Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Chip Kelly discusses facing a healthier Russell Wilson
Dec 30, 2016 at 8:44 AM
•
San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly jumped on a conference call with Seattle-area media to discuss the team's upcoming game against the Seahawks. One topic of discussion that came up was the difference between the Seahawks now versus when the 49ers first played them this season on September 25. That initial contest resulted in a 37-18 defeat.
"Unfortunately Russell [Wilson] is a little healthier now than the first time we played them," Kelly said. "I think facing a different type of quarterback, he took off and ran a lot more in the Arizona game than he has in the past, which kind of tells you he's back up. I think he was dealing with an ankle and then a knee when we played him the last time. I think especially on the offensive side of the ball, I think it's a healthy
Russell Wilson. That's going to be a very tough test for our defense."
Wilson is completing 65-percent of his passes this season. That's the second highest completion percentage of his career. He has passed for 3,961 yards, which is just 63 yards short of his career best (2015). Wilson has thrown 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Advanced statistics site
Pro Football Focus has Wilson graded as the league's sixth-best quarterback this year. That's higher than Derek Carr,
Matthew Stafford or Dak Prescott. By comparison, Colin Kaepernick ranks 27th.
The Seahawks will not be taking their foot off the gas as they head into the postseason. The Falcons currently have a first-round bye in their grasp and a victory on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints would guarantee them the playoff spot. Of course, a loss and a Seattle victory would give the Seahawks the coveted week off so the Seahawks have a lot to play for when they take on the two-win 49ers.
Kickoff is at 1:25 p.m. on Sunday at Levi's Stadium.
LISTEN
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
PFF: 49ers' elite roster is reason for optimism despite "up in the air" QB situation
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus went through all 32 NFL teams and picked a reason for optimism for each heading into the 2023 season. For example, last season's five-win Denver Broncos got a new Super Bowl-winning head coach in Sean Payton. Kenny Pickett could be ready for a second-year leap with the Pittsburgh Steelers (Hopefully, not in Week 1, though).
What's the reason for optimism for the San Francisco 49ers? Sikkema admits that picking just one reason is challenging, so he went with the team's elite roster. San Francisco has stockpiled talented playmakers at almost every level.
"Yes, their quarterback situation is still up in the air," wrote Sikkema. "But
Adam Rank projects 49ers' 2023 MVP, breakout star, says it's "Super Bowl or bust for the team"
NFL Media personality Adam Rank recently published his "State of the 2023 San Francisco 49ers" feature for NFL.com, an annual look at the state of the franchise and projections for the upcoming season. Among those predictions are the team's most valuable player and breakout star.
Christian McCaffrey is the most obvious choice for MVP, and he's the guy Rank selected. The star running back was traded in late October to the 49ers and still contributed 1,210 total yards and 10 total touchdowns with his new team, totaling an impressive 1,880 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season.
Rank can't wait to see what McCaffrey does for an encore
NFL Network to live broadcast two 49ers preseason games in 2023
The NFL announced that two San Francisco 49ers exhibition games would be part of the 23 preseason games to air live on NFL Network in 2023.
The first live broadcast will be the team's preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Kickoff for that game is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, August 13.
The second live broadcast will be the 49ers' preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers at Levi's Stadium. That game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PT on Friday, August 25.
It's worth noting that both games are the second part of double-headers. That means non-Bay Area fans may miss the early portions of those games while awaiting the end of the earlier matchups. On August 13, it will be a 10:00 a.m. PT matchup between the
Kyle Juszczyk: 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk "just looks different than everyone else on the field"
Anything short of topping his 78-catch, 1,015-receiving-yard, and eight-touchdown performance from last season might disappoint San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. All were career highs, and the fourth-year wideout expects more of himself in 2023.
"I'm about to take off," Aiyuk declared last week. "That's it. ... We all know it's football. Nothing's ever guaranteed, but just getting a better understanding for my life as a person, and then as a football player, kind of putting those things together and then just looking to get better."
If Aiyuk does "take off" during the upcoming season, it creates an interesting predicament for the organization. When
