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Injuries are a part of the NFL, and the San Francisco 49ers have already had their share. The same thing happened last season, but a next-man-up mentality got the team through many of the losses.
Injuries have struck the offensive and defensive lines, the former more than the latter, so we'll start there. More specifically, the 49ers are currently down their top two centers and haven't even gotten out of training camp yet.
Starter Weston Richburg is likely to start the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list, which means missing at least the first six weeks of action. He is attempting to return from the torn patellar tendon suffered during Week 14 last year.
Richburg's backup, Ben Garland, suffered an ankle sprain this week and
could be sidelined a couple of weeks.
General manager John Lynch
joined KNBR on Friday morning and was asked under whom quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo would put his hands this season.
"Fortunately, one of the things that we have placed an emphasis on is versatility," Lynch responded after laughing. "After you get through Richburg and Ben Garland ... gosh, COVID, it is one of those years. We bring a kid,
Jake Brendel, in, who has played games, and
he opted out due to medical concerns. He was fully right to. He had some medical concerns with COVID, so he took the opt-out option.
"We go get a guy, Spencer Long — great guy, great American, but he showed up a day after he came to Santa Clara and said he wasn't feeling it (
and retired). And you can't make a guy want to play football. It's too hard.
"Those are guys who have played, and then, sure enough, Garland goes down. Fortunately, it's just a sprained ankle, and Ben's going to be fine ... (Newly signed) Hroniss Grasu is next in line. Danny Brunskill can play some center. We've got some guys who have some versatility, so we're going to be alright."
Then you have D.J. Jones, who has been playing the nose tackle role but went down on Thursday with a shoulder injury. The extent of the damage isn't yet known. Initial tests were inconclusive, so Jones underwent more on Friday.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh spoke with reporters on Friday and feels player versatility will also benefit the defensive line should Jones have to miss any time.
"You know, our nose, over the last couple of years, has evolved a little bit where it's not necessarily like the nose everybody remembers of the Vince Wilforks," Saleh said. "Not that he wasn't an athletic individual, but he was a massive human being where our guys are a little bit smaller. They're almost three techniques playing in that two-wide spot.
"We value a lot of speed, get off, and explosiveness over just gargantuan size. We feel really good about their ability to play in there, as long as they can hold up on double teams, and they're not just getting displaced."
Saleh pointed out that Solomon Thomas got some work there last year. He feels Kentavius Street can help out too, if needed.
Then you have rookie
Javon Kinlaw, a massive presence who outweighs Jones. Saleh was asked if he could be a possibility to fill in at nose tackle.
"Yeah, the way we teach our D-line, with the exception of a couple of guys, they've got to know all four spots," Saleh responded. "(Defensive line coach Kris) Kocurek says it's like four quarters on the dollar. You throw them all out there, and they've got to be able to play whatever position that they're thrown out there to do.
"Kinlaw's getting two-I work, he's getting some three-technique work ... To answer your question, absolutely. He can go down there and play two-I also."
According to Sports Illustrated contributor Noah Strackbein, who writes for "All Steelers" on the network, there's a level of confidence within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization that they can strike a deal for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk—and at a bargain rate.
"According to a team source, the Steelers and 49ers trade talks are real," Strackbein wrote. "While nothing is imminent, they 'would be surprised if it didn't happen.' But it all comes down to compensation, and Pittsburgh isn't willing to budge much on price."
While it seems unlikely that the 49ers would part ways with Aiyuk for anything less than a first-round draft
It's evident that the San Francisco 49ers engaged in long-term financial planning. Much discussion has centered around the feasibility of the team committing significant financial resources to two wide receivers, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Some skeptics question the wisdom of such heavy investment in a single position, especially considering that the 49ers handed Samuel a substantial three-year extension merely two years ago.
Adding complexity to this debate is the impending contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy, positioning him to become the highest-paid player on the team. He will likely even become one of the NFL's highest-paid players. Where he ranks in average salary will depend upon whether he can replicate the stellar performance of his Pro Bowl 2023
George Kittle recently spoke with ESPN during the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, where he joined other NFL stars for the golfing event. Of course, the conversation shifted toward football, with Laura Rutledge asking Kittle to reflect on the team's 2023 season, its Super Bowl defeat, and the motivation it provides for the upcoming season.
The tight end believes San Francisco maintained a competitive roster this offseason and is gearing up for another run at a championship. He emphasized the importance of maintaining good health and continual improvement for a successful upcoming season.
"Brock Purdy is a fantastic quarterback, and he's only going to get better because he's young," Kittle said. "And we were fortunate enough to be able to keep our entire
ESPN analyst Matt Miller watches the San Francisco 49ers differently than other teams. As a 49ers fan, he feels more invested in the team's successes and failures than most analysts.
With the draft nearing, Miller made it clear which direction he believes head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch should take with their first pick. In his ESPN mock draft, a seven-round doozy, the analyst had the 49ers selecting former Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan.
Miller recently joined the 49ers Webzone "No Huddle" podcast, sharing why he adamantly hopes the team addresses the offensive line at the end of the month.
"So I
