The 49ers have survived the opening month without a blemish, but the road ahead looks a whole lot rougher.
San Francisco sits in Week 5 as one of the NFL’s unbeaten teams, and the first four games already asked plenty of this group. The 49ers opened with a win over the Super Bowl-favorite Los Angeles Rams, then added a Week 4 victory over the formidable Denver Broncos, all while dealing with injuries that could have derailed lesser teams. Instead, they’re still standing.
Now comes the stretch that should tell us more about what this team really is.
It starts with a trip to Lumen Field in Week 5 to face the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks. These teams haven’t seen each other since Seattle knocked San Francisco out of the playoffs in the divisional round last season, a result that came after the Seahawks beat the 49ers in Week 18 to lock up the No. 1 seed.
Seattle is still dangerous, but it’s not untouchable. The Washington Commanders showed that much, and the Seahawks’ ground game is dealing with issues after Kenneth Walker left in free agency and his replacement landed on injured reserve. If the 49ers want to leave Seattle with a win, taking advantage of that run-game weakness is a must.
From there, San Francisco turns to Washington. The Commanders have been hit by quarterback injuries, though Jayden Daniels is expected to be back by then.
Their pass defense has been a problem, which puts the spotlight on Brock Purdy and the accuracy he’s shown. That’s the path for the 49ers there.
Then comes a long trip to Atlanta, where the 49ers will face Michael Penix Jr. and Kevin Stefanski's offense. The Falcons are 2-2 for now, but that record could shift with games coming against the Baltimore Ravens and the Chicago Bears, both missing their star quarterback.
Atlanta also flashed on Monday Night Football in Week 4, leaning on its running backs to get the job done. Even so, San Francisco’s run defense is much stronger than New Orleans’, which means the Falcons may need to find another answer if they want to keep up.
After the Week 8 bye, the 49ers come back to face the Las Vegas Raiders, and that game looks every bit like a pivotal one in the middle of the schedule. Las Vegas has made a huge leap from last season, winning its first three games before falling in Week 4 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Kirk Cousins has been playing as well as he ever has, and the Raiders have real impact players in Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty.
That’s a tough draw coming out of a bye, even if San Francisco gets the advantage of being rested. The Raiders’ turnaround is real, and the 49ers will need their best to handle it.
The opening month proved San Francisco can keep winning through injuries and setbacks. The next month could be a much harsher test.
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 🡒]