Update: Emmanuel Sanders, DJ Jones ruled out vs. Seahawks

The 49ers can’t escape the injury bug Monday night.

The 49ers got bad news on the injury front. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and defensive tackle DJ Jones were both ruled out early in the second half Monday night.

Sanders left early in the second quarter with a rib injury after two catches for 24 yards. Jones left around the same time with a groin injury. He notched a sack before exiting.

They were both ruled questionable at first. Now they’re done for the game.

Center Weston Richburg was dealing with a hand injury and also ruled as questionable to return. He’s back in to start the second half.

Stephen Curry addresses media, says he ‘expects’ to return this season

Let the countdown to Stephen Curry’s return to action begin.

Prior to the Warriors tipping off against the Utah Jazz on Monday night, Stephen Curry removed any doubt as to whether he believes he will be returning this season when he was made available to reporters at Chase Center.

“I definitely expect to be ready to play,” he was quoted as saying by ESPN’s Nick Friedell.

It was the first time Curry has spoken publicly since he underwent surgery to repair the fracture in his fourth metacarpal in his left hand. Contrary to a previous report, Curry let it be known that he expects to return this season. He even went as far as to say that he is “excited” that he won’t miss the remainder of the season.

In all likelihood, that means he received a positive prognosis from the team’s medical staff.

Without question, Curry’s presence and his public comments were taken as good news in and around San Francisco. The Warriors have sputtered out the gate to the tune of a 2-8 start, but with Draymond Green, D’Angelo Russell and him missing in action at various points during the early season, the Dubs have found some productivity in some of the team’s younger players, including Eric Paschall, Alec Burks and Ky Bowman.

Immediately following Curry’s surgical procedure, the Warriors announced that he would be reevaluated in three months. The announcement came on November 1, meaning that we should receive a medical update on him in February.

At that point, it’s likely Curry could return to action for Golden State, though where they are in the standings at that point could play a role in there being any sort of urgency (or not) for him to return.

Either way, the positive news for Golden State is that Curry fully intends on returning to action this season. Fortunately, he cleared up any misconceptions personally.

Wyoming Cowboys fall to Boise State, 20-17

The defense was there for Wyoming but they did not have it all to defeat Boise State.

Broncos Top Cowboys In Overtime

Wyoming came close but didn’t make enough plays to finish on top

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In a game that was much closer than Vegas predicted, the Cowboys turned the matchup against the favored Broncos into more of a parking lot brawl. Despite trailing for much of the game, Boise State did just enough to steal the game late.

Tyler Vander Waal is going to be fine

In his first start of the season, the sophomore went 15-23 for 160 yards. It was a performance that was good enough for Wyoming to leave Boise with the W. On Wyoming’s final drive of the game, Vander Waal led the Pokes on a 10 play, 5-minute drive to get the team near scoring position before a failed 4th down conversion gave Boise State one final chance. Should he be able to replicate and possibly improve on his performance in the final 3 weeks, the Cowboys still have a shot at a 10-win season.

Where are the playmakers?

Xazavian Valladay provided a hard-earned 124 rushing yards on 37 attempts and TE Josh Harshman added a solid 6 receptions for 48 yards but WR’s Austin Conway and Rocket Ismail Jr. only combined to add 4 catches for 57 yards. Conway had a nice punt return early in the game that led to a score and Ismail Jr. had an 18-yard reception on a nifty run after the catch but it’s hard to explain the lack of touches they get from week to week. It would be great to see them get more opportunities to make plays especially with the running back depth essentially down to one man.  It’s hard watching the Cowboys crash Valladay into a wall 37 times when Conway and Rocket Jr. have shown how explosive they can be in the open field. 

The Defense Was Phenomenal

Aside from the opening drive of the game when Boise State opened up the playbook and threw everything at them, they completely dominated the game. The defensive line owned the line of scrimmage and Logan Wilson had one of the better games he’s had this season with 10 tackles, a sack, and a game-saving INT at the end of the 4th quarter. While the Broncos were also starting a backup quarterback, they have more weapons than any team left on the Cowboys schedule.

The Chambers injury seemed to slow the bandwagon that has grown with the team this season but the Pokes showed that they have the formula to compete regardless of who suits up and who they line up against. Utah State, Colorado State, and Air Force have challenges that Wyoming will need to overcome but there is no reason to think that the Cowboys won’t be up to the task.

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Vikings secondary needs to improve in final 6 games 

The Vikings seem to have finally gotten their signature win, but there is a critical part of Mike Zimmer’s defense that needs to improve. 

The Minnesota Vikings are coming off of their biggest win in the last two seasons, after beating the Dallas Cowboys 28-24 on Sunday Night Football. The Vikings seem to have finally gotten their signature win, but there is a critical part of Mike Zimmer’s defense that needs to improve. 

