up. As far as the other ones, I’m left scratching my head on what it could be.

Here are the flex rules from NFL.com. What do you see the 49ers getting flexed into?

Flexible scheduling is in effect during the following windows (the “Flex Scheduling Windows”):

For Sunday Night Football, it may be used up to twice between Weeks 5-10, and any week during Weeks 11-17;

For Monday Night Football it may be used any week in Weeks 12-17;

For Thursday Night Football it may be used up to twice between Weeks 13-17.

During the Flex Scheduling Windows, the games initially scheduled for Sunday Night Football (on NBC), Monday Night Football (ESPN or ABC), and Thursday Night Football (on Prime Video) are tentatively scheduled and subject to change;

Only Sunday afternoon games (or those listed as TBD) are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, Monday night, or Thursday night, in which case the initially scheduled Sunday, Monday, or Thursday night game would be moved to Sunday afternoon;

Sunday afternoon games may also be moved between 1:00 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. or 4:25 p.m. ET.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5...thursday-night-game-but-that-can-still-change

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Ranking the 5 toughest games on the 49ers schedule

Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Let’s break down the team’s schedule for the 2025 season.

The San Francisco 49ers finally have their schedule revealed for the 2025 season, and it seems to be one of the easiest in the NFL on paper.

However, not always do schedules be what they appear, as there are always trap games and tough opponents mixed in over an 18-week period. So, let’s rank the five toughest games on the 49ers schedule for 2025.

No. 5: Week 10 vs. Los Angeles Rams​

At No. 5 is the second matchup between the 49ers and the Rams, which takes place at Levi’s Stadium in Week 10.

San Francisco has dominated the season series in years past, but Los Angeles took the sweep in 2024 and is the 49ers’ biggest threat to the NFC West title in 2025.

The 49ers have a late bye week, while the Rams will get their extra rest in Week 8. That could be a slight advantage to Los Angeles, but given that this one is a home game for the 49ers, it comes in at No. 5.

No. 4: Week 1 @ Seattle Seahawks​

Another division game comes in at No. 4, as the 49ers travel to Lumen Field to take on the Seahawks in Week 1. It’s the first time since 2010 that San Francisco will face Seattle in Week 1 at Lumen Field, which is always a tough environment to play in.

The Niners have won each of the past three matchups at Lumen, and they’ll face a Seahawks team with a new infrastructure, as they replaced Geno Smith with Sam Darnold and swapped wideouts D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett for Cooper Kupp.

Still, the 49ers seem to have the better roster on paper, so this comes in at No. 4.

No. 3: Week 17 vs. Chicago Bears​

Yes, it’s a home game. But, the Bears could be a sneaky team to watch this season after hiring Ben Johnson as their head coach and supplementing quarterback Caleb Williams with help on the offensive line, at wide receiver, and at tight end.

Defensively, the Bears are still one of the stronger teams, and they added talent along the defensive line in free agency. Not to mention, the 49ers will be coming off short rest, having a Monday night game against the Indianapolis Colts on the road the week before.

Injuries always come into play late in the season, although that can be said for both teams. So, this game comes in at No. 3.

No. 2: Week 5 vs. Los Angeles Rams​

The second spot on the list is a repeat, as it is the first game between the 49ers and the Rams this season. It’s also the first primetime game of the season for San Francisco, coming on a Thursday Night on the road against Los Angeles.

Now, San Francisco has generally fared well with fans traveling on the road, but facing the Rams is a tough challenge, and it comes after a game with the Jacksonville Jaguars at home in Week 4.

The Rams are arguably San Francisco’s toughest opponent in 2025, so it’s no surprise they’re high on the list here. But, they don’t get the top spot, which goes to...

No. 1: Week 8 @ Houston Texans​

A reunion with DeMeco Ryans comes in Week 8 on the road, smack in the middle of San Francisco’s schedule.

It’s a 10:00 a.m. Pacific start, which is generally unfavorable for West Coast teams, and the Texans are expected to be one of the better teams in the league this year.

They replaced Stefon Diggs with Christian Kirk via trade and Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel via the draft. And much of their defense is similar to last year’s unit. The key loss is Laremy Tunsil, who was traded to the Washington Commanders, and could be a big miss for Houston.

