The last time the San Francisco 49ers entered a season fresh off a Super Bowl loss, it didn't end well. An injury-plagued 2020 season derailed the team's chance of defending their NFC crown. Nick Bosa, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, missed the season with a knee injury. And several other key players, including QB Jimmy Garoppolo and TE George Kittle, missed multiple games. The 49ers never got on track and finished the season 6-10, good for last place in the NFC West, and no postseason bid.
This offseason hasn't been the smoothest for the 49ers. In addition to dealing with contract disputes with a few of their biggest offensive stars, the 49ers have also dealt with some injuries throughout training camp and preseason. Edge Leonard Floyd and rookie WR Ricky Pearsall were back at practice last week, so there's a chance both could play on Monday Night, September 9th, when San Francisco squares off with the New York Jets. But edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos, who is week-to-week with a knee injury, could miss the game. And that doesn't even mention 2023 late-season injuries to two defensive stars, LB Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga.
RB Christian McCaffrey and WR Brandon Aiyuk signed new deals and should be ready to go in week one. But future Hall of Fame LT Trent Williams is still holding out. And the 49ers offense is not near as good without him.
Injuries and contract disputes, along with the perceived hangover from losing the Super Bowl, have placed plenty of question marks on the 49ers, and how well they will fare this season. Will the distraction-filled offseason sidetrack them? Will their age catch up to them? Will losing four heartbreaking games in five seasons force the team to begin unraveling?
On Friday, five analysts from NFL.com—Mike Band, Jeffri Chadiha, Marcas Grant, Michelle Magdziuk, and Steve Mariucci—picked the 49ers to win the Super Bowl next February. "Meeting (the Chiefs) in this game for the third time in the last six seasons, the 49ers finally get it done by leaning on their veterans and executing in all three phases," wrote Mariucci. "A more experienced Brock Purdy shows poise and sets himself up for a big payday when he leads the Niners to the mountaintop for the first time in three decades."
But don't count NFL analyst Greg Jennings as one who believes the 49ers will make it back to the Super Bowl this season. In fact, the former Green Bay Packers wide receiver doesn't even think San Francisco will make it to the postseason.
Jennings, appearing on First Things First, said, "Everyone is so bullish on the Niners, and I thought to myself, 'I really like the Niners. I love that they got Aiyuk done. There's just a little too much going on right now and I think Brock Purdy is dealing with that and is not going to handle that great', so we'll see, they may be on the outside looking in.
"I also feel like they're an older team, gonna struggle with being healthy all season long, and that's why I had to leave them out."
Greg Jennings has the 49ers missing the playoffs:
"Everyone is so bullish on the Niners, and I thought to myself, 'I really like the Niners. I love that they got Aiyuk done. There's just a little too much going on right now and I think Brock Purdy is dealing with that and is not… pic.twitter.com/mwy77WGjYf
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) August 31, 2024
While the 49ers may have the oldest roster in football, many believe it is still the best roster in the league. If the team can set aside the distractions, get Williams back on board, and stay relatively healthy, they have another excellent chance of winning a sixth Super Bowl.
- Marc Adams
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Written by:Speaker. Writer. Covering the San Francisco 49ers. Host of the 49ers Camelot show.
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