The 49ers kept rolling in Week 6, outlasting the Washington Commanders 23-17 to move to 6-0, and a handful of players left the game with their stock clearly on the rise.
Christian McCaffrey looked far closer to the vintage version of himself. He still wasn’t overused, but his influence in the passing game made this feel like one of those classic McCaffrey outings.
He caught nine passes for 53 yards, both season highs, and added 64 rushing yards on the ground while averaging four yards per carry. The offense ran through him in Week 6.
Bosa, too, was a problem for Washington’s offense in ways that showed up all over the field - and Williams was even more active and dynamic after being eased back the previous week. He recorded his first sack of the season and the second of his career, pressured the quarterback consistently and had a key deflection wiped out by a penalty.
Even with that play erased, the step forward was obvious. If he keeps trending this way, the defensive line has a real chance to improve.
Brock Purdy kept doing what he’s done all season: finding ways to win. With Mike Evans leaving the game injured and the 49ers already down Ricky Pearsall, De’Zhaun Stribling, Christian Kirk and Demarcus Robinson, Purdy still moved the ball and produced.
He finished 20-for-28 passing with one touchdown and no interceptions, and he added 28 rushing yards. Nights like this only strengthen his MVP case.
S Ji’Ayir Brown Mustapha has now started the last two games, and he may not be giving that job back. He was a difference-maker in the win, stuffing a run on third down on the final drive before following it with a strong pass breakup on fourth down. He plays with force and has a knack for showing up exactly where he needs to be.
D’Vondre Campbell Dugger had been starting at SAM linebacker, but with Dre Greenlaw and Garrett Wallow out, the 49ers leaned on the rookie as an every-down linebacker alongside Fred Warner. He delivered seven tackles, including four run stops, and also got pressure. Greenlaw should be back next week, but the 49ers have to feel good about Dugger’s ability to slide into that role again down the line.
In Other News...
Kyle Juszczyk Just Reignited A Ugly 49ers Controversy
A fresh layer was added to an old 49ers grievance after Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson got tossed in Week 6 for spitting on Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. The incident immediately brought back memories in San Francisco, where Kyle Juszczyk said Gardner-Johnson had done the same to him in a game last season, a claim that had already helped fuel some hard feelings around the league.
Gardner-Johnson pushed back on the accusation, but the latest ejection only gave the story new life for 49ers fans who remember how it played out the first time. With one ugly moment already on the record, the lingering question is less about the punishment Gardner-Johnson just received and more about what comes next for a controversy that clearly was never fully put to rest. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face A Costly Linebacker Test At The Worst Time
A linebacker room already under pressure now has one more wrinkle to sort out, and it comes at a bad time for San Francisco. Dre Greenlaw will miss the next game after his Week 5 ejection for headbutting an opponent, leaving the 49ers to adjust defensively as they prepare for Washington.
The immediate answer appears to be rookie Jaden Dugger, who is expected to step into Greenlaws role for the matchup with the Commanders. For a defense that leans on Greenlaws presence and experience, the timing makes this more than a simple depth-chart shuffle, especially with the appeal process having already run its course. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Could Face One Sneaky Problem On Monday Night
The 49ers are set to host the Washington Commanders on Monday night at Levis Stadium, and the setup looks more like a late-fall Bay Area evening than a weather worry. Temperatures are expected to dip into the upper 50s by kickoff, with stadium gates opening in the afternoon for fans making their way in for prime-time football.
Still, there is one small element that could matter once the game gets going. The forecast calls for minimal rain, but the wind could become the more noticeable factor as the night wears on, and that can have an impact on both the passing game and any decisions that reach into field-goal range. [Read more 🡒]