San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters during a conference call on Monday, the day after the team's 41-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Here's everything he said.
Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
Opening comments:
"The injuries from the game: [DL] Robert Beal [Jr.] will be in the protocol for a concussion, [LB] Tatum Bethune did have a high ankle sprain, expect him to miss a few weeks, [K] Eddy Piñeiro, right hamstring, I'm sure he'll miss, you know, he'll be week-to-week. And that's it from the game. Go ahead."
What's the plan as far as bringing in a kicker to take Eddy's job while he is gone?
"We're going to bring in some guys for a workout. They're working on that now. They're going to do it either tomorrow or Wednesday."
Do you have to do the same thing at linebacker?
"I'm sure we'll bring in somebody possibly for practice squad. You know, I don't think Tatum's going to go on IR, especially with our Bye Week and stuff. So, I don't know if we'll have the roster spot for that. But, we also have [LB] Jalen [Graham] on practice squad who would be the next man up. So, we'll see how that works out with the whole roster."
LB Curtis Robinson played a career high in snaps and also had 13 special teams snaps. How did you think he did?
"I thought he did a really good job. Curtis has been preparing for that opportunity for a while, especially coming back from his ACL this offseason. Thought he did a hell of a job. Our whole defense just with battling through that game and losing a ton of guys throughout the game, just being out there for 82 plays and having to do it with both special teams and defense, was a hell of an effort by Curtis and a lot of guys."
Do you have any more information on Eddy's injury? Is it a strain? A tear?
"It was a grade-one hamstring."
You mentioned in the locker room after the game that you had been waiting for a win like you got against the Cardinals. Did it feel like a reset or full execution of the game plan for the first time this season?
"No, it was just more about getting turnovers and not having any and then making some big plays in the return game on teams."
Have you guys as an organization talked about the possibility of bringing in former Baltimore Ravens K Justin Tucker for a workout?
"No, we haven't talked about that."
Does that mean he's not coming in? He's not on your radar?
"I have no idea. We haven't talked about, I haven't talked about one kicker with them, so I'm not sure about anyone. I know they're putting together a group of guys to possibly bring in Tuesday or Wednesday."
Have you got a chance to talk to QB Brock Purdy today? I'm sure everybody's wondering after he gets through a game how he's doing.
"No, I haven't talked to him today. Gave the players the day off, a Victory Monday plus would've happened anyways with it being an eight-day week with us playing on Monday night. But, we're all getting away from each other a little bit the next two days and we'll get back together after that. Just talking to him last night, I know he felt pretty good and seemed like he checked out alright."
He had one play where he got tackled from behind when he was running towards the sideline and it looked a little awkward. Do you feel so good about the way he practiced that that play did not concern you or was there at least a moment where you're like, okay, let's see how he does here?
"No, I really never did have that feeling throughout the game. He gave us a ton of confidence in the last week with how he's looked in practice and just how he talked and felt. Really never thought about it in the game."
It may be obvious since Eddy hasn't missed a field goal, but have you ever had this level of confidence in a kicker since you've been a head coach?
"Yeah. I mean, [former 49ers K] Robbie [Gould] went a whole year without missing one, or I think it was just one. I forget what it was. I had a lot of confidence then too. But no, Eddy's given that same feeling and he's been awesome so far. Pumped that we've been able to get him on the Niners."
Do you know why he was so fired up after his last field goal? Looked like some of his teammates had to pull him over to the sideline.
"No, I don't. But, I heard about it. I just saw it on film. I think he's just a very fiery guy and it's fun. We enjoy it, but I'm not sure what happened."
What about backup quarterback? What are your plans with former 49ers QB Adrian Martinez? You've mentioned in the past that you'd like to see QB Kurtis Rourke at least get some practice. Is that still the plan with him?
"Yeah, we'll open up his window eventually to give him his three weeks of practice and decide what to do from there. Then Adrian, we're waiting to see if he clears waivers to see if he's an option to bring back on practice squad."
Arizona only put up 22 points, but the yardage-wise, especially by Arizona Cardinals QB Jacoby Brisset, 452 yards. What did you see from your guys in coverage once you watched the film?
"I was really proud of our defense. I think it was 35-10 at some time in the fourth quarter. I think we played a lot of soft zone, wanted to make them work for it to get down the field. You obviously would like to get off and stuff, but losing a defensive end in that game with Robert going down early in the game, playing with three defensive ends through 82 plays and our linebackers in and out, I thought our guys grinded. I thought we kind of wore out big time at the end, but we were playing pretty soft coverages and just trying not to let them get back in the game. The yardage does suck, but sometimes that's how games play out and with the turnovers they got and how they played throughout that game, I thought the defense was really, really good."
