Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Friday, August 23rd, 2024
“The difference, among many, from Warner’s rookie season, is that he sees the game quicker. He can, as he put it, “surgeon diagnose” what the offense is doing and relay that to the rest of the defense. That pre-snap assessment allows him to trigger instinctively.
“That’s why I feel like I play at a different speed now,” Warner said. “Even though I’m not necessarily faster, I’m seeing things differently in space.”
How George Kittle ‘frustrates’ Fred Warner during 49ers practices
“You know what, it’s been a little bit different for Fred, just because his guy Dre Greenlaw isn’t out there right now,” Kittle said. “Those two bounce a lot of energy off each other. People he’s talking trash to? I’d would say it would either be the running backs, or occasionally me or [Brock] Purdy.
“He wants someone to talk trash to him, and I usually just give him the silent treatment because it frustrates him. That’s kind of one of my favorite things to do; frustrate Fred Warner.”
“I’d say Labor Day weekend is a fair target,” Breer wrote in his mailbag feature for Sports Illustrated. “I do think both of them get taken care of.”
49ers reportedly close to Brandon Aiyuk deal. What’s the holdup? (paywall)
What’s the holdup? A complicating factor could be a holdout — and another hold-in. Two other All-Pro wide receivers, Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb and Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase, also haven’t participated in training-camp practices while they seek new contracts. General manager John Lynch was asked Thursday on KNBR if the unsettled top-of-the-wide-receiver market is having any impact on negotiations with Aiyuk.
“I think everything factors into the situation,” said Lynch, who was asked specifically about Lamb. “That’s the market in general. That’s the market at his specific position. So it’s fluid. And that’s sometimes what makes these things difficult. And our own constraints because we’ve rewarded so many of our players.”
Lombardi cherishing 49ers return after roller-coaster NFL journey
“Lombardi broke into coaching with Harbaugh. In a short period of time with Shanahan he sees similarities between the 49ers’ two most-successful coaches of the past three decades.
Shanahan takes a hands-on approach and is known as one of the top offensive minds in today’s game. Harbaugh is more of a CEO-type whose focus is on culture and mindset.
“They go about it in a different way, but they try to get to the same endpoint,” Lombardi said. “When the ball kicks off on Sunday, they want to be the most physically and mentally tough team to handle any adversity that comes up in the game.”
“While San Francisco will want to get something out of its final preseason contest, it’s much more important for the team to escape the game without any injuries to key players that will carry over into the regular season.”
Maiocco’s 53-man roster projection entering 49ers’ preseason finale
“There does not seem to be a whole lot that separates Burford, Zakelj, Hubbard, Parker, Bartch and Kingston. Only three of that group will make the 53-man roster, but those left out could find their way back to the practice squad.”
“The 49ers brought back a familiar face, re-signing veteran tight end Logan Thomas to a one-year contract, the team announced Thursday.”
Five 49ers to keep an eye on in Friday’s preseason finale against Raiders (paywall)
“It’s possible a strong performance Friday could erase any doubt the 49ers might have about starting Mustapha against the Jets in prime time in the regular-season opener, with QB Aaron Rodgers eager to try picking on him.
Defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen largely waved off concerns about two plays from Sunday in which Mustapha didn’t make the tackle despite being in prime position. On one play, he said, Mustapha was tripped. On the other, Sorensen suggested he hesitated, which Sorensen viewed as an aberration due to Mustapha’s trademark aggressiveness.”
One thought on Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and every 49ers defensive player (paywall)
“A hamstring injury hurt him down the stretch of last season. Hargrave says that he’s healthy now. In an ideal scenario, the 49ers can fortify their run defense enough elsewhere so that Hargrave has full license to execute his specialty. That’s rushing the passer.”