But, the Texans have a new offensive coordinator for quarterback C.J. Stroud, and a good team on both sides of the ball. They come in at No. 1 on the list.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5...e-2025-season-brock-purdy-christian-mccaffrey

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Can you guess this 49ers lineman 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​

Saturday, May 17, 2025
Friday, May 16, 2025
Thursday, May 15, 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/2025/5/18/24432540/sb-nation-49ers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Report: 49ers ‘very close’ to reaching extension with another star

Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

The Niners got Brock Purdy’s extension done this week. Now, it’s time for Fred Warner to get his.

The San Francisco 49ers are nearing an extension with star linebacker Fred Warner, according to NBC Sports’s Jennifer Lee Chan.

Warner, 28, is in the fourth year of a five-year, $95 million extension he signed back in 2021, and could now be in line for a record-breaking contract at the position.

“San Francisco appears to have learned from its past and desires a drama-free offseason, unlike 2024 where multiple players were absent from team headquarters while working through contract [negotiations],” Lee Chan wrote.

“Warner’s extension likely will make the All-Pro the highest-paid inside linebacker in the NFL while keeping the 2018 third-round draft pick in the Bay Area for the foreseeable future.”

The 49ers have been very proactive this offseason, signing tight end George Kittle to a four-year, $76.4 million extension last month that made him the highest-paid player at the position.

Then, they reached terms with quarterback Brock Purdy on a five-year, $265 million deal earlier this week, locking their franchise signal-caller in with the franchise until 2030. And they may not be done yet, with an impending Warner deal seemingly around the corner.

The change in timings for significant contract extensions has been notable this offseason. The 49ers have dragged out negotiations with stars late into offseasons in the past, with Brandon Aiyuk’s four-year, $120 million deal and Trent Williams’s three-year, $82.66 million deal being signed in late August and early September last year, respectively.

Hoping to have a full offseason program with their whole team, San Francisco’s direction has seemingly changed this year as they enter a crucial 2025 season, having missed the playoffs with a 6-11 record last year.

Warner has been one of the most productive linebackers since entering the NFL back in 2018. He played through an ankle fracture for much of the 2024 season, yet still earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, racking up 131 tackles, five tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions last year.

He is also one of the key leaders in the locker room on the defensive side of the ball, which will be important in 2025 as San Francisco lost several key starters, including Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd this offseason.

On Saturday, Warner noted how the early extensions for Kittle and Purdy have eliminated distractions for the team this offseason.

“I think it’s obviously worked out really well being able to knock those things out earlier,” Warner said, via Lee Chan. “Allowing us to focus just purely on ball and getting better as a team, so things are moving in the right direction.”

Now, he seems to be next in line for an extension, which could lock him up in San Francisco for the remainder of his career.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5...ng-extension-with-star-linebacker-fred-warner

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

The 49ers had one of the most experienced classes of the 2025 NFL Draft

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

PFF ranked every draft class by snaps played, and the 49ers were in the top 5.

The San Francisco 49ers drafted a 20-year-old in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but Mykel Williams is far from inexperienced.

John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan picked up where they left off from the 2024 NFL Draft by bringing in players with on-field playing experience who contributed at multiple positions for their respective teams.

Pro Football Focus ranked each draft class by snap counts to see which teams came away with the most experienced class. The 49ers came away with the fourth-most snaps with 21,753 — likely aided by the number of draft picks they had.

4. San Francisco 49ers: 21,753 snaps

The 49ers made 11 selections in the draft, with much of their haul coming on Day 2 and Day 3. They held three picks in the seventh round and added multiple players in both the fourth and fifth rounds, and that’s where most of their snap volume came from.

San Francisco’s top three picks — edge rusher Mykel Williams, interior defender Alfred Collins, and linebacker Nickolas Martin — each logged fewer than 2,000 college snaps. Williams, the No. 11 overall pick, earned a 78.4 grade in 2024 but never played more than 407 snaps in a season. He lined up either over the tackle (408 snaps) or outside the tackle (638 snaps), and his size and length could make him a candidate to see occasional work as a 3-4 defensive end.