Can you take us through the decision to also have DL Clelin Ferrell and DL Kevin Givens inactive for the day?
"Yeah, we had to decide on which guys to go with and we went with Beal outside and then we went with [DL] C.J. [West] inside. You get four D-tackles up and Kevin's still a big part of this, does some good things, but sometimes C.J.'s been down and this week for, starting usually with the run game, we decided to get C.J. up."
How did WR Ricky Pearsall look and how did he perform assignment-wise?
"I thought Ricky had a good game. He looked good. Couldn't tell that there was any rust or anything like that. I thought Ricky played well."
RB Christian McCaffrey mentioned last night how difficult it is to have missed as many games as Brock did and come in and perform the way he did. Can you just speak a little bit to the mental and physical fortitude it took for him to come in and not skip a beat?
"Yeah, it's always a challenge when you haven't played. I know he got to play versus Jacksonville, but that game, he totally wasn't himself because of the injury. So, he really truly hasn't been able to play like himself since Week 1. Then so much goes on in between. So, to just jump back in there and be the only guy, him and Ricky doing it, there's always anxiety and stuff like that, you always want to get to the game, but how cool he was throughout the week I think he made it very comfortable for all the guys and pretty easy on us with what to expect. Then he was the exact same way in the game as he was all week. So, I think that speaks a lot about him and kind of how even keel he is."
What's the status of both WR Jacob Cowing and WR Brandon Aiyuk? Is there any possibility you could open the windows for them this week?
"No, not going to be this week. Both of them are a week-to-week deal. I'm sure Jacob will probably be after the Bye Week and then Brandon's just week-to-week. When he had such a big injury like that, just waiting until he is fully comfortable to come up and start practicing."
There was some question about Christian, Brock and T Trent Williams still being in the game. It was 35-16 when they scored with like eight minutes to go. Is that just too much time left in a game to even, did you consider it or think about it at the start of that drive or near the end of that drive?
"Yeah, you always think about it, but yeah that is too early. People have got to do it to cover their butts just in case something happens. But, I've also been in plenty of games where that can happen and seen it done this year, just all you've got to do is watch the Giants and Broncos game. You can always, like I talk about, go back to our 2021 game when it was 41-17 with two minutes to go versus the Lions and they had the ball down one score with 20 seconds to go inside the 30. So, there's so many situations like that and especially when a quarterback's moving the ball like he is and things, all it takes is one turnover. But, it's something that you want to get out as soon as possible and get them out as soon as possible. I thought [CB Upton] Stout's turnover on the goal line is what allowed us, we still went three-and-out the next series, but it took more time off the clock. I believe after that when we scored it was the time."
When you say cover your butt, do you mean that you know that if a frontline player gets hurt in that situation you're going to have criticism?
"Yes, exactly. And I didn't mean to say it that way, but my vocabulary's not that good. I don't mean that in a negative way, I just mean it in the way it is. You understand that, but you can't just make decisions to not take that responsibility. You've got to think about everything. And it's not always the easiest decision, but how it's going to look should not be the first thing on your mind."
What is the biggest challenge for a rookie playing that nickelback position? What have you seen from Upton Stout as the season has gone on here?
"Nickelback, it's a cover corner, it's a linebacker, it's a safety. They're playing all those positions throughout three downs. You're playing in the box depending on what the run fits are. You can play outside in man-coverage, you can play inside. There are so many things that go into that position. So, it's something you've got to work at all the time. And I've seen Stout battling through this whole year and doing a lot of good things. Just like he did in the game making that turnover and things like that. He competes in the run game as much as anyone on our team. And I love how he runs and hits out there. He's been beat a few times and that's stuff I know he'll continue to get better at because he's got the skillset to do it and he's got the work ethic and the character to do it too."
What's your assessment on the pass rush? There were some pressures, but not necessarily a sack of Jacoby Brissett.
"Yeah, I thought we had our opportunity a couple times. I thought Jacoby hung in there really well and took a couple big hits and delivered some big-time throws and a couple big plays. I liked that we didn't come after him as much with calling blitzes and things like we did the week before which allowed him to get rid of the ball and get completions. But, I thought we did better not giving up the big play. The ones that we did, we did have pressures on. So, we seemed to find a better balance with that in this game."
In terms of McCaffrey, did you expect to use him this much as a receiver this season to help compensate for Brandon's recovery? How much better of a receiver is he then when he first came a few years ago?
"Yes, we did plan on using him this much. I think he is the same. He has always been this good. Christian, his skillset is what makes him special. So, he's always been like this."