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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