The San Francisco 49ers will host the Denver Broncos on Sunday, looking to remain undefeated and atop the NFC West standings. The Broncos may represent the 49ers' biggest challenge since Week 1, when they faced the Los Angeles Rams.
On Wednesday, 49ers players discussed two Broncos players—one on each side of the ball—who could make things difficult for San Francisco.
Fred Warner offers high praise for Bo Nix
The 49ers defense will look to frustrate Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, who has thrown for 605 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions this season while posting an 80.3 passer rating.
While Nix's numbers may not reflect an elite statistical season, linebacker Fred Warner knows the Broncos quarterback can be dangerous. He offered a brief scouting report after Wednesday's practice when asked about the challenge of facing Nix.
His answer was telling.
"Everything. Everything, honestly," Warner told reporters. "He's just a playmaker. His ability to extend out of the pocket, use his legs. I think he's faster than people think.
"His ability to throw the deep ball and make plays in that way. He's, I think, one of the best quarterbacks in the league."
That's high praise from a player who regularly goes against one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL during practices, Brock Purdy.
"It's just no flinch," Warner continued in his breakdown of Nix. "I think that's one of the great attributes of a quarterback, is just the ability to just continue to play, regardless of the situation. The poise that he plays with as a young player, too—I think that's that's uncommon. So, it's going to be a huge, huge challenge for us."
A familiar face on the Broncos' defense
Sunday will be a reunion for Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga, who spent his first four seasons with the 49ers. He's in his second season with Denver's secondary and is looking to help his current team hand his former team its first loss of the season.
Hufanga is having an impressive 2026 campaign. According to Pro Football Focus, he has struggled against the run, but his 75.3 defensive grade and team-leading 84.3 coverage grade are career highs.
"Playing with Huff when I got here and just watching how his career has unfolded, it's no shock," running back Christian McCaffrey said. "He's what I call a football player, which I think is one of the best compliments you can give somebody.
"Obviously, he's got all the skills, but his knack for the ball, his understanding of the game, he's a hell of a competitor, and definitely somebody that you got to be alert for at all times."
Hufanga was instrumental in the Broncos' win over the Rams. His five tackles, three passes defensed, sack, and two interceptions—including one returned 66 yards for a touchdown—earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Warner played alongside Hufanga for years and isn't surprised to see the safety develop into a playmaker for the Broncos.
"Everybody here knows Huff, his playmaking ability, and obviously in the biggest way ever Sunday night, in the plays that he made to help to win that game," Warner said. "He's just like a Tasmanian Devil out there. Just out there trying to make plays and play fast, play physical, instinctive. Probably one of the best instinctive players I've ever seen in my life."
On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan discussed the challenges of facing Hufanga, despite not having reviewed the Broncos' game film yet. He didn't need to in order to break down Hufanga's skill set.
"Huff's a ballhawk. He flies around. He's a hell of a player," Shanahan said. "I've got nothing but love for Huff, so I was real excited seeing those things happen last night, obviously, and we've got our work cut out to make sure that they don't happen this week."
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