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The San Francisco 49ers face off against a division rival in the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday, riding off a three-game win streak after an impressive, hard-fought 34-26 victory over the Minnesota Vikings at Levi's Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks have heavily disappointed this season with a 3-8 record, much due to
Russell Wilson's broken finger that he sustained during Seattle's Week 5 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Still, despite their recent slide, they possess two major receiving weapons in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, who can be problematic for opposing defenses at any point in the game.
The 49ers certainly remember Metcalf's abilities, as the third-year pro went off for 12 catches and 161 yards during Seattle's 37-27 defeat of the 49ers last season.
While Wilson seems to be ailing from his finger injury still, the additional rest period leading up to Sunday's game may render him healthy enough to return back to his former self, which would do wonders for Seattle's passing game.
With Metcalf and Lockett possessing such expansive abilities at the receiver position, how are the 49ers going to defend Seattle's receiving duo?
Before Wednesday's practice, head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the topic, acknowledging that coverage would be a huge challenge that both Metcalf and Lockett present on a weekly basis.
"I know it's a huge challenge," Shanahan said to reporters. "Those are two really good receivers, and you've just got to make sure it's not just those two versus each other."
To outduel Seattle's offense, Shanahan plans to rely on the pass rush and a variety of different defensive coverages to create both physical and mental pressure on Russell Wilson.
"I mean, most corners, if you just go out and it's one-on-one all day, I don't care what the receiver is, they should eventually get you," Shanahan continued. "So he's got to make sure that they compete, go hard against them. We have a good pass rush. We mix it up in coverage and try to confuse the quarterback a little bit, not give him the time when he has the good looks. And when he does have the good look, you have to make sure you come down with a few."
Regardless of who plays at the cornerback position, both of Seattle's top receivers have proven to be a difficult challenge for defenses. With a 49ers secondary that has struggled with penalties and big-time plays, San Francisco will have to rely on an aggressive pass rush, as well as 3rd & long's to make it hard on Seattle to move the football.
After last week's win, San Francisco earned sole possession of the NFC's 6th seed, as the Vikings slid to 7th with a 5-6 record. Currently, the 49ers are one game behind the Los Angeles Rams in the wildcard standings, meaning that a win on Sunday would at least keep them within striking distance of moving up in the playoff seeding.
Analyst Steve Palazzolo unveiled a first-round mock draft for Pro Football Focus, attempting to forecast the selections for each NFL team within the top 32 picks. While the San Francisco 49ers concentrated on strengthening the defensive line in free agency, Palazzolo envisions the team continuing to fortify that side of the ball.
In his mock draft, Palazzolo predicts that the 49ers will select former Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa with the No. 31 overall pick.
"Tampa's unique fluidity and size for a cornerback make him worthy of a top-75 pick," reads the analysis from Pro Football Focus' big board. "If he can clean up his footwork, he can
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
With the NFL Draft just two weeks away, the San Francisco 49ers hosted their annual local pro day at Levi's Stadium. The event showcased 44 players, including four veterans, all vying to impress coaches and team decision-makers and earn a roster spot. The 49ers have 10 selections in the upcoming draft.
NFL local pro days provide draft prospects with ties to the local area an opportunity to showcase their talents to team personnel. These prospects typically hail from nearby colleges or have other connections to the region where the team is based.
Terrell's Son Seeks an Opportunity
Hall of
The San Francisco 49ers have experienced success in the latter two days of the draft, discovering hidden gems capable of becoming key contributors. Some examples include tight end George Kittle in the fifth round in 2017, linebacker Fred Warner in the third round in 2018, wide receiver Deebo Samuel in the second round in 2019, and, famously, quarterback Brock Purdy with the final overall pick in 2022.
Pro Football Focus recently pinpointed one draft fit for each team on Day 2 and another for Day 3. Contributor Dalton Wasserman handled the duties for Day 2, zeroing in on former Oregon defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus, who can excel on the edge or interior in
