The 49ers are heading toward their season opener against the Rams in Melbourne with a whole lot more baggage than wins on the board, even though the record still says 0-0.
San Francisco’s camp has been hit hard by injuries, and the list keeps growing. Ricky Pearsall is done for the year because of his lingering PCL injury.
Mike Evans has been in and out of practice, and a new injury was reported today. Nick Bosa hasn’t practiced since Aug.
- Mykel Williams is not expected to be ready for Week 1, while Kittle is expected to be, which could be deemed irresponsible.
Christian Kirk, Jacob Cowing and Upton Stout are also dealing with injuries.
The biggest concern is the receiver room. With Pearsall out and Evans bouncing in and out, the 49ers are suddenly looking very thin at wideout. Their current go-to options are rookie Dizhuan Scribbling and Deebo Samuel, who was signed on July 25.
Off the field, the problems have hardly stopped. Brandon Aiyuk’s social media presence has been a distraction all offseason, including his infamous incident when he sped past Levi’s in December of last season.
The charge came in June, when he was issued a misdemeanor. He still has not applied for reinstatement, which means his contract remains frozen and he is not earning a salary even though the 49ers still hold his contractual rights.
Kyle Shanahan also found himself in the middle of a mess before camp even really got rolling. He was in a car crash right before training camp started and was limited early on because of injuries and a concussion.
Shanahan later said he was at fault, after the initial police report had pointed to the other victim. The crash had been kept quiet for a while before the details surfaced.
Then came the latest hit to the organization’s image: owner Jed York was arrested this past weekend in East Palestine, Ohio. He pleaded no contest to two charges, one on suspicion of engaging in prostitution, later changed to disorderly conduct, and another for possession of criminal tools.
There is still a belief that Shanahan’s culture can keep this group afloat, especially when Brock Purdy is healthy. So far this camp, Purdy has a clean bill of health, which is at least something for San Francisco to hang onto.
Even so, the 49ers feel like they are starting the year two touchdowns behind, and they’ll need to climb another steep hill if they want to get where they want to go.
In Other News...
49ers May Have Just Caught A Break In Week 1 Prep
The Rams Week 1 prep has taken on an extra layer of uncertainty, and it could matter right away for San Francisco. Puka Nacua is dealing with a groin injury while also facing the possibility of a suspension tied to a civil lawsuit, leaving Los Angeles to sort through its receiving options as the opener against the 49ers approaches.
For San Francisco, the safest approach is to assume Nacua will be out there until proven otherwise, even if the picture remains unsettled. The Rams added Tutu Atwell to help deepen the receiver room after his stint with the Dolphins, but the real question for the 49ers is whether they get the full version of a familiar NFC West threat or an opener tilted by circumstance. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Got One Reassuring Sign On A Sloppy Night
Mac Jones opened the evening running the 49ers offense for the first two drives against the Raiders, and the results were mixed from the start. There was a missed connection in the passing game, but there were also aggressive downfield attempts that hinted at how the offense wants to attack when the passing rhythm sharpens. On a night with plenty of preseason unevenness, the cleanest, most encouraging work came from the specialists and a few young defenders trying to carve out roles.
Eddy Pineiro was the steadying force, drilling multiple long field goals and finishing a perfect 6-for-6 on the night. Around him, the rookies on both sides of the ball had their moments, with several defensive players showing flashes even as missed tackles showed up too often, while rookie running backs Kaelon Black and Jordan James were reminded there is still plenty to clean up. For a 49ers team sorting through depth and roster battles, Pineiros consistency stood out as the rare thing that did not need much explanation. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Roster Battle Just Put One Big Cut Decision Under Pressure
The preseason meeting with the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium gave the 49ers a low-scoring dress rehearsal built around defense and depth, with most of San Franciscos starters sitting out. In that kind of game, the margins matter even more, and the 49ers still found ways to make it interesting with multiple field goals from Eddy Pieiro and encouraging moments from players trying to carve out roles, including Jordan James and Adrian Martinez.
What stood out most, though, was how the game fed into a bigger roster conversation still hanging over the final cutdown period. San Franciscos coaching staff and front office are weighing how to handle the quarterback room, and the choice of whether to carry three quarterbacks has only become more pointed after a night when the backup and developmental spots were on display as much as the scoreless stretches. [Read more 🡒]