B. Williams could fill slot role

New San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mohamed Sanu could be seen on Sunday's telecast offering up some advice to Kendrick Bourne. The two had already built a relationship with each other on Instagram, and last week became teammates when Sanu signed a one-year deal with the team. "I love [Bourne's] game, how he is kind of similar (to myself), in a sense," Sanu told reporters on Thursday. "We just always would communicate through Instagram or text. We just happen to be on the same team now. ... It's been cool to be around him every day. He's a big ball of energy, a great personality, great athlete, better person. It's fun to be around him." Sanu didn't join the 49ers just to be a veteran mentor, though. He signed with the team to contribute on a championship

There wasn't a whole lot of good to take away from the San Francisco 49ers' 24-20 defeat against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon, and fans may not be ready to look at that game yet. Images of quarterback Kyler Murray evading 49ers defenders or wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins torching defensive backs may still be fresh in your minds. But how about just one memorable play? And maybe not the one you would first expect. No, it's not running back Raheem Mostert reaching a speed of nearly 23 MPH in a 76-yard touchdown run. It's a block by new 49ers left tackle Trent Williams, who absolutely obliterated Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks on an end-around run

Analytics site Pro Football Focus released its grades from Sunday's Week 1 matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals. The road-team Cardinals defeated the defending NFC champions 24-20. It may be too early for fans to point out any bright spots from the loss at Levi's Stadium, but Pro Football Focus had no problem doing so. Left tackle Trent Williams wasn't just the 49ers' best offensive player in the game; he was the highest-graded Niners player, period. In fact, Williams was the highest-graded player between both teams, edging out Cardinals defensive lineman Angelo Blackson's 85.0 overall grade. That's not bad for a player who missed all of last season with Washington. Williams earned an 88.6 overall grade, a