Deeper into the draft, the experience level rose. Seventh-rounders Kurtis Rourke and Connor Colby brought a combined 5,563 college snaps to the roster. Colby, a guard from Iowa, logged 2,803 career snaps — primarily at right guard, though he also saw time at left guard and right tackle in 2022. He finished his college career with a 77.1 grade in 2024.

Williams played the second-fewest snaps but also played on a team loaded with NFL prospects. The same is true for Collins, who played behind a pair of defensive tackles who were drafted, including one in the first round.

I’m intrigued by Stout and Watkins's playing time. Will that experience help them step onto the field sooner? There’s an opening for Stout with Malik Mustapha’s injury.

CJ West played plenty of snaps throughout his collegiate career. He had six games last season where he played at least 40 snaps. That’s impressive for a 317-pounder. If West can maintain that kind of stamina, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to start early on as a rookie.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5...-classes-of-the-2025-nfl-draft-mykel-williams

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

The 49ers announced the 33rd inductee of the team’s Hall of Fame

Photo by Corey Silvia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The San Francisco 49ers and the York family today announced that TE Brent Jones will become the 33rd inductee into the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame.

The San Francisco 49ers and the York family announced that Brent Jones will become the 33rd inductee into the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame.

Jones issued a statement:

“Receiving the call from Jed (York) was incredibly emotional for me, something that I will remember forever,” said Jones. “It is truly the greatest honor of my life to be alongside the legends that comprise the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame, one of the greatest franchises in all of professional sports. I want to sincerely thank my coaches and the teammates who poured into me and allowed me to be successful on and off the field.”

Jones, a South Bay native who attended Santa Clara University, played 11 seasons for the 49ers from 19877-97. Back when they mattered, he made four Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls during his Niners career.

Jones was also a two-time second-team All-Pro (1993-1994). He’s third in franchise history in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns among tight ends. He’s also in the top 10 amlong all players in franchise history in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.

In 1998, Jones was the recipient of the 1998 Bart Starr Award, which is awarded annually to the NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership on the field and in the community.

Congrats to Brent on an honor well earned.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5/19/24433461/49ers-brent-jones-edward-bartolo-hall-of-fame

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Pushing back on a popular narrative about Brock Purdy

Photo by Bruce Yeung/Getty Images

Are all narratives rooted in reality?

All is quiet right now for the San Francisco 49ers. Fred Warner, George Kittle, and Brock Purdy are all here to stay, and the 49ers are rolling into their offseason activities with just about everyone in tow—a stark departure from last season’s offseason.

Purdy’s extension has a wide range of opinions from analysts and fans. Some would say it’s well deserved (I would say so), while others cling to a narrative about Purdy’s physical gifts and role in the offense. “Dink and dunk” or “captain checkdown” insults have been hurled at the former final overall pick in the NFL draft.

But are those claims true or uninformed?

Pro Football Focus crunched the numbers for quarterbacks who rely on checkdowns from 2024, and the results might shock some people.

With a minimum of 300 passing attempts, only Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears had a lower checkdown rate than Purdy. Of Purdy’s 428 attempts, only 31 were deemed as a checkdown for a 7.2 % checkdown rate.

Brock Purdy typically is not quick to check down, as he has consistently ranked in the bottom half of the league across his three-year career. However, he’s generated the third-best passer rating (99.6) in that span, fueled largely by his connection with Christian McCaffrey (92.2 three-year checkdown PFF receiving grade), who has been the recipient of 32 of his 86 checkdown targets.

McCaffrey’s presence gives Purdy an outlet to create plays when downfield targets are taken away. Many of McCaffrey’s targets aren’t “checkdowns,” but rather designed routes on a created mismatch against opposing defenses. With McCaffrey being out, that part of the 49ers’ offense wasn’t utilized, with Jordan Mason starting for much of the season.

While Purdy doesn’t push the ball downfield as other quarterbacks, he ranks seventh in the NFL for Adjusted Completion Percentage - the % of aimed passes thrown on target (completions + drops / aimed) with 46.9 percent.

The factors for the depth of targets are Purdy’s willingness to hit more throws outside of the intermediate range and the players available to him in 2024.

Some of the quarterbacks listed with the highest checkdown rates include Jordan Love, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Geno Smith. Funny how narratives work, right?

