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After an offseason filled with uncertainty at the quarterback position, the 49ers have started 3-5 to begin the 2021 NFL season, marking yet another disappointing campaign to date under the Shanahan era.
Jimmy Garoppolo, who has been swirled into trade rumors for what seems like an eternity, has started all but one game this season, only missing San Francisco's Week 5 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals due to his calf strain.
The 30-year-old quarterback was a factor in the 49ers' 2019 Super Bowl run, where the offense had a clear identity that pushed them to a February matchup against the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs.
Has that identity surfaced this season? According to Garoppolo, the team's still searching for it, with injuries transforming that identity as the season has prolonged.
"I think [developing that identity] just comes naturally. You never want to say this is our identity at the beginning of the year, and we have to stick to it. I think with injuries, as the season progresses, your identity kind of changes with the season, in a way."
Despite the struggles, the starter pointed out where the offense was able to effectively execute the gameplan in route to a win against the Bears, while adding that the team's looking to develop consistency.
"I think we've had some games where our identity is clear-cut. Like [against] Chicago, we ran the ball very well, hit some play-action off of it, and I think we're just trying to find that still."
The loss at Levi's Stadium to the Colt McCoy-led Arizona Cardinals dropped the 49ers to 3-5 on the season, and Monday Night's matchup is nothing to look past. San Francisco faces their division rival Los Angeles Rams, who recently added Odell Beckham Jr. to their already impressive offensive core.
One step towards gaining a team identity could be getting back safety Jimmie Ward, a key defensive leader, who could potentially practice Friday, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Ward missed last weekend's matchup with a quad injury that he suffered during San Francisco's Week 8 matchup against the Chicago Bears.
Still, facing an upward battle against the Rams, the 49ers will need to find their identity sooner than later, or this season is going to get more embarrassing than it already has.
According to NFL Insider, Benjamin Allbright, the Pittsburgh Steelers are trying to trade for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, to add him as a weapon for QB Russell Wilson. The Steelers added Wilson earlier this offseason after the Denver Broncos decided to move on from him. Aiyuk, if paired with Steelers WR George Pickens, would give Wilson two dangerous threats in the passing game.
👀 pic.twitter.com/261FS6DjhL— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL)
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
Ian Rapoport didn't offer much of an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and their standout wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. However, the NFL insider emphasized one thing: The team is not entertaining trade discussions at this juncture.
Reacting to Aiyuk's decision to unfollow the 49ers on Instagram, Rapoport couldn't help but chuckle at the latest development. This practice has become commonplace among players who are unhappy with their contract situations. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel similarly took this action in 2022 before requesting to be traded just before the draft.
Things have yet to escalate that far with Aiyuk, but Rapoport sees his
