Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Friday, September 20th, 2024
How Purdy, 49ers’ offense benefit from SoFi fan takeover vs. Rams
“I feel it’s huge,” Purdy said of San Francisco’s fan advantage in Los Angeles. “For example, like last week going into Minnesota with the environment it was, our operation, our cadence and everything is completely different in how we rep it at practice. So, to be able to go down there and have our Niner fans show up, and be able to use our verbal cadence and stuff, it’s huge for us.
“We’re obviously ready for any situation if we do have to go on silent, but more than anything we’re proud to be playing for the Niners. The Faithful show up and have our back’s, especially down in L.A. So, we’re excited for that, and it’s nice going down there and being able to hear each other and communicate — it’s a big part of the game.”
Brock Purdy, Nick Sorensen, Chris Foerster preview 49ers-Rams Week 3 matchup
“San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, offensive line/run game coordinator Chris Foerster, and quarterback Brock Purdy spoke to reporters after Thursday’s practice as the team prepares for its Week 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Here’s everything they shared.”
Silver: Should 49ers’ Brock Purdy be expected to shoulder the burden for banged-up team? (paywall)
“In the meantime, as the Niners prepare for Sunday’s showdown with the injury-ravaged Rams at SoFi Stadium (aka Levi’s South), the absolute worst thing Purdy could do would be to overextend; to force things; to try to do too much.
Remember when Russell Wilson got MVP fever and started playing hero ball for the Seahawks in 2020? Though it’s not the entire reason, Wilson’s career has been on a downward trajectory ever since.
Purdy’s is shooting up like NVIDIA stock, and his ability to exercise restraint is a big reason why. Different star quarterbacks have different superpowers. He may not make spectacular, athletically amazing plays like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, but Purdy — via ultra-quick processing, hyper-accurate and touch-laced passes and smart decision-making — stands out in his own way.
This means that the burden of Christian McCaffrey’s stint on injured reserve and Deebo Samuel’s debilitating calf injury falls on Shanahan, who’ll have to adjust his gameplan and play-calling strategies to account for the absence of two of the NFL’s most versatile and potent playmakers.
Purdy’s job remains the same: Receive those plays and execute them at the highest level, regardless of who else is on the field.”
Think the 49ers are shorthanded? Take a look at the winless L.A. Rams (paywall)
“On Sunday, QB Matthew Stafford’s top targets will include who’s-he wideouts Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell, none of whom has had more than 48 catches in a season. And Stafford will be protected by a front five that includes center Beaux Limmer and left guard Logan Bruss. Limmer is a rookie sixth-round pick and Bruss, a 2022 third-round pick, has not played a regular-season snap in his career.”
49ers’ George Kittle, Charvarius Ward miss practice; status iffy
“They will end up being questionable I’m sure,” coach Kyle Shanahan told KNBR radio in San Francisco on Thursday. “They had good practices yesterday. They complained of some soreness after practice and they came in this morning with it, so we weren’t going to put them out there today and have them get real hurt.
“Hopefully they come in tomorrow and can get some work in. Definitely hoping those guys can be available on Sunday but, if not, gotta go to the next guys up.”