The San Francisco 49ers’ concerns grew after their 26-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4, raising questions about depth, injuries, and the team’s ability to maintain its early-season momentum.
San Francisco 49ers Concerns Mounting After First 2025 Loss
Winning in the NFL in 2025 requires good coaching, talented players on offense, defense, and special teams, plus roster depth and injury luck to survive a grueling 18-week season. The injury bug is having its way with the 49ers for the second straight year, hampering the team’s vast expectations.
QB: Is Purdy Healthy Enough And Can The 49ers Survive If He’s Not?
Every position in football is important, yet the one that receives the utmost attention is quarterback. The 49ers have had a fair share of drama and changes at this position in the season’s early going.
Both starting quarterback Brock Purdy and his backup, Mac Jones, who played well the past two weeks, were limited in practice leading up to Sunday’s game. Purdy’s return to action did not go as well as the team had hoped. He looked rusty, mixing flashes of productivity with costly mistakes late. Purdy’s two interceptions and a fumble in the final minutes overshadowed his two earlier touchdown passes.
Additionally, Purdy reported lingering toe soreness postgame. As a result, the team may have to turn to Jones again, given the quick turnaround with their next game on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams. While Jones is a talented quarterback who has shown his ability to play winning football, the 49ers’ hopes lie with Purdy, who is fresh off receiving a massive raise this offseason.
Skill Positions: Are The 49ers’ Weapons Too Thin To Support Purdy And McCaffrey?
Even if Purdy keeps playing, he is not the 49ers’ only concern. Many contending NFL teams have at least one offensive weapon that opposing defenses try their best to stop. The 49ers currently lack such a player, leaving Christian McCaffrey to carry much of the load.
Wideouts Deebo Samuel (traded to the Washington Commanders), Brandon Aiyuk (ACL rehab), and tight end George Kittle (hamstring) are unavailable, leaving the 49ers thin at key skill positions.
That leaves Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings as the 49ers’ top wide receivers, both of whom suffered injuries against the Jaguars and, even when healthy, are more complementary targets at this point in their young careers. Until Aiyuk returns, the 49ers need these two players to stay healthy and keep improving.
Defense: Without Bosa, Who Can Generate Turnovers And Consistently Pressure The Quarterback?
While these are offensive concerns, that does not mean the 49ers are devoid of other question marks. Through four weeks, the 49ers have yet to record an interception, have only forced three fumbles, and have the third fewest sacks in the NFL (five). The latter number will likely not drastically increase with defensive end Nick Bosa out for the rest of the season. Oftentimes, quarterbacks throw interceptions when pressured or hit by defenders. Thus, the 49ers must figure out how to generate pressure without Bosa to force more turnovers and improve their defense.
If these issues linger, the 49ers risk slipping back into 2024’s struggles rather than remaining in the thick of NFC West contention.
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