The 49ers didn’t put together a spotless performance against the Arizona Cardinals, but they did enough to win, and a few players came out of Week 3 with their stock climbing fast. Injuries opened the door for some unexpected contributors, and several veterans answered when San Francisco needed them.
Jordan Watkins is the clearest example. He sat inactive for the first two weeks, but the 49ers had to turn to him because of the injuries at the position.
Watkins was on the field for only 15 snaps, yet he turned that limited work into 60 yards. That kind of production fits what he’s already flashed in a tiny sample: as a rookie, he averaged 1.73 yards per route run.
He has barely been used, but when the ball comes his way, he makes something happen. With Mike Evans banged up, the 49ers should try to start Watkins.
Christian McCaffrey also gave the offense the kind of steady lift it needed. The 49ers have been careful with his rushing load, making room for rookie Kaelon Black, but McCaffrey still delivered in a bigger way on the ground in Week 3.
He handled a season-high 15 carries and turned them into a season-high 75 yards. And when it was time to help close the game, San Francisco had no hesitation leaning on its star.
On defense, White was asked to take on a bigger role after the Nick Bosa injury, and he delivered a sack while lining up over the guard and tackle. The overall defensive performance was shaky in Week 3, but White helped the 49ers get enough stops to escape with the win.
Fred Warner was everywhere. If the defense manages to finish anywhere near average this season, he belongs in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation.
His Week 3 line was eye-opening: seven run stops, with constant pressure in the backfield at key moments. Without Warner, the defense would be one of the worst in the NFL.
The injuries up front also created an opening for Sebastian Valdez. The 49ers were already missing Alfred Collins, CJ West, and James Thompson, which led to Valdez being elevated from the practice squad.
Then rookie Gracen Halton went down with cramps, and Valdez was pushed into a career-high 31 snaps. That was second among interior linemen, behind starter Osa Odighizuwa, and he handled the expanded workload well.
With the line still banged up, another sizable role could be waiting for him in Week 4.
In Other News...
Fred Warner May Have Created A Rivalry Problem For The 49ers
Fred Warners postgame comments after the 49ers close win over the Arizona Cardinals added a little edge to a division race that already has plenty of it. The veteran linebacker said the earlier meetings were not true NFL ball because starters were sitting out in the fourth quarter, a remark that was really about the competitive feel of those games rather than a direct shot at anyone in particular.
Even so, the line has a way of landing differently when a division rival is involved, especially with the Los Angeles Rams dealing with their own adversity this season. If the Rams take it as a slight, Warner may have given them a little extra fuel, and the 49ers will find out soon enough whether a passing comment turns into something bigger on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Tyreek Hill Is Back On The Radar For Banged-Up 49ers
Tyreek Hill is back in the conversation after posting on social media that he is close to returning to work, a notable update for a receiver still working back from a severe knee injury. Around the league, that kind of message tends to spark instant speculation, and it lands especially hard for the 49ers, who have been hit by a string of wide receiver injuries this season.
San Franciscos need at the position has only grown with the recent rib injury to Mike Evans adding to the teams already banged-up receiving group. Hill has naturally become a name to watch, but for now the interest remains just that, with no official contact or deal reported as the 49ers and other teams monitor his recovery. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Purdy's Hot Start Is About To Face A Different Test
Brock Purdys early-season surge has drawn plenty of notice around the league, with Dan Orlovsky and Pat McAfee both publicly praising the 49ers quarterback and putting him in the early MVP conversation. The numbers have backed up the buzz, as Purdy has been near the top of the league in completion rate, touchdowns and touchdown-to-interception ratio while guiding San Francisco through a fast start.
The next step in evaluating just how real this run is may come this week, when the 49ers face the Broncos. Some of Purdys early opponents have not exactly presented elite defenses, so Denver offers a different kind of measuring stick for San Franciscos offense and its quarterback, who will be asked to keep the same rhythm against a sturdier test. [Read more 🡒]