49ers Notebook: Purdy reflects on tough season; Jennings talks future; Kittle, Warner, and Williams recovery timelines

Monday marked the final opportunity for reporters to speak with San Francisco 49ers players at the team's facilities until the offseason program begins. The 49ers' injury-plagued 2025 season came to a disappointing end over the weekend with a playoff loss to division rival Seattle Seahawks.

While head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch will address the media later this week, several players met with reporters in the locker room Monday to offer their perspectives on an adversity-filled season and what lies ahead for the 49ers.

Brock Purdy reflects on long season

The season didn't start as Brock Purdy hoped. The quarterback, fresh off a massive contract extension, suffered a turf toe injury in Week 1, forcing him to miss significant time.

However, once he returned, Purdy played well. However, his team was without several key contributors due to injuries that took a toll on the roster. Still, the challenging campaign served as a learning opportunity for the quarterback.

"It was a long year," Purdy admitted. "Just coming into the year, I was like, 'Man, I want to play my best year of football.' And then, go into Seattle, and boom, I get turf toe. Overall, I was out eight weeks. And so, for me, it was like, 'Dang, this isn't how I expected the year to go for me, personally.'

"But we were also winning games. [QB] Mac [Jones] came in, played great, and so I was trying to do everything I could to serve the QB room and our team. And when I did come back, finding ways to find myself, and be able to play at a high level. So, it was just a lot emotionally, and obviously, physically."

Still, Purdy knows that's what he signed up for. That's part of the job of being a starting quarterback and a player in the league.

"That's playing in the NFL, and you've gotta find a way to, at the end of the day, be your best version of yourself, and go win games," Purdy continued. "And so, I'm proud that we were able to do that as a team.

"It sucks how it ended. We also have that bitter taste in our mouth, but definitely gonna learn from this, and I'm really excited for the future of the 49ers and what we're gonna do moving forward."

Despite how it ended, Purdy acknowledged that the 49ers did something special this year, overcoming so much along the way.

"I really do think it was a special year, given the circumstances that we were put in, and dealt with, and guys going down," Purdy said. "You see across the league that sometimes teams don't really have what it takes to have these kinds of circumstances, and then push forward, and make it to the playoffs, and have a chance to be the one seed at the end of the year. And all the things that we were able to accomplish, a lot of teams would have thrown in the towel.

"And so, for us to be able to do what we did—and we had 13 wins this year and had a lot of guys, young guys, step up, and come into a role, and play at a high level. More than anything, the love of this locker room and the brotherhood that we have, to be able to do it together, week in and week out, and give it everything we had, that's something that we'll always carry with us. In my eyes, it was a special year."

Purdy added that he will not require any surgical procedure to fully recover from the turf toe injury that he played through. Instead, he will focus on strengthening the toe this offseason.

George Kittle injury update

The San Francisco 49ers were without their All-Pro tight end in the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Seahawks after George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles in the Wild Card round versus the Philadelphia Eagles.

Upon arriving in the Lincoln Financial Field locker room following the injury, Kittle was quickly greeted by a familiar face.

"I made it to the training room and, obviously, not in a great mood," Kittle said. "They were taking off all my tape, doing the test, and the next person to say something to me was [49ers owner] Jed [York]. He was the first person in the locker room besides the athletic trainers and our team doctor. He just felt really bad for me, said he was here for me, and asked me what I needed.

"And getting his support was absolutely fantastic. Just the fact that the team owner comes down to come give his condolences to you, and just like stays there for you, just really means what kind of place this is, and the people that are in this building. And it makes me really happy to be a Niner."

Kittle added that his surgery went well. He suffered a high Achilles tear, which he described as the best-case scenario for that type of injury.

"I had a clean tear," Kittle said. "They didn't have to drill into my heel. Where the repair was is where there's more blood flow. And so, it takes some time off the recovery.

"So, he's (the surgeon) very excited about everything, my recovery, when I'll be running, when I'll be able to play again. He's very excited about it. That puts me in a very good mood. It's not as bad as other ones, so just excited about that."

When asked about his recovery timeline and a potential return, Kittle commented, "I'll keep it a surprise. You guys can find out later."

However, Kittle later said that he expects to return to action well before November.

"When he was told that timeline could mean he could be ready around Week 1, Kittle smiled and told a reporter that he could go ahead and 'connect the dots.'" Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Will Jauan Jennings return to the 49ers?

