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First, there have been zero reports that the San Francisco 49ers are interested in former Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Clay Matthews. I cannot stress that enough. Still, with the team's ever-increasing number of injuries, Matthews' name does come up often from fans who feel he could help offset some of the Niners' losses.
In just two weeks, the 49ers defensive line has taken a significant hit.
Ronald Blair (knee) and Jullian Taylor (knee) started the season on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list. Then, on Sunday, San Francisco lost
Nick Bosa and
Solomon Thomas to season-ending ACL injuries.
No one seems to know when
Dee Ford (back) will return to the field. Even
D.J. Jones (ankle) got nicked up.
Naturally, that leads to fan speculation involving available players. Even with Ziggy Ansah signing this week, Matthews' name often comes up, and Matt Barrows of The Athletic understand why.
"At 34, he'd be the team's oldest defender," Barrows wrote in a
recent mailbag article. "But he had eight sacks last year, which would have ranked third on the 49ers last season. Should Ford be out a while, Matthews seems ideal for the nickel pass-rush role, or at least as ideal as you're going to get in late September."
If you are excited about the prospect of the 49ers adding Matthews, you may want to temper those hopes.
Added Barrows: "Alas, as of Tuesday morning, I was told there's 'nothing there' as far as the 49ers and Matthews."
Who knows if the situation could change in the coming weeks. But for now, it doesn't sound like there is anything there.
Matthews spent last season with the Rams after 10 years with the Packers but was released on March 19. He recorded eight sacks through 13 games in 2019, the most he has racked up since reaching opposing quarterbacks 11 times in 2014.
The Packers made Matthews the No. 26 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. He has recorded 91.5 sacks in his 11 NFL seasons, is a six-time Pro Bowl selection, was named a first-team All-Pro in 2010, and is the Packers' career sack leader with 83.5.
Does the San Francisco 49ers' season have you down? Al and Zain are right there with you. They do, however, have something fun for you this week.
The duo engages in a conversation with Matt Barrows of The Athletic to discuss his new book, If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the San Francisco 49ers Sideline, Locker Room, and Press Box. Matt shares some fun anecdotes straight from
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo spoke with reporters after Thursday's practice as the team prepares to play the New England Patriots. Here is everything he had to say.
Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
Just wondering if this week reminds you at all of your first game, your first start for the 49ers which was in your hometown? Is the excitement level similar to that and how do you sort of manage excitement levels when it comes to locations of games?
"Yeah, definitely. Yeah, it's an exciting week. Get to go back to where it all started for my NFL career, but it's a little different than the Chicago week two years ago. I feel like I've come a long way, learning the offense and
Jimmy Garoppolo clearly wasn't right after missing the last two games due to a high-ankle sprain. He looked off during the entire first half of Sunday's matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins — a game the Niners lost 43-17.
Things got out of control early, and the 49ers found themselves in a massive hole at halftime. With Garoppolo struggling, head coach Kyle Shanahan decided to put in C.J. Beathard during the second half.
"Just the way the whole game was going, just kind of watching how we were playing as a whole, how he was playing," Shanahan after the game. "You could tell he was affected by his ankle... I know he doesn't
