Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025
49ers training camp storylines to watch: Does Brock Purdy still have anything to prove? (Paywall)
“The 49ers will be on their third weakside linebacker in as many years. In 2023, the job belonged to Greenlaw and the following year De’Vondre Campbell took over for an injured Greenlaw. This year? When the 49ers used an early third-round pick on Martin in April, it seemed the rookie would be earmarked for the role. But that was before Dee Winters stood out during spring practices. The situation creates what might be the best competition of the summer. It’s a battle to see who will replace Greenlaw to become Warner’s every-down partner and a test of whether the 49ers still have a knack for finding quality linebackers in a league that seems to have fewer and fewer each season.”
Kawakami: Five big questions heading into 49ers training camp (paywall)
“I think Shanahan and new special teams coordinator Brant Boyer will go out of their way to make things a little more tense when the kicking sessions begin. As Shanahan suggested had to happen, this is a real competition — Moody knows Joseph could take his job and the coaches want him to feel the pressure in camp and the preseason games. Boyer has already switched the long-snapper and holder. The 49ers have switched the direction of their practice fields, which was long planned but still will change things for Moody.
This will feel different in camp. I’m curious to get a sense of how different it’ll be and how Moody will deal with it……..
I wonder if we’ll get more of Saleh’s personality at news conferences. Starting with Saleh and going through DeMeco Ryans’ tenure and beyond, DCs under Shanahan have been mostly milquetoast — apparently much more worried about possibly irritating Shanahan than providing much detail or back story to reporters. Saleh naturally wasn’t as cautious as the Jets HC. I think the wooing and the big contract should make it easier for Saleh to speak a little more freely this time with the 49ers.
And I think this whole situation might lead to more interesting stuff all around. Saleh and Shanahan had a great, slightly competitive relationship the first stint, and this should only be richer and more productive now that Saleh has lived through the head-coaching life and Shanahan has lived through two lesser DCs.”
Did 49ers’ Lynch and Shanahan blow it by failing to follow our offseason advice? (paywall)
“In January, Lynch and Shanahan were handed a blueprint. Their marching orders: Hurry up and sign quarterback Brock Purdy to a contract extension (Good job, fellas), prioritize keeping free-agent linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Bad job, guys), use their first four draft picks on offensive and defensive linemen (nice try) and make a significant free-agent investment on a cornerback (Sorry, spending under $2 million on Tre Brown doesn’t qualify).”
49ers well aware that Super Bowl LX is in Santa Clara: ‘That’s the dream scenario’ (paywall)
“I think we’ve been talking about it since we found out two years ago,” Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk said earlier this month. “That’s the dream scenario, that it ends there. I hope that’s how it works out. It’s July. I’ve got to give you the classic: ‘You can’t look that far ahead. It’s all about training camp in two weeks.’ So that’s what I’ll say.”
Five intriguing 49ers storylines to watch as training camp begins
“The 49ers did not sign a starting-caliber offensive lineman in free agency. And they did not select an offensive lineman in the draft until late in the seventh round.
General manager John Lynch is betting on the 49ers’ offensive line being good enough to keep things afloat this season. Ben Bartch is the front-runner to take over for Banks, while the other starters return to the roles they had last year.”
49ers season predictions, courtesy of Debbie Downer’s crystal ball (paywall)
“1. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will have a passive-aggressive post on social media. OK, fine, Aiyuk will have three passive-aggressive posts on social media.
2. Tight end George Kittle will say running back Christian McCaffrey is “really good at football.”
3. The 49ers will go 11-6, surge into the playoffs with five straight season-ending wins and finish second in the NFC West behind the Rams.
4. They will beat their personal punching bag, the Cowboys, 23-14 in the wild-card round before losing to the Falcons (not a misprint) 27-20 in the divisional playoffs.”
- “WR Quintez Cephus (Wisconsin)
- WR Grant DuBose (North Carolina-Charlotte)
- WR Ramel Keyton (Tennessee)
- WR Stanley Morgan (Nebraska)
- QB Spencer Petras (Utah State)
- WR Brandon Powell (Florida)
- WR Equanimeous St. Brown (Notre Dame)”