The Dallas Cowboys are preparing to host the San Francisco 49ers. Neither team will finish above .500, but Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy still has a great deal of respect for the injury-ravaged 49ers that will visit AT&T Stadium on Sunday. He spoke with reporters via a conference call on Wednesday and was specifically asked about two of San Francisco's players — rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and linebacker Fred Warner.
McCarthy is very familiar with Aiyuk. The Cowboys did a lot of research into wide receivers heading into this year's draft, going with CeeDee Lamb with the No. 17 overall pick. The 49ers drafted Aiyuk eight selections later.
"He's a dynamic player," McCarthy said of Aiyuk. "We definitely did a lot of research on the whole wide receiver group, and I just can't say enough about what he was able to show at Arizona State, not only as a receiver, but you really see it in the return game.
"He's a dynamic player, and he jumps off the film for the 49ers. He's been a great fit for them, and you can see he's been extremely productive and has been a featured player in their passing game. So, I'm very, very impressed with Brandon."
McCarthy is also familiar with Warner. McCarthy was the Green Bay Packers coach during the linebacker's rookie season, so he got a good look at the defender early in his career.
"He's a complete football player, let alone a complete linebacker," McCarthy said of Warner's evolution as a player. "I can't say enough about his instinct, awareness, his ability to make plays. Not only can you see the comfort level that he has in their scheme, but his recognition conceptually in both the run and the pass, it's impressive. He's clearly one of the best linebackers that we've seen all year. Clearly."