A couple of weeks into the 2026 season, the 49ers already have a few storylines that are starting to harden into real truths. The loudest one centers on Brock Purdy, who is still somehow flying a little under the radar even while putting together an MVP-level start.
That’s the same overreaction as last week, but it keeps getting harder to ignore. Purdy finished the 2025 season strong and has picked up right where he left off.
Through two games, he’s completed 80% of his passes and thrown five touchdowns against one interception. That’s the kind of production that puts him squarely in the MVP conversation, even if it hasn’t become a common talking point yet.
The receiving group is another area that suddenly looks shakier than it did in the preseason. San Francisco came into the year feeling deeper than ever at wideout, but the injuries have started to pile up.
Christian Kirk went down first, then De’Zhaun Stribling. In Week 2, Mike Evans and Demarcus Robinson both left the game, and head coach Kyle Shanahan said he did not think either would be serious.
Even so, the concern is obvious. Evans and Robinson are both older veterans, and both have had past issues.
Deebo Samuel also isn’t exactly in the semblance of staying healthy, while the youngest wide receiver on the roster, Jordan Watkins, isn’t seeing the field. That could make this room look old in a hurry.
There’s also a growing question at tight end. If the 49ers are going to keep leaning on the run and playing from ahead so often, they’re going to use their second tight end, and Luke Farrell has been on the field a lot.
He’s logged 74 snaps in two games, but his PFF grade sits at 54.7, which is even worse than last season. Grades don’t tell the whole story, but Farrell hasn’t been giving them much back for that kind of usage.
That leads to the obvious next question: can they find a way to add someone into the mix?
The same kind of thinking may apply on the defensive line. That group could use a new face before long.
Gracen Halton has moved into a starting role and has played well, but the fourth-round rookie is strongest against the pass and is already taking on more work than expected. James Thompson, a rookie UDFA, has shown it at times, and C.J.
West has been a disappointment. This room needs an upgrade.
And then there’s Nick Bosa, who still hasn’t recorded a sack but is affecting games anyway. The tape shows plenty of disruption. He had five pressures and was exploding off the line to get into the backfield.
He looks to be in great shape, and if he stays healthy, the sacks should come in bunches.
In Other News...
49ers Rookies Gave Kyle Shanahan A Reason To Feel Better Fast
The 49ers got an encouraging look from their rookie class in the win over Miami, and it came in a game where San Francisco needed some younger players to help steady the depth chart. Romello Height and Gracen Halton both started on defense and were active right away, with Height turning in a sack and Halton adding tackles, including one for loss, while Kaelon Black chipped in on offense with 25 yards on seven carries.
It was the kind of outing that can make Kyle Shanahan and his staff feel better about the groups early progress, especially with other rookies like Jaden Dugger and James Thompson Jr. also getting on the field. Thompsons departure because of injury was the one sour note, but the broader takeaway was clear: the 49ers got useful snaps and real production from first-year players in a game they controlled. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Rolled Again But One Home Opener Concern Wont Go Away
The 49ers kept rolling at Levis Stadium with a convincing 35-13 win over the Dolphins, and Brock Purdy again looked fully in command of the offense. He completed 20 of 22 passes for 287 yards with two touchdowns and a 149.1 passer rating, while the supporting cast around him continued to look deep and dangerous. George Kittle, Mike Evans and Christian McCaffrey all had key roles in a game that pushed San Francisco to 2-0 and reinforced why this group has looked so sharp right out of the gate.
Still, even a dominant home opener does not erase every concern, and the one lingering issue around this team remains impossible to ignore after another strong showing. The 49ers are getting the kind of efficient quarterback play and playmaking they wanted, but the bigger question is whether everything holding this start together can stay intact as the schedule tightens and the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Bosa Just Gave The 49ers Defense A New Question
Nick Bosas return in the 49ers win over the Dolphins was the kind of development San Francisco had been waiting to see in a real game, not just on a practice field. In his first home appearance since recovering from an ACL injury, Bosa was active in the moments that matter most for this defense, showing up on tackles, helping stuff the run and getting a quarterback hit as the 49ers rolled to a 35-13 victory.
The bigger issue now is less about whether Bosa is back and more about what his presence does to everything around him. San Franciscos defense finished with four sacks and tightened against the run in the second half, which is the sort of complementary performance that can change the feel of a game fast. With Bosa reinserted into the front, the 49ers have to figure out just how disruptive this group can become once it settles in. [Read more 🡒]