The 49ers are hearing good things early about rookie tackle Enrique Cruz, and the buzz around him has been steady since they took him in the fifth round with the idea of letting him develop behind Trent Williams.
That’s a big ask for any rookie, especially one coming off the board on Day 3, but the early returns have been encouraging. San Francisco assistant head coach Chris Foerster said Cruz has already made a strong impression around the building.
“Enrique’s been a real plus,” 49ers assistant HC Chris Foerster said via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. “Everybody in the building’s pleased with him.
People come up out of nowhere from all over the building and say, ‘Gosh, that Enrique’s doing a really nice job.’ He’s really professional, really working on it.
He has a learning curve, like all the young guys do. He’s got a long way to go, but he’s done all the right things to this point.”
Right tackle Colton McKivitz echoed that sentiment, pointing to Cruz’s raw tools while noting the adjustment still ahead of him.
“He’s got great feet and hands,” 49ers RT Colton McKivitz added. “He’s gonna have to learn a little bit - our scheme and how he fits in with that. But the talent he has is (apparent).”
In Arizona, first-round running back Jeremiyah Love remains sidelined with a high ankle sprain, though Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said the injury is moving in the right direction. Love still won’t practice or play this week.
LaFleur also addressed third-round quarterback Carson Beck, saying Beck is still TBD for Friday’s preseason finale. Even so, Beck did have a good throwing session last week.
The Cardinals are also managing a couple of other short-term injury situations. Safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson has “a little bit of a rib issue,” while punter Blake Gillikan will not punt this week. LaFleur said there are no long-term concerns with either player.
Meanwhile in Seattle, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already looking past last season’s success and toward becoming an even better version of himself in 2026. That’s no small target for a receiver who just helped bring home a Super Bowl championship.
“We want to create a new story with this upcoming season,” Smith-Njigba said, via the Associated Press. “And because it’s different, we do have different guys, we got different people in the building, so it’s going to be a unique story and a unique challenge - different from last year. So, we’re excited to take it on.”
Smith-Njigba said he wants his game to show even more layers next season.
“I want y’all to see different levels, almost a different player out there, and just kind of an upgraded version,” Smith-Njigba added. “I always say I can get better in all areas.
I love new stuff and new perspectives. As a player, it’s your chance to grow.
And for me, I feel like whatever the coach asks, I can do it. And so it’s kind of cool just having a different mindset, a different coach.”
In Other News...
Cardinals Just Sent A Clear Message About Kyler Murrays Protection
The Cardinals took another step toward stabilizing the middle of their offensive line by locking up Hjalte Froholdt on a two-year extension that keeps him under contract through 2028. Since arriving in Arizona in 2023, Froholdt has been exactly what teams want from a center: dependable, durable and available every week, starting all 51 regular season games across his first three seasons with the club.
For a team trying to keep Kyler Murray upright and the offense on schedule, that kind of consistency matters. Froholdts role only grew in 2025, when he served as a team captain, and the extension signals the Cardinals view him as more than just a steady starter in the middle. It also leaves the rest of the line with a clearer anchor as Arizona continues building around its quarterback. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Offensive Direction
The Cardinals quietly made a pretty clear commitment to stability up front by locking in center Hjalte Froholdt on a two-year, $20 million extension. Froholdt has been one of the steadier pieces on the roster since arriving in Arizona, starting all 51 games he has played for the team and giving the offense a familiar anchor in the middle.
For a team trying to settle into a new direction under first-year head coach Mike LaFleur, that matters. Froholdt said he is excited to keep playing in Arizona and had praise for LaFleurs offensive approach, which suggests the Cardinals are not just paying for a reliable veteran, but also doubling down on the kind of line continuity that can help a changing offense take root. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Week 1 Backfield Problem
James Conners recovery is moving in the right direction, but the Cardinals still do not have a clean answer for Week 1. Mike LaFleur said the veteran back is progressing, yet stopped short of saying Conner will be ready for the opener, leaving Arizona to monitor one of the most important spots on the roster as the regular season approaches.
Jeremiyah Loves preseason high ankle sprain only adds to the uncertainty, and it leaves the backfield depth looking thinner than the Cardinals probably expected a few weeks ago. Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight are now in position to shoulder more of the workload if needed, which makes the coming days around Conners status feel especially important for a team trying to settle its rotation before the opener. [Read more 🡒]