Tag: San Francisco

Around the NFC West: 49ers to rely on rookie RB

Around the NFC West: 49ers to rely on rookie RB

The San Francisco 49ers are falling behind the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West. Losers of three consecutive contests, it was Seattle’s thrilling Week 11 defeat that sent Kyle Shanahan’s squad on their current winless streak. The 49ers are a last-place 5-7, and suffered a massive blow in Sunday’s embarrassing defeat to the Buffalo Bills.

Superstar running back Christian McCaffrey suffered a potentially season-ending PCL injury. Jordan Mason, who’d done an admirable job filling in for McCaffrey earlier this season, also went down with a high ankle sprain that’s already landed him on IR, ruling him out for a minimum of four contests. As a result, the 49ers will be handing the keys to their backfield to rookie running back Isaac Guerendo. They also recently claimed Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets.

The 49ers drafted Guerendo in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The former Louisville standout has rushed for 246 yards and two touchdowns via 42 carries this campaign. He’s averaging an explosive 5.9 yards per carry. Guerendo torched the Seahawks 99 yards earlier this year, including a 76-yard gain late in the fourth quarter, the second-longest run in the league this season.

The Jets selected Abanikanda in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but he never met expectations. Breece Hall is the Jets’ go-to back, and rookie Braelon Allen quickly moved into the change-of-pace role. This may represent Abanikanda’s last chance to establish himself as an NFL-caliber player.

The 49ers won’t be catching the Seahawks in the NFC West this season.

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Sean McDermott discusses celebrating in snow after Bills’ win vs. 49ers

Sean McDermott discusses celebrating in snow after Bills’ win vs. 49ers

In a 35-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers at home in Orchard Park, HC Sean McDermott’s record coming out of the bye week remained perfect and the Buffalo Bills looked the part of a playoff contender.

The team won its fifth straight AFC East crown as only the eighth team in NFL history to clinch a division title with five games still remaining in the regular season.

The club has scored 30 or more points in six straight games and won seven straight since total since early season back-to-back losses against Baltimore and Houston.

The Bills have punched their ticket to the postseason, and head coach Sean McDermott was feeling celebratory while being interviewed on the field after the victory by ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt on SportsCenter.

When quarterback Josh Allen surprised him by trotting up and saying “coach of the year” into the microphone, McDermott replied, “I want to see an angel, a snow angel. C’mon. Let’s go.”

Allen happily obliged him, sharing a wholesome moment with his coach.

“He’s the one who got me to do it,” The QB said to the press postgame. “I was just trying to give him some flowers. He was live on TV and anytime coach asks you to do something you do it. I’m a good soldier. I’m not the biggest snow angel fan because you get cold down there. My toes are freezing right now. I’m just trying to get in the shower, but it was fun.”

McDermott made good on a halftime challenge made by backup tight end Zach Davidson.

“We were coming down the tunnel at halftime and Zach Davidson tapped me on the hip and said ‘Hey, if we win this game you got to do a snow angel.’ I said ‘Alright, you got it,'” The coach shared. “I guess I followed through on my promise.”

By clinching their division the Bills are now guaranteed a home game in the playoffs in Buffalo, though with McDermott and the team’s record coming off a bye week, another one might be in store, as could more home games in the postseason.

The players and coaching staff will next turn their focus to road matchups against the Rams and Lions, in pursuit of the No. 1 AFC playoff seed and first-round bye.

With the heartbreak, the Bills and their fans have experienced at home in the divisional round of the playoffs the last two seasons, McDermott knows all too well what a bye and a win to advance back to the AFC Championship would mean.

“I think this is this place that is starting to become a place around the NFL now that people come and they see this and they’re going, ‘I want to be a part of this.'”

Bills’ Josh Allen breaks down crazy touchdown with Amari Cooper

Bills’ Josh Allen breaks down crazy touchdown with Amari Cooper

The Buffalo Bills beat the San Francisco 49ers 35-10 on the nationally televised Sunday Night Football stage to improve to 10-2.

On a snowy night in Orchard Park, QB Josh Allen and the offense didn’t miss a beat, as he made good on making history in the game.

He even did something no quarterback in history has done before, scoring a receiving touchdown on a pass he originally threw.


Receiver Amari Cooper hauled in a one-handed catch while multiple Niners defenders wrapped around him when he pitched the ball back to Allen.

