Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
Once one of the NFL’s best teams, the San Francisco 49ers look to have a closing window in front of them when it comes to their championship aspirations. However, for the New Orleans Saints, who hope to be on an upwards trajectory opposite San Francisco, the NFC West team will present a unique challenge.
Banged up and injured, the 49ers are still coached by two of the best minds in football in their respective areas. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is one of the league’s foremost innovators of offense while defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is returning to the team that helped him make the leap to head coach status years ago.
Between them, no matter who takes the field, the 49ers will not be easily beaten. Here are five things to know about the team going in from injuries, rookies in premiere matchups and more.
1. QB Brock Purdy is expected to miss multiple games
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, San Francisco’s starting quarterback is expected to miss two to five games with a toe injury. With him out, the 49ers are set to turn to 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones in his stead. Jones started seven games for the Jacksonville Jaguars last year, going 2-5 in the process. He is 0-2 against the Saints in his career, appearing in both games as the New England Patriots’ starter.
2. Jones won’t have a full complement of weapons
With wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk on the Physically Unable to Perform list and tight end George Kittle on Injured Reserve due to a hamstring injury suffered during the opening weekend’s action, Jones won’t have his full plethora of receiving weapons. The 49ers are also awaiting status on wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who suffered a shoulder injury.
3. CB Upton Stout, S Marques Sigle are 49ers defensive rookies to watch
The 49ers opened the season relying on a pair of rookie defensive backs to help out on defense. Stout and Sigle won their position battles and will be big matchup players to watch throughout this game. The Saints deployed three players with more than 15 snaps in the slot last week against the Arizona Cardinals: tight end Juwan Johnson and wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Chris Olave. Expect the Saints and head coach Kellen Moore to try to put some pressure on the rookies by forcing matchups with the team’s key pass-catchers.
4. No matter who plays quarterback, San Francisco’s defense is good
While the offense is injured and the defense has some rookie starters, much like the Saints do, linebacker Fred Warner and edge rusher Nick Bosa are still stalwarts on the 49ers’ defense. Both performed very well in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. Warner led the team with eight combined tackles including a tackle for a loss while Bosa had a sack and three tackles for a loss.
Both defenders played a role in limiting the Seahawks’s rushing game, which has been hyped up all offseason, with 84 team rushing yards, 3.2 per carry. The Saints are going to need to run the football in Week 2 in order to avoid putting too much pressure on second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler, who threw 46 passes in last week’s game.
5. San Francisco’s offense still has weapons
Even without Kittle, Aiyuk and Jennings, the 49ers still have at least two big weapons the Saints will have to match up with: running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. Both are outstanding players that can generate big plays in the blink of an eye.
The Saints’ rushing defense has to be ready for a heavy dose of McCaffrey after surrendering 146 rushing yards (5.4 per carry) last week against Arizona, though a chunk of those were allowed on one 52-yard rushing play. However, surrendering a big run to McCaffrey can turn the game into a runaway train if the Saints’ defense repeats its tackling woes from last week.
The 49ers already brought back wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, who has a lot of time on task with Jones from their days together in New England. And while Kyle Juszczyk may be a fullback, his versatility and playmaking acumen make him a threat as well.