Jauan Jennings is among several San Francisco 49ers players set to become free agents this offseason. The veteran wide receiver finished the 2025 season with 55 receptions for 643 yards. Still, he led the team with a career-high nine receiving touchdowns, establishing himself as a reliable weapon in the passing game down the stretch.

When asked if he expects to return to the 49ers next season, Jennings simply replied, "We'll see."

A reporter then asked if he would be open to the 49ers using the franchise tag to keep him in red and gold.

"I'd have to talk with my guy, [agent] Drew [Rosenhaus], to see what that is all about," Jennings said.

On his priorities heading into free agency, Jennings added, "I'd say health, first, number one—mental and physical. And then, just being grateful."

Jennings battled through multiple injuries during the season, including broken ribs, high- and low-ankle sprains, and a shoulder issue. When asked about his current health, the wide receiver simply said, "I would say we made it through the season."

With his future uncertain, Jennings made it clear that the 49ers and Santa Clara feel like home.

"Now, it's home," Jennings said. "It quickly turned into home, and it's a run I'll never forget, for sure."

Mykel Williams recovery timeline

Mykel Williams' rookie season came to an early end after the 49ers defensive lineman suffered a torn ACL in Week 9 against the New York Giants. He was subsequently placed on injured reserve.

Before the injury, Williams appeared in nine games and totaled 20 tackles (four for loss), three quarterback hits, one sack, and a fumble recovery during his first NFL season.

Williams told reporters he expects to be fully recovered around training camp and anticipates being ready for the start of the 2026 NFL season—but nothing is a certainty.

"I should be," Williams said. "That's along the timeline. I should be ready right around then, but who's to say?"

For the rookie, the injury was a disappointing setback to the start of his NFL career.

"I really kind of feel like I was about to get comfortable and hit my stride," Williams said. "And then my injury happened. So, I'm just focusing on getting back to that point, and getting back to playing on the field."

The 49ers selected Williams out of Georgia with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Fred Warner reflects on missed opportunity

Fred Warner was on track for a remarkable playoff return. Had the 49ers defeated the Seahawks and advanced to the NFC Championship, the All-Pro linebacker could have rejoined his teammates just over three months after suffering a dislocated and fractured right ankle.

Now, Warner will have to wait until the 2026 season to make his comeback.

"I feel like this year was taken away from me," Warner told reporters. "I didn't get to help my team accomplish what we set out to do, and it truly feels like something was taken from me.

"But I did gain so much in terms of what I did learn, and just overall, as a human being, and taking away what did happen to me, and growing from that. And so, I'll obviously take all that with me going forward."

Warner added that his ankle will not require any additional procedures during the offseason. With his 2025 season officially over, he can now focus on a more measured recovery plan to ensure he is fully ready for the 2026 season.

Additionally, Warner learned an important lesson this season.

"That I'm not invincible," he said. "Before this happened, I truly had the feeling that nothing bad could happen to me. I've been so blessed with great health through seven, eight years. Had missed one game with a hamstring pull.

"This was something significant that finally happened to me, where it wasn't anything that was really in my control. Just a fluke injury that kind of took my season away, and so, I think it gives me much more gratitude going forward of just really soaking up each moment, and not taking a single day for granted."

Mac Jones gets a football PhD

Mac Jones signed a two-year deal with the 49ers, keeping him under contract through the 2026 season. The move gives the former first-round pick a chance to refine his quarterback skills under Shanahan and alongside Purdy in one of the NFL's most respected offensive systems.

The deal also offered Jones an opportunity to rejuvenate his career after struggling to find success with the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars.

"I think when I signed here, and talking to Kyle, that was part of the goal, was to just get back on track, have fun, and get around winners again," Jones said. "And I feel like that's helped me so much. I love everybody here, and it was exciting this year. I felt like every time I came into work, it wasn't work. We're having fun in the quarterback room, in the offensive meeting, on the practice fields.

"And then, I just carried it into games. For me, to have back-to-back years where I played eight games was awesome for me. I feel like that's just, as a backup, sometimes you don't know when your time's gonna be. So, really excited for that opportunity that I had.

"And I feel like there wasn't a lot of drop off, and the guys had a lot of fun when we were out there. And that's the standard that Brock's set since he's been here, and for me to learn from him and Kyle and Nick and Clay, and the list goes on. So, really, just got a PhD in football this year, and I want to keep getting better."