Tag: 49ers news

Kyle Shanahan optimistic about breakout RB’s return in Week 17 vs. Lions

Isaac Guerendo is on track to return in Week 17.

The injury updates from San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday weren’t all bad.

Shanahan in a conference call the day after his team was eliminated from the postseason told reporters rookie running back Isaac Guerendo is trending toward a return in Week 17 after missing Week 16 because of a hamstring injury.

That Guerendo was able to avoid a major injury is a good sign for him long-term. It also gives the 49ers’ run game a chance to get going against the Detroit Lions when they visit Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 30 for Monday Night Football.

Guerendo battled through a foot injury to play in the 49ers’ Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but he emerged from that game with a hamstring issue that forced him out of Sunday’s game in Miami.

Without Guerendo the 49ers run game struggled. Quarterback Brock Purdy was the team’s leading rusher with 26 yards on four carries. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel added 25 yards on five attempts. Starting RB Patrick Taylor contributed 24 yards on eight carries.

Even though Monday’s game won’t affect the 49ers’ chances to extend their season, the reps will be good for Guerendo who has looked promising in his extended time this year. In four games with double-digit rushing attempts he’s averaged 5.8 yards per carry.

With injuries piling up in the backfield this year, depth at running back needs to be a priority for San Francisco in the offseason. Guerendo’s continued emergence is a positive sign that he’ll be able to contribute next year in either a limited or extended role. He’ll need to finish out the year strong though to give himself a chance to be RB2 behind Christian McCaffrey going into 2025.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

 

49ers injury updates are bad news for offensive line and Dre Greenlaw

The injuries continue piling up…

The San Francisco 49ers’ offensive line is struggling, and those struggles aren’t going to get any easier after a trio of injuries cropped up in the team’s Week 16 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday in a conference call with reporters said reserve offensive tackle Jaylon Moore and left guard Aaron Banks both suffered season-ending injuries Sunday.

Moore went down with a quad injury in the third quarter while pass blocking. Banks left the game early in the fourth quarter after he was rolled up on during a run up the middle by running back Patrick Taylor. Shanahan said he has an MCL injury that will cost him the final two games.

Those injuries are the most significant for now, but reserve OL Spencer Burford is also working through a calf injury. As of Monday afternoon Shanahan didn’t have an update on Burford whose MRI results hadn’t come back.

Even if Burford isn’t out, Moore going down means the 49ers will be on their third-string left tackle. It doesn’t get any better at left guard where backup Ben Bartch is already out for the year with a high ankle sprain. At minimum the 49ers will be on their third-string left guard.

However, Burford is their third-string left guard and their third-string left tackle. If he’s in, he’ll likely play left tackle which means San Francisco will be down to their fourth-string left guard for the final two games. If Burford can’t go because of the calf injury, it’ll be a fifth-string left guard and fourth-string left tackle.

Shanahan also indicated linebacker Dre Greenlaw could be done for the season after experiencing soreness in his right calf. Greenlaw tore his left Achilles in the Super Bowl in February and made his season debut in Week 15. MRI results also hadn’t returned for him, but Shanahan said his gut told him Greenlaw would likely be shut down for the year. That decision wouldn’t come until after the head coach had gotten a chance to talk with the pending free agent.

It looks for now like second-year LB Dee Winters would be Greenlaw’s replacement, but Winters is day-to-day with a chest injury after Sunday’s game.

Safety Ji’Ayir Brown is also day-to-day with an ankle issue.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

 

 

Former 49ers team captain thinks OL needs major overhaul

Richard Sherman didn’t mince words on the 49ers’ OL.

It’s not surprising that former San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman was unafraid to offer his blunt analysis of his former team’s problems.

In an episode of the Richard Sherman Podcast following the 49ers’ 29-17 defeat to the Miami Dolphins, Sherman dished out a scathing analysis of an offensive line that allowed three sacks and left quarterback Brock Purdy under pressure most of Sunday’s game.

“That offensive line needs to be the number one, number two and number three priority this offseason,” Sherman said. “If you’re gonna pay this quarterback all the money you’re gonna have to pay him, you want to keep him upright so he can be the playmaker that he has been. This year he’s been under a lot more duress, he’s been using his legs more, he’s had to leave the pocket more often than not – it hasn’t been great, and without Trent (Williams) it’s looked even worse.