The QB put on his Superman cape and ran toward the left pylon before laying out to extend and get the ball in for the score as he flew through the air and landed sliding in the snow out of bounds.

“It’s got to be up there. I wish he got credited for something there, an assist or a passing touchdown,” Allen said of Cooper. “I just kind of chased the ball to be there and we made eye contact. … It was dope.”

Cooper noted he made the heads-up play instinctually in a think-fast moment. He saw Allen nearby and thought he wanted the ball.

“I was wondering what he was doing over there,” Cooper said. “I figured he was over there because he wanted the ball, so I gave it to him.”

It was a historical day for the Bills as they won their fifth straight AFC East crown becoming one of the only clubs ever to do so with five games remaining in the regular season.

Allen made more history as well passing Hall of Famer and Bills legend Jim Kelly’s franchise record of 244 total touchdowns with 247 of his own at only age 28.

He would finish 13 of 17 for 148 yards and two touchdowns passing to go with three rushes for 18 yards and a score, and zero catches for 7 yards with a TD.

He is organically making a strong case for MVP candidacy along the way, though his focus is on continuing to pursue and hopefully surpass Kansas City (11-1) for the AFC’s top seed come playoff time.

“It’s a good feeling. This one feels a little bit different this early in the season,” Allen said. “It’s going to be fun, I mean, to go out there and play free and play relaxed and play loose. I think that could be a dangerous team.”

He’ll have plenty of opportunities to do just that with road games against the Rams and Lions up next, followed by home games against the Patriots and Jets before a final road matchup with New England.

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How the Bills could make history after their bye week

How the Bills could make history after their bye week

The Buffalo Bills came soaring into their bye week during NFL Week 13 riding a six-game winning streak to a 9-2 record.

They are preparing to host the 5-6 San Francisco 49ers for Sunday Night Football, a team that has dealt with some injuries to key players throughout the season.

The Niners could be without stars like quarterback Brock Purdy, offensive tackle Trent Williams, and defensive end Nick Bosa.

While their squad is desperate for a win, a Buffalo victory could make history for the franchise.

In more ways than one.

The Bills are four games ahead of the second-place AFC East squad and division rival Miami Dolphins, who will be playing the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Thanksgiving Thursday. Buffalo beached them in both head-to-head matchups this season and owns the tie-breaker.

If Miami loses to Green Bay and Buffalo beats San Francisco, the Bills will also win their fifth straight division crown.

That would be something that has never previously been accomplished since the team was first founded in 1960.

The franchise did notably win four straight AFC East titles from 1988 to 1991, the final two of which included trips to the Super Bowl.

It’s also worth noting that the club has never lost coming out of their bye week under head coach Sean McDermott. And while a win is never fully guaranteed, the team does have a good prior track record in this situation.

That and their current regular season win streak aren’t the only ones on the line, however. Buffalo has also won six straight matchups against San Francisco.

QB Josh Allen will also have a chance to make more history in this game against a team he rooted for growing up in Firebaugh, CA.

Allen is currently tied with the Bills’ most storied quarterback in the team’s history, Jim Kelly, for the most touchdowns in the franchise’s history (244).

Per Tankathon, Buffalo has the fifth-easiest remaining schedule in the league this season, which means Allen will have plenty of time across the six regular season contests left to add to that number while entering his prime at age 28.

He’ll also have a chance to round out a strong campaign and potential MVP-caliber year just as the Bills will have a chance to bid for the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the AFC Playoff picture in facing the Niners, Rams, Lions, Patriots (twice), and Jets.

Bills’ Sean McDermott offers injury updates during bye week

Bills’ Sean McDermott offers injury updates during bye week

During NFL Week 12, the Buffalo Bills enjoy their bye week, offering an opportunity for some rest and extra advance preparation for their next game following a 30-21 home win against the Kansas City Chiefs.

They topped their AFC rival without several key starters including middle linebacker Matt Milano (bicep tear), wide receiver Keon Coleman (wrist), tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee), offensive lineman Spencer Brown (ankle), and defensive tackle DeWayne Carter (wrist) who were out with injuries.

Next up the team will host the San Francisco 49ers at Highmark Stadium, and fans and media members have been wondering which players might return to the field in that contest.

Milano, who’s missed most of the season so far, has begun to practice again and could see a return to gameplay as early as Week 13. The rookie Coleman as well as second-year pro Kincaid received a positive update by way of ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler in terms of recovery this week.