When Zimmer took over the coaching duties for the Vikings in 2014, the expectations for the defense were high. Since he took over, his defense has delivered and consistently been a top 10 unit in both points allowed per game and rushing yards allowed. Although the Vikings defense is on pace for both categories to be top 10 once again in 2019, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

The Vikings secondary is a unit with a ton of draft capital invested into it. Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Mike Hughes and Harrison Smith were all drafted in the first round.

Smith has been the rock to the Vikings defense since he was drafted in 2012, and is still the key piece in Zimmer’s defense. However, the argument can be made that the best play in the secondary thus far has come from an undrafted free agent in Anthony Harris.

The safety position has been fairly solid all around in 2019, including some strong performances from seventh rounder in Jayron Kearse.  

The position with the most draft investment on the Vikings roster has instead been one of its biggest issues. When Zimmer arrived in Minnesota, he was of course known for his great defensive mind. But he was also known for being a whisperer of the cornerback position. 

If the Vikings want to have a chance at making the playoffs and making a legitimate run, the play of the cornerbacks is going to have to improve. 

Against the Dak Prescott and the Cowboys, the defense allowed nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns through the air. The defense was without Waynes, but with their depth in the secondary, there is no room for excuses. 

Hughes had his hands full with Amari Cooper, who had 11 catches for nearly 150 yards and a touchdown. Granted a lot of Cooper’s catches were miraculous with some elite toe drags, it doesn’t change the fact that he was the second receiver in two weeks to scorch the Vikings corners. 

With so much draft stock invested in the cornerbacks room and a head coach who prides himself on grooming cornerbacks, the Vikings secondary has to be better. Rhodes has regressed drastically since his stellar season in 2017, and if it continues the Vikings have to begin to utilize Hughes and Holton Hill more frequently. 

In the final six games the secondary will get their chance to turn things around. The Vikings still have to face names like Davante Adams, Keenen Allen, Tyler Lockett, Kenny Golladay and more within the next two months. 

With so much talent at the wide receiver position today in the NFL, the Vikings secondary needs to get back on track. 

This upcoming Sunday the secondary gets their chance to do exactly that. This coming Sunday, the Vikings are back at U.S. Bank Stadium where they take on a Broncos team that ranks 28th in pass yards per game. 

Report: Gordon Hayward out for six weeks after hand surgery

Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward’s absence can only be mitigated by a team-wide effort.

Per an official announcement from the Boston Celtics, forward Gordon Hayward underwent a successful surgery to repair a fourth metacarpal fracture in his left hand and will be out for approximately six weeks. With that timeline, the earliest he should be expected back is Dec. 25 against the Toronto Raptors.

Hayward sustained the injury on Nov. 9 against the San Antonio Spurs, leaving the game late in the second quarter.

In Hayward’s absence, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens has a myriad of options he can use to replace the all-around skillset that the veteran possessed but knows that it’ll be difficult to replace his savvy.

Against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, Boston started the fiery Marcus Smart and decided to play rookie guard Javonte Green off the bench to help mitigate the loss of Hayward’s slashing ability.

49ers vs. Seahawks: 3 things that stood out in the 2nd quarter

One mistake from Jimmy Garoppolo turned the tide of the game and the 49ers hold onto a three point lead at the half. 

The final three minutes of the first half featured several swings, and when the dust settled the 49ers lead 10-7 at intermission. Seattle took momentum with a scoop-and-score from Jadeveon Clowney on a Jimmy Garoppolo fumble that provided the only scoring for the Seahawks. Seattle looked to take the lead, but a huge strip from Jaquiski Tartt ended that hope.

It’s a one-possession game with 30 minutes left. Here’s what stood out in the second quarter:

Warner’s first sack is a big one

Seattle’s offense was threatening to score for the first time with a third-and-4 inside 49ers territory when Fred Warner collected the first sack of his career. Mike Iupati left a hole wide open for Warner to not just bring up a fourth down, but knock Seattle out of field goal range.

Garoppolo’s athletic throw and Bourne’s moves lead to a first down

The 49ers faced a third-and-8 at their own 29-yard-line when Jadeveon Clowney wasted little time getting past Joe Staley to Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo quickly got rid of the ball to Kendrick Bourne four yards short of the marker, but Bourne made a few moves and got the first down to continue the drive. The series would only last three more plays until the 49ers had to punt.

Tartt’s takeaway changes tide

The Seahawks had all the momentum following a defensive touchdown and were driving the ball late in the quarter. Wilson hit DK Metcalfm who turned up field and powered through several would-be tacklers until Jaquiski Tartt stripped the ball prior forcing the turnover at the two-yard-line. The drive ended Seattle’s late push to take the lead before the half, and may have given the 49ers the momentum back.