The 49ers caught a small break when the New York Giants knocked off the Arizona Cardinals, but the rest of Week 4 did San Francisco no favors in the NFC West race.
The biggest missed opportunity came from the Philadelphia Eagles, who had a chance late to leave the Los Angeles Rams sitting at 1-3. That would have looked unthinkable only a few months ago, after most pundits tagged Sean McVay’s team as a major Super Bowl favorite. Instead, the Rams rallied from a 10-point second-half hole and pulled out a 24-20 win to stay squarely in the mix in the NFC West.
The Los Angeles Chargers also failed to help the 49ers’ cause, falling 30-23 to the Hawks as they dropped to 0-4. The Hawks moved to 3-1 with the win.
For San Francisco, that means the division picture still has the 49ers in front at 4-0, with Seattle right behind at 3-1. The Rams sit at 2-2, and the Cardinals are 1-3.
That’s not a disaster for the Niners, but it does leave a little less breathing room than they might have wanted heading into Week 5. Their road trip to the Pacific Northwest to face Seattle was already going to matter. With a chance to stack another division win - San Francisco already owns victories over the Rams and Cardinals - it would have been even better if the 49ers had been able to put more daylight between themselves and the rest of the NFC West.
In Other News...
49ers Got The Kyle Juszczyk Injury News They Desperately Needed
Kyle Juszczyks knee injury looked far worse in the moment, but the 49ers avoided the kind of outcome that can reshape a season. The Pro Bowl fullback was hurt against the Broncos and later learned the MRI showed no ligament damage, easing fears around a play that had plenty of people bracing for a longer absence.
Juszczyk is still expected to miss two to three weeks after suffering a hyperextended knee, capsule sprain and minor bone bruise, which likely rules him out for the Seahawks game. Even so, the door is open for a return before the end of October, a useful bit of news for a San Francisco offense that leans on his versatility and physical presence in the run game and around the goal line. [Read more 🡒]
John Lynch Could Have One More Aggressive Move In Mind
The 49ers have been surviving the kind of stretch that tends to test a rosters depth as much as its talent, stacking wins even while dealing with injuries that have complicated the week-to-week picture. That kind of success can make a front office hesitate, but it can also sharpen the sense that the current group is close enough to justify a little more help before the season gets much deeper.
With the November 10 trade deadline looming, John Lynch could still have one aggressive move left to make if he decides the run should be supported rather than merely managed. The names tied to that conversation point in a few different directions, from defensive tackle Daron Payne to wide receiver Quentin Johnston to edge rushers Za'Darius Smith and Khalil Mack, which says plenty about the range of ways San Francisco could try to bolster itself without waiting for the market to come to it. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Injury Report Brings Early Concern And One Intriguing Possibility
The first Week 5 practice brought an early dose of concern for San Francisco, with five players sitting out as the 49ers started preparing for Seattle. Nick Bosa, James Thompson, Kyle Juszczyk, Marques Sigle, and Upton Stout were all absent, while Mykel Williams, Mike Evans and Kaelon Black took part on a limited basis as the team tried to sort through an injury list that already had some familiar names on it.
Williams is the most intriguing piece of the group, since a return to the field could be on the table after he worked his way back from injury. Coach Kyle Shanahan also said Stout is day-to-day with a shoulder issue, which at least gives the 49ers some reason to keep a close eye on the week rather than assume the early absences will define it. [Read more 🡒]