While he did not definitely say whether the two impact players on offense would be back for the game against the Niners, he did share that neither player’s injury appears to be substantial or long-term.

Buffalo has notably never lost coming out of a bye week under head coach Sean McDermott, a trend they hope will continue and one they hope will extend to the postseason, as they pursue the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed and first-round bye.

He had good news for the Bills and their fans following Sunday’s win over the Chiefs, sharing that the team didn’t have any new additions to the injury report. And there may be more good news on their existing injured players coming soon, though he made a point to manage expectations.

“There’s this pool of players that they’re kind of tiered as to when we expect to get each one of them back,” McDermott said.

“Again this week being kind of a rehab week for the players that are banged up, the message I’m getting from our training room is ‘hey we’ll let you know kind of how this week goes and then what that looks like for next week’ so you know the challenge is not really knowing as we start to game plan a little bit towards the end of this week who’s available, but certainly understand that the trainers need some more time with these guys and you know again it’s kind of like ‘hey who who are they going to hand us on Monday? Are we to get one player? Two players? More? Less what we have? So we just got to kind of take it one day at a time here, big picture coming out of the game without any serious injuries.”

They still have some challenges ahead in the remaining six contests on the regular season schedule, including road games against the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions right after the 49ers matchup.

But with a healthy roster, the Bills could make a push into the postseason and potentially lock up the No. 1 seed, allowing them to get even healthier headed into the playoffs.

Seahawks activate RT Abe Lucas from PUP list, George Fant placed on Injured Reserve

Seahawks activate RT Abe Lucas from PUP list, George Fant placed on Injured Reserve

The Seattle Seahawks have just given the 12th Man a jolt of much-needed good news this week. On Wednesday morning, the team officially activated right tackle Abe Lucas off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Lucas has been recovering from a procedure on his knee he had done this past winter, and it cost him the first nine games of the season this year.

Lucas began the 2024 campaign on the PUP list, but was recently designated to return to practice at the end of October. Once he returned to practice, the clock began on a 21-day window to be able to be ready to join the active 53-man roster or be shut down for the remainder of the season. The fact he has been upgraded off the PUP list is a great sign, and points to a potential season debut against the San Francisco 49ers this weekend.

Unfortunately, Lucas returning means someone loses their spot on the 53-man roster, and it appears it will once again be right tackle George Fant. In Week 9, Fant made his return after suffering a knee injury in Week 1. Sadly, his return was short lived as he re-injured his knee, and has once again been placed on injured reserve.

Should Lucas be able to go on Sunday, it will signify a considerable upgrade to a Seahawks offensive line in shambles… especially on the right side. Seattle will need all the help they can get if they want to upset the 49ers.

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Klay Thompson shares heartfelt goodbye message to the Warriors and Bay Area

The four-time NBA champ posted a heartfelt goodbye message to the Bay Area on Instagram.

Klay Thompson’s farewell tour is officially underway. With the four-time champion set to join Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks next season, his time with the Golden State Warriors has come to an end after a legendary 13-season run.

While the Warriors posted a statement of their own regarding Thompson and Steph Curry shared a goodbye message to his “Splash Brother,” the sharpshooting icon chimed in on Instagram with a farewell message to the Bay Area.

Along with multiple pictures from his decorated career with the Warriors and the scenery of the Bay Area from his boat, Thompson posted a heartfelt message in the caption.

Via @klaythompson on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9DoJpuuk04/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Thompson was drafted by the Warriors in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft out of Washington State. During his time with the Warriors he was named to five All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams. Alongside Curry and Draymond Green, Thompson was a centerpiece to Golden State’s dynasty run that included four championships.

Thompson will join Doncic and Kyrie Irving on the defending Western Conference champion Mavericks.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Report: San Francisco’s Jonathan Mogbo to have predraft workout with Thunder

Report: San Francisco’s Jonathan Mogbo to have predraft workout with Thunder.

The calendar has flipped to June, which means NBA teams are intensifying their predraft process and hosting players for workouts and visits. The 2024 NBA draft will take place from June 26-27.

The Oklahoma City Thunder enter this year’s class with a sole draft pick of the No. 12 selection. OKC was gifted the free lottery pick via the Houston Rockets.

The Thunder will host several meetings with draft prospects in the coming weeks. This includes players outside the lottery range as OKC will likely seek to add undrafted free agents or even buy back into the second round if it likes someone enough.