“You need a right tackle. No ifs, ands or buts, no discussion, no nothing – a right tackle. You need to figure out a center maybe in the second round. There’s plenty of them in the Big 10 somewhere to find him. Maybe one in the SEC. Then maybe find a guard in free agency. It looks like you have one in Puni. Put a competition out there at left guard. And I know you can’t just draft them one, two, three, four, five, six – but that’s what I would do. We’re gonna hit on one of ’em.”

Typically the 49ers haven’t prioritized their offensive line, opting instead to invest in playmakers while piecing together an offensive front. It wouldn’t be a surprise if we saw a shift in that philosophy given some of the struggles from that group in 2024.

They likely won’t follow Sherman’s advice and draft six OL, but they should snag a few to try and find a starter while also improving some of their overall depth. If they continue trying to shortcut an offensive line, they may continue having the same issues with their offense getting shut down by even mediocre defensive lines.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Cowboys wild win over Buccaneers moves 49ers up 2025 NFL draft order

Sunday wasn’t all bad for the 49ers…

Week 16 wasn’t good for the San Francisco 49ers.

They were officially eliminated from the playoffs before their game against the Miami Dolphins even kicked off, and then they faceplanted against the Dolphins in an ugly 29-17 defeat.

On the other hand, with all eyes officially turned toward the 2025 season, we can immerse ourselves fully in the race for the best draft picks. In that regard, Sunday couldn’t have gone much better for San Francisco.

They entered the week holding on to the No. 15 overall pick, behind a slew of other 6-8 teams thanks to the strength of schedule tiebreaker that gave them the worst pick of those 6-8 clubs.

However, the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts both won their games Sunday morning. Then the Dolphins beat the 49ers to move the 49ers further up the draft board.

Then the Dallas Cowboys swung an upset Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a wild game where the Cowboys nearly smoked a nine-point lead with less than three minutes to go.

By defeating Tampa Bay 26-24, the Cowboys became the fourth of five 6-8 teams to win, moving the 49ers all the way up to No. 11 in the 2025 NFL draft, just behind the 5-9 New Orleans Saints who face the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football.

Here’s the updated draft order through Sunday night with projected full-season strength of schedule as the tiebreaker.

2025 NFL draft order

1. New York Giants (2-13)
2. New England Patriots (3-12)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)
4. Tennessee Titans (3-12)
5. Cleveland Browns (3-12)
6. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)
7. Carolina Panthers (4-11)
8. New York Jets (4-11)
9. Chicago Bears (4-11)
10. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
11. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
12. Miami Dolphins (7-8)
13. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)
14. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)
15. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)
16. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
17. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers Week 16 inactives show they’re not quitting on 2024 season

Week 16 inactives!

It would be difficult to blame the San Francisco 49ers if they shut down some of their injured veterans in the final three games of what is all but guaranteed to be a lost season.

Alas, their Week 16 inactives show they’re not ready to punt the 2024 campaign just yet.

With linebacker Dre Greenlaw and defensive end Nick Bosa both listed as ‘questionable’ on the injury report, it would’ve been easy to have both players down with an eye toward the 2025 season. Both star defenders are in the lineup though after not being listed with the team’s Week 16 inactives.

Here’s who won’t suit up Sunday:

QB Joshua Dobbs (third QB)
LT Trent Williams (ankle)
RB Isaac Guerendo (hamstring)
TE Jake Tonges
DL Khalil Davis
CB Rock Ya-Sin
DL Robert Beal Jr. (ankle)

Beal is the only real surprise since he was listed as questionable after an ankle injury cropped up during the week. Defensive lineman Alex Barrett was elevated from the practice squad in part of the 49ers’ Saturday roster moves. He’ll likely replace Beal in the DL rotation.

It’s unclear what Greenlaw’s role will be in his second game since returning from an Achilles tear in the Super Bowl. He played the first half against the Los Angeles Rams in his Week 15 debut, but exited with fatigue issues and soreness. He was limited in practice throughout the week, listed with knee and Achilles ailments.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers combat injuries with roster moves ahead of Week 16

The 49ers made a bunch of roster moves before Week 16.

The San Francisco 49ers on Saturday made a slew of roster moves leading up to their Week 16 matchup with the Miami Dolphins.

They promoted two practice squad players to the active roster with offensive lineman Austen Pleasants and linebacker Jalen Graham both getting called up.

Graham will fill out LB depth with De’Vondre Campbell’s suspension, while Pleasants gives them more bodies on the offensive line after injuries to Trent Williams and Ben Bartch.

