Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images Your San Francisco 49ers news for Monday, September 16th, 2024 Barrows: 49ers need Brandon Aiyuk-Brock Purdy connection to shake off rust for offense to return to form (paywall) “Those passing yards didn’t come easy. Nearly all of Samuel’s catches were highly contested throws across the middle in which Samuel, a credit to him, was able to secure the ball amid a sea of Vikings’ hands. A typical Purdy pass saw him drop back, then wait — and wait and wait and wait — for a receiver to come open. His time-to-throw statistic — how much time elapses between the ..read more

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images If you are a 49ers fan, you’re a Texans fan when they aren’t playing the 49ers. Go DeMeco! OK. It hasn’t been a good day of football for fans fo the San Francisco 49ers. That grossness is over. Now we can settle into Sunday Night Football with the Chicago Bears going to Houston to face the Houston Texans. It’s obvious here, but this is a big, big DeMeco Ryans house. When the Texans aren’t playing the 49ers, I’m a Texans fan. Tonight, they get the Bears, which should be a fun matchup to see rookie Caleb Williams. Last week was not a good debut for Williams ..read more

Brad Rempel-Imagn Images The 49ers came flat-footed in a rough road game early in the season After a big-time victory in Week 1 over the New York Jets, the San Francisco 49ers fell flat in Week 2, losing to the Minnesota Vikings 23-17 at U.S. Bank Stadium in their first road game of the season. It was an ugly performance from the 49ers, who made one too many mistakes that ultimately led to their demise, leading to their eighth straight loss on the road to Minnesota, with their last victory at U.S. Bank coming back in 1992. Here are three quick takeaways from the 49ers 23-17 loss to the Vikings ..read more

Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images The 49ers had their opportunities but could not get out of their own way. We expect the San Francisco 49ers to score every time they touch the ball, making you scratch your head whenever they go three-and-out. That's what Brock Purdy and the Niners did on their first drive. Sam Darnold and the Vikings had more success after Darnold ran for a first down, which brought Minnesota to around mid-field. Defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen was not going to let Justin Jefferson beat him, as they had bracket coverage on Jefferson on the first drive. A penalty and an ..read more

Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images The third quarter was a wild one Jordan Mason ran for seven and 22 yards after breaking multiple tackles. That came after Deebo had a gain of 28 yards. A well-designed screen pass to George Kittle got the Niners on the scoreboard to trim the lead to three. But the Vikings had time before the end of the half and would receive the ball to begin the second half. Nick Bosa had his first sack of the season, but Jefferson would gain 16 yards on 3rd & 13 to keep Minnesota on the field. Darnold converted another third down on a scramble, which put the Vikings ..read more

Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images There were plenty of scoring opportunites early In years past, this was a punt, and let your defense give you the ball back with an advantageous field position. Instead, Kyle Shanahan elected to go for it on 4th & 4, and Jauan Jennings beat his man over the middle of the field for a gain of 25 yards. Jennings has been remarkable at the start of the season, and he came through for the team there. That would not be the last time the Niners leaned on Jennings. After Kittle’s 3rd & goal reception came up a yard and a half short of the end zone, Purdy t ..read more

Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images It’s 3-0 after one quarter We’ve come to expect the San Francisco 49ers to score every time they touch the ball, which makes you scratch your head whenever they go three-and-out. That’s what Brock Purdy and the Niners did on their first drive. Sam Darnold and the Vikings had more success after Darnold ran for a first down, which brought Minnesota to around mid-field. Defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen was not going to let Justin Jefferson beat him, as they had bracket coverage on Jefferson on the first drive. A penalty and an awkward toss backward put ..read more

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images A fast start would go a long way Brock Purdy’s first road start of the season comes against a team that can give any quarterback headaches. Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings felt like they were playing possum last week against the New York Giants as they sat back and played coverage. But we know that’s not how Flores operates, and his true colors should come out today. The 49ers offensive line did an extraordinary job last week, as did the tight ends and running backs, keeping Purdy upright. Today will be a tougher challenge, but the results from ..read more

Photo by Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images Hufanga is inactive for the second week in a row We’re about 90 minutes away from the San Francisco 49ers' first road game of the season as they take on the Minnesota Vikings, a team they have not beaten on the road in 30 years. One of the corresponding moves the 49ers made after placing Christian McCaffrey on the Injured Reserve on Saturday was elevating safety Tracy Walker III to the active roster. Walker did not play a defensive or special teams snap last year. No changes to the inactive list in Week 2 for the Niners: S Tala ..read more

Photo by David Berding/Getty Images According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapport, 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey is not at risk to tear his Achilles. NFL Network’s Ian Rapport reported the timetable for the San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey and some of the pain that he’s dealing with: “My understand, Christian McCaffrey is dealing with painful Achillies tendinitis. Described to me as frustrating and difficult. Difficult to run and certainly difficult to get rid of. He’s not at more of a risk of tearing his Achilles, but from my understanding, he’s likely to be out six weeks or ..read more