SANTA CLARA — If the 49ers hadn’t lost three previous games, maybe there wouldn’t be such concern over losing to the Chiefs, the NFL’s only remaining undefeated team and the two-time defending champions. Alas, the 49ers (3-4) only created more questions that we’ll answer in this Week 8 mailbag before the Cowboys visit Sunday:
Do you see us trading for a wide receiver after Brandon Aiyuk’s ACL injury? (@one._.nut22)
Add in Deebo Samuel’s hospitalization with pneumonia and Jauan Jennings’ absence last game with a hip injury and it’s not just covering for Aiyuk, who’s torn the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee.
Aiyuk’s exit won’t be offset by Ricky Pearsall’s entrance. But the 49ers should see what their rookie first-round pick can deliver in a rotation with Jennings, Chris Conley, Jacob Cowing and perhaps Trent Taylor, who’s been toiling on the practice squad. Conley (ankle sprain) and tight end George Kittle (foot sprain) are day to day, adding to the 49ers’ health crisis.
Samuel played four snaps Sunday, observed the rest of the 28-18 loss on the sideline, then once doctors determined he had fluid in his lungs, he was sent to the hospital, coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday.
Conley served in Aiyuk’s role through camp, so Brock Purdy and the 49ers know what they have in him, if Pearsall is not ready for a full-time role; Pearsall played 48-of-63 snaps in Sunday’s debut, a 28-18 loss.
Will the 49ers get good players before the trade deadline? (@jpenaloza408)
Two years ago, they were 3-3 when they traded for Christian McCaffrey. Don’t expect the 49ers to uncover another McCaffrey-esque savior in the next two weeks. Getting defensive tackle D.J. Jones back from Denver could be appealing, at least.
Ricky will be fine. (The 49ers) need McCaffrey badly (@stevens9568)
Full agreement. Best-case scenario is McCaffrey returns for the second half of the season, perhaps debuting Nov. 10 at Tampa Bay. He’s ramped up his conditioning behind the scenes without setbacks, from what Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have relayed. Shanahan said he’d be “surprised” if McCaffrey debuts against the Cowboys and a “better chance” exists after the bye. If the 49ers keep losing without McCaffrey, the dilemma becomes whether to stash him for 2025.
There is a lack of offense creativity. Running the ball on 1st and 2nd down in the red zone is not creative. End-around was our best play since 2019 and has hardly been called the last two years. Do you agree Kyle’s play calling is a big reason for the 49ers record? (@eyaldoman)
Upon further review, Shanahan said Purdy should have taken a third-and-goal sack to preserve a field-goal try rather than throw a third interception (when hit as he threw) with 9 1/2 minutes left and down 21-12.
I suppose that is the smart analytical play. I hate it. I want a TD-hunting QB vs TD-machine Patrick Mahomes.
On the flip side, it was exciting to see what Andy Reid would dial up on each Chiefs play. For example, he put Carson Wentz in the backfield with Mahomes on first-and-goal, and it was Wentz delivering a handoff to Kareem Hunt; the 49ers kept Hunt from scoring that play, but not on the next one (which followed three defensive pre-snap penalties in the red zone).
What’s up with Brock Purty?? Terrible game!!! Can’t put that on any RB’s!!! (@richiebarron8)
Purdy posted a career-worst 34.7 passer rating as a starter, with three interceptions and 14 incompletions (including a third-down drop by Aiyuk). “He doesn’t look quite settled back there,” Fox Sports’ Tom Brady said after Purdy lined a second-down throw off right guard Dom Puni’s helmet (before Chris Jones could bat it down).
With the Chiefs’ top-notch defense and the 49ers’ attrition of receivers, Purdy seemed in a funk, reminiscent of his Christmas night disaster against Baltimore (four interceptions). He responded to that loss with success in Washington (22-of-28, 230 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions) as the 49ers clinched the No. 1 seed en route to the Super Bowl.
Why do we always collapse in the fourth quarter? (@jsred40)
The 49ers allowed only 60 points in the fourth quarter all of last season, while scoring 127 themselves. This season, they’ve already yielded 57 points in the fourth quarter, while scoring just 41. They’ve been outscored 38-9 in the final quarter of their last three losses.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs are outscoring teams 47-28 in the fourth quarter. They know how to close (see: 6-0 record, three Lombardi Trophy wins with Reid and Mahomes).
“It starts with your locker room, your coaches and how do the guys like each other, like playing together, and that whole trust thing they develop with each other,” Reid said in Monday’s press conference. “… The locker room has a big part of that. The coaches’ attitude is a big part of that.”
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What’s the status with (linebacker Dre) Greenlaw and (offensive lineman Jon) Feliciano returning? (@n_dosanjh; @ghostof007)
Neither have had their three-week evaluation window opened, and there are only three practices remaining until Week 10 (Tampa week). Shanahan said Greenlaw remains “a few weeks” away from getting his Achilles cleared, and a huge void remains on their defense until he’s back. If Feliciano’s surgically repaired knee and overall stamina prove ready, the 49ers may want to rotate him in to see if he bolsters their interior line.
Should Shanahan be on the hot seat after this loss? (@peluche830; @madkatzzz)
Losing to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl is one thing (over and over again). Losing to them as the NFL’s only undefeated team in a Week 7 game, it’s quite another. Shanahan’s seat isn’t hot, certainly not like those coordinating his defense (Nick Sorensen) and special teams (Brian Schneider).
Do you see Kyle firing the ST coordinator or making any drastic changes to the coaching staff during the season? (@SFG_soccer)
A year ago, Shanahan used the bye to move defensive coordinator Steve Wilks from the booth to the sideline. So, next week’s bye offers a realistic window for any staff moves.
Shanahan has never fired a coordinator in-season. Brandon Staley, the assistant head coach/defense, lurks as a potential successor to Sorensen. Matthew Harper is Schneider’s assistant, but perhaps Shanahan opens the job to others on staff (or outside it).
Can Shanahan get fired at the end of this season? If so, will (general manager John) Lynch return next year without Kyle? (@supanove)
The Shanahan-Lynch pairing has brought harmony, unity and perennial playoff contention. That said, either could survive in their roles without the other. That’s still hard to envision unless one or both get so mentally exhausted with their respective role. Maybe the question should be more about what their preferred staying power is, rather than what ownership’s feelings are.
At what point do they blow it up and trade off pieces that may not be back? (@fugleberg_official)
Exporting players with a third division title within reach? Nah. But they do have a surplus of quarterbacks, so if someone offers a late-round pick for No. 3 Josh Dobbs, the 49ers should do it.
Given how the season is going now, please get out the crystal ball to give us the 49ers final regular-season record. (@MrEd315)
My Week 1 crystal ball predicted a 14-3 regular season and a Super Bowl win over the Chargers. My Week 8 crystal ball has been shattered and is on injured reserve. But I do see the 49ers winning the NFC West to enter the Lombardi Trophy dash.
Beat Dallas. (@vb_bassist)
So says Steve Young’s 1994 tattoo.
Who stole the Niners soul? (@freestyle_03)
The same thieves who break into car windows to take tourists’ luggage.
What’s wrong with this team?! (@dr.p49)
A lot.
What the heck is going on? (@mamag355)
Heck, a win Sunday over a storied rival is just the deodorant this team needs.