Pleasants was added to the practice squad early in Week 16 and quickly got promoted. The 27-year-old offensive tackle has played in two games during his NFL career.

To clear the necessary roster spot, the 49ers waived OL Sebastian Gutierrez.

They also elevated two players from the practice squad who will revert to the practice roster after Sunday’s game. Running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn will help fill out the backfield. Vaughn has worked in as the backup behind Patrick Taylor who is in line to start with RB Isaac Guerendo listed as out for Sunday.

Defensive lineman Alex Barrett will help out a banged up defensive front that has both DEs Nick Bosa and Robert Beal listed as questionable.

The 49ers and Dolphins are slated to kick off at 1:25pm Pacific Time from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Will Isaac Guerendo play this week? Injury updates for 49ers RB

49ers running back Isaac Guerendo is dealing with a hamstring injury. Here are the latest updates.

The San Francisco 49ers can’t catch a break in their offensive backfield.

It started in training camp when running back Christian McCaffrey was shut down with what turned out to be Achilles tendinitis. RB Elijah Mitchell was also placed on season-ending IR in August with a hamstring issue.

RB Jordan Mason filled in admirably to start the year, but he was hit with a shoulder injury in Week 6 that he battled until McCaffrey’s return in Week 10. McCaffrey and Mason were both hurt in a Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills, which pushed rookie fourth-round pick RB Isaac Guerendo into the starting role.

Guerendo hurt his foot in Week 14, but played in Week 15 where he sustained a hamstring injury.

Isaac Guerendo injury update

Guerendo has been ruled out for Week 16 against the Miami Dolphins. He dealt with a hamstring injury in training camp that cost him most of camp and the first two preseason games. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated early in the week that Guerendo was a longshot to play. After not practicing all week he was listed as ‘out’ on the official injury report.

How long will Isaac Guerendo be out?

It’s unclear how long Guerendo’s absence will be. He showed promise in the reps he get as the 49ers’ primary RB, but the coaching staff will likely want to see more in-game opportunities for him in his rookie season. That doesn’t mean they’ll rush him into action, though. With three games left and nothing on the line there’s no real reason to risk a longer-term injury that may impact him into 2025.

49ers RB depth chart

Shanahan on Friday said veteran RB Patrick Taylor would ‘most likely’ get the starting role in Miami. Behind him on the active roster is Israel Abanikanda. Ke’Shawn Vaughn is on the practice squad and could be either elevated or promoted Saturday. If Vaughn is promoted to the active roster it would come with a corresponding move to clear a roster spot.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

What to expect from ‘likely’ new 49ers starting RB

It’ll be a 4th different starting RB for the 49ers on Sunday.

The San Francisco 49ers will roll out a fourth different starting running back Sunday when they visit the Miami Dolphins.

Rookie fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo had been pushed into the starting role when RBs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason both suffered injuries in a Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Now Guerendo is dealing with a hamstring injury that forced him out of the 49ers’ Week 16 game in Miami.

With the rookie also on the sideline, the 49ers are ‘most likely’ turning to fourth-year veteran Patrick Taylor according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Shanahan on Friday told reporters Taylor’s experience with the club and his performance as a special teams contributor earned him the starting job.

“Yeah. He’s been here since training camp,” Shanahan said. “He’s done a real good job for us, played in this league before, has experience there at Green Bay and when he’s gotten his opportunities with us he’s ran the ball well. And when he hasn’t run the ball, he’s really helped us on special teams. So, big opportunity for him and glad we’ve got him.”

Taylor was on the active roster to begin the year while McCaffrey worked through an Achilles injury. He became expendable once McCaffrey returned and the 49ers released him before re-signing him to their practice squad.

This season Taylor has played in 10 games and notched 50 rushing yards and one touchdown on 14 carries. He might eclipse those season totals Sunday with unreliable depth behind him.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn will likely be up from the practice squad, but he’s primarily been a special teams contributor and has two separate practice squad stints after spending part of the preseason with San Francisco.

Israel Abanikanda is also on the roster after the 49ers claimed him off waivers from the Jets. He’s only been with the team three weeks and hasn’t been able to get on the field.

While the 49ers may rotate in other RBs more than they would have with a player higher on the depth chart starting, chances are Taylor will see a lion’s share of the rushing and receiving workload with a chance to eclipse his season totals in one game.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

 

Kyle Shanahan explains how he’ll reinvent 49ers offense in offseason

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan won’t make major changes to his offense, but their will be some.

