The 49ers are moving through injury issues in the receiving room, but Kyle Shanahan made it clear he likes what he’s seen from Jordan Watkins.
Shanahan said Watkins has earned trust over his first three games, and he stressed that the evaluation goes well beyond the box score. “We’ve been really happy with how he’s played in these games,” Shanahan said, via Niners Wire.
“I think he’s earned a lot of respect in these three games and with us, it doesn’t have to do with the stats. I know he’s had two catches and stuff in his first game, and those are two really good plays, but because he hasn’t had any in the other two games doesn’t really mean much to us.”
He expanded on that point by crediting the way Watkins has handled the job in every area asked of him. “If the ball’s supposed to go to him, he’s supposed to do his job and we expect him to come through with that, but he’s done his job in all these plays.
He’s blocked well, he’s run good routes, he’s gotten open. We’ve been really happy with how he’s stepped up in these few games.”
Another 49ers wideout, Mike Evans, explained why he decided to leave Tampa Bay for San Francisco this offseason. “This team rejuvenated me and probably added a few more years to my career… They had everything I needed and checked every box.
They’re trying to win now. The quarterback, great skill players, great defense, great coaching staff, and lastly, a great organization.”
(Rick Stroud)
In Arizona, defensive coordinator Nick Rallis was under pressure as the Cardinals stumbled to a 1-4 start, but the defense answered in a big way during the team’s 18-16 upset of the Rams in Week 6. Cardinals safety Budda Baker pointed directly to Rallis as a major reason the unit was ready for the moment.
“He had a great defensive plan,” Cardinals S Budda Baker said via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “Throughout the week, he told us, how he saw things, how he was going to call it.
And that’s exactly how he called it. So shout-out to Nick.
And whether he had some conversations with [head coach Mike] LaFleur or not, I think he definitely did a great job of the game plan. And we just tried to execute it.
So shout-out Nick. Shout-out defensive coaches on the plan this week.”
In Seattle, Mike Macdonald pushed back on the idea that the Seahawks are considering a quarterback change amid questions about Sam Darnold’s play in 2026. Macdonald said the team still believes in him and sees him as part of the answer.
“I think we have a lot of faith in Sam,” Macdonald said, via ESPN. “Sam’s played great football for us.
He’s done a lot of great things this year but obviously turned the ball over more than we want to. I feel like there’s things on our end that can help him play better football, and I think he’s definitely part of the solution rather than the opposite.”
In Other News...
Chad Ryland Had One Unexpected Spark In Cardinals Win Over Rams
The Cardinals latest win over the Rams had plenty of late-game tension, but Chad Ryland ended up as the difference-maker in a game that was too tight for comfort. Arizona had to claw back from a late deficit, and Ryland kept the offense moving with a flawless night on field goals, giving the Cardinals a reliable edge in a game that tilted on every possession.
What made the performance stand out was how unusual it was even by NFL standards. Ryland joined rare company by becoming just the 10th kicker in league history to hit six field goals in a single game, and he also climbed into fourth place in Cardinals history for most points by one player in a game. For a team that has already seen enough volatility this season, it was the kind of steady special-teams outing that can change the feel of an entire week. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face Serious Off-Field Fight Over Damaging Workplace Allegations
The off-field scrutiny around the Cardinals took another turn this week as the organization continued to deal with a lawsuit brought by two former employees, Don Shumpert and Kendra Hogue, who accuse the team and owner Michael Bidwill of racial discrimination, improper pay and other workplace problems. The Cardinals have denied the allegations, but the claims add another layer of distraction for a franchise that has spent plenty of time trying to keep attention on football.
A federal judge has now said the discrimination portions of the case cannot move through open court, instead sending those claims into binding arbitration under agreements the employees signed. The ruling does not make the dispute disappear, and it leaves the larger fight over the workplace allegations in a different forum, with the public getting only a limited view of how this one will play out. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Growing Dilemma As Trade Deadline Nears
With the trade deadline drawing closer, Arizona is entering a stretch that could say a lot about how aggressively it wants to approach the rest of the season. The Cardinals are 2-4 heading into Week 7, and the conversation around the team is already branching in a few directions, from the quarterback picture to a defense that has had its share of uneven moments. Add in questions about player availability and recent game results, and it is easy to see why the front office is being pulled between patience and urgency.
The schedule offers Arizona a chance to keep itself in the mix, with several opponents ahead that look manageable on paper. But the bigger tension is whether the Cardinals stay put or start weighing the market for help, especially with speculation already building around some roster pieces and their value around the league. For now there are no official moves, only the kind of uncertainty that tends to hang over a team when wins have not come easily and the deadline is starting to loom. [Read more 🡒]