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5...rative-about-brock-purdy-checkdown-percentage

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Who could be extended next for the 49ers?

Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

The 49ers had three key extensions done in the past month. Is there anyone left to extend?

The San Francisco 49ers have had quite a busy last 30 days.

They put together an 11-man 2025 draft class, headlined by first-round pick Mykel Williams. They extended star tight end George Kittle on a record-setting four-year extension. They reached terms with quarterback Brock Purdy on a deal that will pay him $53 million annually. And they just extended Fred Warner, making him the highest-paid linebacker in the NFL.

It’s a different perspective than the one fans have been accustomed to over the past few offseasons. The 49ers have notoriously dragged contract talks out into training camp, prompting some of their stars to be disgruntled before finally reaching terms on extensions.

That’s not the case this offseason, as San Francisco quickly identified its priorities and now has all three of its stars locked and loaded for organized team activities (OTAs), which start next week.

But, a team laden with talent, like the 49ers, always has younger players looking for their next contracts. So, who could be extended next for San Francisco?

WR Jauan Jennings​

The obvious candidate remaining is slot wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who signed a two-year, $15.4 million extension last offseason. Entering the final year of his deal once again, Jennings could look for a bump in pay ahead of the 2025 season after blowing his career numbers through the roof in 2024.

Jennings caught 77 passes for 975 yards and six touchdowns last year, taking a step forward as the 49ers lost Brandon Aiyuk to a season-ending injury. He more than doubled his previous career-highs in catches and receiving yards, showing what he could do in a higher-volume role.

Now entering a contract year once again, the 49ers could look to re-ink Jennings on a multi-year deal entering his age-28 season. The slot wideout is a great fit in San Francisco’s offense and would provide the 49ers with a long-term trio of Jennings, Aiyuk, and 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall.

OT Colton McKivitz​

Some fans may be scratching their head here. McKivitz had trouble giving up sacks in 2024, but was still better than people think and would provide some stability in a position of need if extended.

It’s unclear how much longer the 49ers will have Trent Williams. They could lose him to retirement as early as next offseason. If they allow McKivitz to also hit free agency, that would leave them without either starting tackle next year heading into the offseason.

The price for tackles is also going up. We saw that this offseason when Dan Moore got four years and $82 million from the Tennessee Titans, while the Kansas City Chiefs signed San Francisco’s own Jaylon Moore to a three-year, $45 million deal.

McKivitz’s contract is relatively cheap right now. He could earn an extension to solidify one tackle spot for the near future as the 49ers search for another future tackle.

DE Yetur Gross-Matos​

There aren’t too many other extension candidates that are realistic for the 49ers, but a sneaky one could be Yetur Gross-Matos.

Gross-Matos wasn’t very productive in 2024, but is in the second year of a two-year, $18 million deal he signed last offseason. He currently has a cap hit of $9.5 million for the upcoming season and is only 27 years old.

For additional edge depth, the 49ers could extend Gross-Matos on a cheaper deal, giving them some flexibility for the future, while continuing to develop a player that fits well in San Francisco.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5...urdy-fred-warner-george-kittle-jauan-jennings

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

One outlet gives the 49ers a “D” for their offseason

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

The 49ers are being downgraded for the players they lost and their lack of acquisitions in free agency

The San Francisco 49ers have been widely praised for handling their offseason extensions and avoiding unnecessary drama. Although they lost several starters, those players were viewed as injury-prone or liabilities.

There has also been some pushback that some of the celebrating has been premature. Some of the arguments are fair, but it’s understandable why there’s optimism around the Niners.

According to Pro Football Network, the Niners' offseason was closer to a failure than a success:

San Francisco 49ers

Offseason Grade: D

Notable Additions: WR Demarcus Robinson, QB Mac Jones, TE Luke Farrell, CB Tre Brown, S Jason Pinnock, EDGE Mykel Williams, LB Nick Martin, DT C.J. West, DT Alfred Collins, WR Jordan Watkins, RB Jordan James

Notable Departures: WR Deebo Samuel Sr. (trade), RB Jordan Mason (trade), OT Jaylon Moore, G Aaron Banks, S Talanoa Hufanga, CB Charvarius Ward, LB Dre Greenlaw, DT Javon Hargrave, DT Maliek Collins, DE Leonard Floyd

The highlight of the San Francisco 49ers’ offseason is the long-awaited Brock Purdy contract extension. John Lynch and the front office awarded 2022’s Mr. Irrelevant with a new five-year, $265 million deal.