One possibility is San Francisco’s Jonathan Mogbo. He is set to have a predraft workout with the Thunder, per Locked On’s Rylan Stiles.

The 22-year-old spent a couple of seasons at the JUCO level before he spent his last two college years at Missouri State and San Francisco.

In 34 games last season, Mogbo averaged 14.2 points on 63.6% shooting, 10.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists. At 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, he has good size for a forward.

Mogbo will have a shot to be a second-round selection. OKC doesn’t own a second-round pick but can easily buy back into the round if it likes him enough. He can also possibly be an undrafted free agent target.

A full list of 2024 NBA draft prospects that have worked out or visited the Thunder in the predraft process can be viewed here.

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Golden Gate Park GC reopens in San Francisco with fresh course, big plans as community asset

Architect Jay Blasi shares how he reshaped Golden Gate Park Golf Course into a community treasure.

Editor’s note: Architect Jay Blasi works with Golfweek as a rater ambassador and contributes occasional stories.

Golden Gate Park Golf Course is what is right about golf. It is accessible, affordable, playable, sustainable and charitable.

Most importantly, it is repeatable. Every city in America, big or small, could have its own version of Golden Gate Park, and our communities and our game would be better off for it.

The course officially reopens Friday, Feb. 16 after The First Tee of San Francisco invested $2.5-million in a 2023 renovation that I had the good fortune to design.

Perched on a small parcel packed with sand dunes and majestic cypress trees just a few hundred yards from the Pacific Ocean, the course is expected to host 40,000+ rounds a year. Highlights and results of the work include each of the following:

Accessible: The course is located in San Francisco, within Golden Gate Park, a few hundred yards from the beach. Golfers can arrive on foot, by bike, by bus or by car. The course is nine holes of par 3s and is an easy walk for all. The clubhouse and practice greens will be open to all and are certain to become a community hub.

Affordable: The course will cost between $20 and $25 for locals or around $40 to $50 for out-of-town guests. Children – including those who participate in First Tee or Youth on Course programs – will pay even less. That’s compared to $75 to $120 at several other top par-3 layouts.

Playable: The tees, fairways and surrounds are all maintained at fairway height, and there are no forced carries. The course plays firm and fast, so balls roll – even topped shots. Players of all skill levels, including first-timers, will be able to enjoy the course. It can be played with just a putter if golfers want to try it.

Sustainable: The smaller footprint and use of fescue turf will make Golden Gate Park Golf Course one of the most efficient users of water and chemicals in the U.S. golf industry. The single height of grass allows the maintenance team to mow the whole facility quickly. The use of only one formal bunker means all raking can be done in one minute.

Charitable: The First Tee makes the course available to its students for practice and play. The kids are learning valuable lessons that will enrich the community for decades to come. By investing in the course and offering an architecturally interesting layout, beginners will get hooked on the game.

Repeatable: Golden Gate Park Golf Course sits on only 20 acres of land. It was designed in a way that the man-hour equivalent of 2.5 employees can maintain the course. The money invested in the course came from wealthy local golfers and corporations that wanted to support underprivileged kids through golf. This formula can work in New York, Dallas, Denver, Seattle and Atlanta. It also can work in smaller towns in every region of the country.

WATCH: Javon Hargrave compares Eagles chill practice habits to the 49ers hard-nosed style

Former Philadelphia defensive tackle Javon Hargrave gave an insightful look into the difference in practice habits between Eagles and 49ers

The Eagles have grown soft, and a big reason for this late-season collapse could be found in the departures of Javon Hargrave, T.J. Edwards, Marcus Epps, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, among others.

Hargrave took his talents to San Francisco, and with the 49ers now the No. 1 seed in the 2024 playoffs, the talented defensive tackle has had an up-close approach to the inner workings of coaching staff and game week programs.

During a sitdown with Coach_YAC, Hargrave described the Eagles’ love for sports science and compared San Francisco’s approach to Pat Riley’s grind-it-out style with the Miami Heat.

Hargrave compared the Eagles’ weekly “relaxed, chill” approach to that of the Golden State Warriors.

In the Eagle’s defense, the new approach to practice started when Nick Sirianni got the job, and came after three or four years of Philadelphia leading the NFL in soft tissue injuries and having late-season breakdowns in personnel with players consistently on the injury report.

The comments are an indictment of a laid-back approach and a talented team’s ability to turn it on when the lights come on.

The late-season meltdown could change practice habits and do away with the late-season Wednesday walk-throughs.