The San Francisco 49ers need to do something different offensively.

Last season they were one of the best outfits in the NFL. This season they’ve sputtered on that side of the ball. Injuries certainly played a role, but it doesn’t appear that whatever the 49ers have been doing offensively can work without players like Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk available and playing at a high level.

Those struggles, including 10 points in each of Week 12 and 13, followed by a six-point performance in Week 15, have led to questions about the viability of Shanahan’s offense as presently constructed. Shanahan said any adaptations to his offense will be based on what’s best for the team’s personnel.

“That’s what you try to do every single week,” Shanahan said. “That’s what you try to always do. But it’s kind of like the other question when talking about schemes, you don’t just say, ‘Hey, today I’m going to try to run the wishbone offense and stuff.’ It’s what are the players that you have, what do you believe in and what gives those guys the best chance to succeed? For a little bit here, we almost went with the running quarterback, possibly with [Dallas Cowboys QB] Trey [Lance]. You saw a different offense when he got out there.

“You see different things. You’ve got to adjust your players. I know what I want to do. I think we’ve got the players here to do that stuff. But reinventing yourself as you ask, I did that having a mustache this offseason for a little bit. That’s how I would look at that. And I’m totally joking, but it’s when it comes to football, football’s, that’s why I think coaches get a little too much credit too when a really good scheme is putting the players that you have in the best chance they have to max out and do their best. That’s what we’re gonna always try to do. The scheme will change with that.”

It stands to reason in 2025 we’ll see less reliance on McCaffrey given the team’s issues scoring in the red zone without him this season. There’s also likely to be an adjustment to a version of Samuel that hasn’t been able to take over games via screen passes and designed runs.

Whatever changes need to be made on offense for the 49ers, adapting isn’t something new to Shanahan.

“When I got in the league, you see certain things and I ran a certain offense at Houston when I was there, went to Washington, tried to do a real similar offense and it was totally different personnel and I realized I couldn’t run that same thing and I had to adjust and each year was different,” Shanahan said. “Then we got [Washington Commanders former QB] Robert [Griffin III] in there, which was a quarterback who had a running element, then I had to do stuff that I’d never done before. Not because you’re just reinventing yourself or trying to change the league because you’re trying to figure out what can help the guys that you have be successful. And that can change all the time depending on the player’s skillset.

“But, I’d say as a coach that if you want to make it in this league and you want to have some success in this league you better be able to adjust to anything or you’re only going to be successful when you have the perfect situations.”

How Shanahan tweaks his offense to whatever his personnel is after the offseason will be the greatest factor in determining whether the 49ers are able to open another Super Bowl window.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers TE George Kittle has huge chance to bolster Hall of Fame resume

The Pro Football Hall of Fame could come calling for San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle one day.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle isn’t a shoo-in for the Pro Football Hall of Fame as his eighth NFL season comes to a close.

However, a strong finish to the 2024 campaign would help Kittle refine a career resumé that has him on track to wind up in Canton once he hangs up his pads.

Entering Week 16, Kittle needs only 45 receiving yards to eclipse New England Patriots legend and future Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski for the second-most receiving yards all time for a tight end in his first eight seasons. Kittle has 7,135 receiving yards as the 49ers journey to Miami for their Week 16 bout. Gronkowski posted 7,179 in his first eight years. Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce is first on the list with a whopping 7,881 receiving yards.

It’s not just the first eight years that have been impressive for Kittle, however. He’s also moving up the all-time NFL ranks among tight ends in career marks.

He’s on pace to finish 2024 with 1,077 receiving yards, giving him 7,351 for his career. That would put him at No. 12 all-time in receiving yards among tight ends with a real chance to enter the top-10 in the 2025 season.

Kittle is also No. 17 in receptions – which is where he’s on pace to finish the season. He needs just one touchdown in the final three contests to take sole possession of No. 13 all-time in receiving TDs by a tight end.

The biggest key for Kittle’s Hall of Fame candidacy will be longevity. After a dip in production from 2020 through 2022, he’s had a career revitalization with quarterback Brock Purdy under center and suddenly he looks like a player who could maintain high-end production for the foreseeable future.

If Kittle can finish 2024 strong and put together another season or two of the elite production we’ve seen over the last two seasons, he would have a strong case to cap his career with a gold jacket.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]