As the New York Jets come to town for Week 1's home opener, who will the 49ers need to focus on?
Aaron Rodgers is an elite quarterback. Although he's returning from a season-ending ACL injury, let's not forget that he's a former All-Pro MVP, eager to maintain his 3-1 regular-season record against Kyle Shanahan. The 49ers must be prepared for Rodgers to get rid of the ball quickly. A four-man rush with solid coverage will be key to neutralizing the always-dangerous Rodgers.
Breece Hall is an explosive weapon—essentially the Jets' version of Christian McCaffrey. Despite entering just his third NFL season, Hall possesses elite traits as a dual-threat back, dangerous both in the running game and as a receiver. 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner will have his hands full defending Hall in both phases.
Garrett Wilson is a former first-round pick with electrifying speed. A versatile wide receiver, Wilson can line up in X, Y, and Z spots. The 49ers must match up with Wilson and prevent the explosive plays downfield. Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir is the matchup that will make Levi's Stadium go crazy. Expect Lenoir to bring his A-game to contain the Jets' star receiver.
Quinnen Williams—the former 2019 first-round pick—is now one of the NFL's most respected defensive tackles, earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. 49ers rookie guard Dominick Puni will face the toughest challenge of his career on Monday Night Football. Don't expect Williams to go head-to-head with the rookie all night. Jets head coach Robert Saleh is known for utilizing stunts with his tackles, which means it could be a long day for 49ers center Jake Brendel.
Sauce Gardner is a First-Team All-Pro cornerback. While he doesn't flash as the interceptor or the pass break-up guy, Gardner is the stickiest corner in the league and does allow receivers to get open. Quarterback Brock Purdy will need to be smart when throwing in Gardner's direction. Test him, but don't force it. Expect Gardner to shadow wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for most of the game.
In conclusion, the 49ers need to be prepared for whatever the Jets throw at them, with special attention to these five key threats from the New York Football Jets.