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DeForest Buckner will return to Levi's Stadium for the first time since the San Francisco 49ers traded the defensive lineman to the Indianapolis Colts last year. On Wednesday, he jumped on a conference call with 49ers reporters and reflected on the surprising move.
"In the moment, when you told me, when it was official, when I got traded, the feelings that I was feeling, if you told me that I was going to feel this way a year-and-a-half later, I would have said you're crazy," Buckner told reporters. "But everything happens for a reason, and the Lord put me here for a reason, and I'm very happy for the decisions that were made."
Money was obviously an obstacle in San Francisco holding onto the talented defender. Buckner said the 49ers never offered him anything close to the four-year, $84 million extension he received from the Colts following the trade. This week, he is spending time watching the film of his former team, which he admits is a bit strange.
"The fanbase was great," Buckner said. "I built a lot of great relationships there. I still have a lot of great relationships there. Obviously, the people there that I became friends with. Obviously, the convenience for my family. Obviously, being from Hawaii, it was just a plane flight away. My wife's family lived down the road in Fresno. That's where we pretty much call home in the offseason. [I miss] a whole lot of things."
While the trade surprised fans and the media, Buckner had an idea that something may have been in the works.
"I kind of knew probably a week or so in advance that it was a possibility," Buckner revealed. "I mean, it's just part of the business. They told us [to] look at trade options, little things like that, so my agent did his job, and I ended up here in Indianapolis."
The trade lit a fire under Buckner. Not because he wanted to show his former team that they made a mistake by trading him, but to prove to his new team that they made the right move in acquiring him.
"It really did teach me a lot about the business side of things," Buckner said. "... I feel like I did all the right things on and off the field. And obviously, I wanted to be there long-term. It was the team that drafted me, the organization that drafted me, and everything. When you're drafted to an organization, your initial thoughts are,
I want to be here until I retire.
"Unfortunately, it didn't shake out that way. That's just the nature of the business, and [those are] the things that kind of suck with the whole salary cap situation. It is what it is. I'm very happy where I'm at."
Buckner also reflected on his conversations with general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan upon learning that the 49ers were trading him.
"It was a simple conversation," Buckner shared. "Just like the way it is with the salary cap, little things like that. Our conversation was just kind of a numbers thing. Personally, when I had my conversation with John, we sat down, and I told John, 'Look, I know my agent's telling me I'm worth this. But obviously, I'm able to meet you in the middle, someway, somehow, because I want to be here.'
"But I didn't want to take too big of a pay cut to where I know what I'm actually worth because I had a baby on the way. I've got to think of my family. ... I was looking out for my family, at the end of the day. Unfortunately, it just didn't go the way I wanted it to. Just like I said, it's the nature of the business."
What will it be like to return to Levi's Stadium this weekend for the first time since the trade?
"You know, that is a great question," Buckner responded, "and I've been asking myself that question a lot. I'm the type of guy that wears my emotions on my sleeve, so we're going to see."
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The first half of Sunday's game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams ended with Brock Purdy keeping the football for a quarterback sneak into the end zone, tying the game 17-17. It was a play that gave the Niners a lot of momentum against their division rivals.
Brock Purdy with the QB sneak!!📺 #SFvsLAR on FOX📱NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4nCVJ pic.twitter.com/3EsoEzhkYZ— San
Thursday night was a fun one at Levi's Stadium, where the San Francisco 49ers cruised to a 30-12 victory over the visiting New York Giants. It was a night that saw wide receiver Deebo Samuel declare himself as officially out of "awful" mode, running back Christian McCaffrey reach milestones, wide receiver Ronnie Bell create some lasting memories, and -- of all things -- Andrew Luck making a return to an NFL field (in full Civil War costume) to take part in a game of trivia.
Let's recap all that and more in this version of 49ers Notebook.
Not awful anymore
Back in June, Deebo Samuel caught some attention with his honest description of his 2022 performance
The San Francisco 49ers improved to 3-0 on the season after a 30-12 Week 3 win over the New York Giants at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Below are several statistics and notes from Thursday's game, which were provided by the 49ers Communications staff.
With The Win...
San Francisco has started the regular season 3-0 for the first time since 2019 and the 9th time in franchise history.
The 49ers have won back-to-back regular season games against the New York Giants [W, 36-9 at NYG (9/27/20)].
San Francisco has won their home opener for the second-consecutive season.
The Niners improved to 22-21 against the Giants,
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke to reporters after the team's 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. He provided injury updates from the game.
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was in and out of the game due to a left shoulder injury. A reporter asked if the coach was concerned that the injury could be serious.
"I wouldn't think so," Shanahan responded. "I mean, I know he was hurting a little bit, but he was able to play through it, so I think I'll be all right."
The coach mentioned two other players in his post-game injury report.
"[CB Ambry] Thomas, he had a knee," Shanahan said. "He was in and out. After that, [CB Deommodore