Locking up their quarterback long term was one of the few bright spots for San Francisco. The front office allowed a lot of veteran talent to leave through free agency and trades, including Deebo Samuel Sr., Charvarius Ward, and Dre Greenlaw. With so many holes to fill, the Niners didn’t come away from free agency with nearly enough, Tre Brown and Demarcus Robinson being the highlights.

The 49ers’ 2025 draft class had its highs and lows. Mykel Williams was a polarizing prospect as he possesses elite physical traits, but his college production didn’t match. C.J. West and Alfred Collins could help fill the void left by Maliek Collins and Javon Hargrave, but they’ll have their work cut out to improve a defense that ranked 28th in EPA per rush and 25th in run defense success rate.

San Francisco did bring back Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator, which could be a positive. Unfortunately, he won’t have the same level of talent across the board as when he was last there.

The Niners made it clear that their plan to improve this offseason was not by way of free agency. I’d argue their biggest “mistake” was not replacing Charvarius Ward, but good luck upgrading from an All-Pro caliber player at a premium position. San Francisco has high hopes for Renardo Green to take the jump in Year 2.

Kris Kocurek will earn his paycheck this year based on how many rookies he’ll have to coach up and get ready to play right away. Williams playing on a healthy ankle should go a long way. So should playing a position that allows him to be aggressive, as well as playing opposite Nick Bosa.

How would you grade the 49ers offseason?

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5/21/24434706/49ers-offseason-grades-draft-free-agency

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: The season has never felt so far away

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Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Thursday, May 22nd, 2025

49ers QB Brock Purdy addresses the media after signing mega-deal

“Here’s everything he had to say.”

Kawakami: Jed York is going all-in with Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch one more time (paywall)

“You can almost imagine York and his money people coming to a tacit understanding with Lynch and Shanahan at the start of this offseason. The 49ers obviously had a plan to dump a bunch of the veterans they believed were overpaid. But — so my theory goes — to get Shanahan and Lynch to sign off on the cuts, there might’ve been a promise to negotiate fairly and swiftly with the players who had earned new deals.

Nobody wanted a repeat of the prolonged Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams negotiations last summer or the Nick Bosa negotiations the year before that. So if this was all part of a plan to cut spending early in the offseason so they’d be freer and faster to spend later on … that’s very workable. The 49ers don’t have an elite roster in 2025, but they have a plan and a process.

Do the painful stuff early to clear the books, get money to the right players, avoid the stupid negotiating tricks, and give Shanahan and Lynch a full offseason and training camp to get the most out of this team. Which is how a mature leadership team leans on its own strengths and sets up another stage of this extremely extended era.”

49ers announce dates and times for 2025 preseason games

“The San Francisco 49ers have announced the finalized dates and times for their 2025 preseason schedule, which are listed below.”

Fred Warner’s extension reveals 49ers’ plan: A 2-year window to chase a Super Bowl (paywall)

“For now, Kittle and Warner are vital parts of what, thanks to an easy schedule, looks like a bounce-back season for the 49ers. They are the two undisputed leaders of each side of the roster thanks to the respect earned from hard practices and game-breaking plays on Sundays.

Both held up through a very trying 2024 season, with Warner playing the last 13 games with a fractured ankle. Last year’s offseason drama, with holdouts by Williams and Aiyuk, was followed by injury after injury, but neither Kittle nor Warner considered sitting out as the 49ers went 1-7 down the stretch. They loved football too much, and also didn’t feel comfortable with the notion of pushing teammates in practice and then opting out just because the team was depleted and losing games.

In many ways, last year may have been necessary for the 49ers to identify which players they wanted to reward and which ones they wanted to find younger models of. In addition to Kittle and Warner, Purdy stood up pretty well despite injuries to McCaffrey, both backup running backs, Williams, multiple guards, Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.”

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5...-preseason-schedule-games-offseason-nfl-draft