Tag: Kyle Shanahan

Dec 30, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) drops back to pass during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

Brock Purdy, 49ers get good news about elbow injury

Posted on | by Field Level Media

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy suffered a right elbow contusion with nerve inflammation in Monday night’s loss to the Detroit Lions, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday.

Although it is unlikely Purdy will play for the 49ers (6-10) in Sunday’s season finale against the Arizona Cardinals, Shanahan said the news on Purdy’s elbow was positive and that no long-term injury was expected.

Purdy, who tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow in the NFC Championship Game two years ago, described the feeling in his elbow after the game.

“I got hit on the backside and basically just my arm was on fire kind of thing,” Purdy, 25, said. “I tried throwing a couple on the sideline and I couldn’t at that point.”

Early indications Monday night were that Purdy had a nerve issue rather than ligament problem.

Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen are the backup QBs in San Francisco.

If Purdy sits Sunday against Arizona (7-9), he will finish his third NFL season with a 65.9 completion percentage (300 of 455) for 3,864 yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Purdy has gone from “Mr. Irrelevant” — denoting the final pick of the draft — in 2022 to the starting quarterback on a team that made back-to-back appearances in the NFC title game.

He is entering the final season of a four-year, $3.73 million contract he signed in June 2022. San Francisco will need to discuss Purdy’s long-term future with the club in the offseason.

–Field Level Media

Jul 28, 2021; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan (left) and general manager John Lynch during training camp at the SAP Performance Facility. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Unamused 49ers GM: Cool it with Kyle Shanahan ‘hot seat’ talk

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Seven losses in a season is unfamiliar territory for the San Francisco 49ers.

With two Super Bowl appearances in five seasons, general manager John Lynch openly admits the 49ers haven’t earned the right to be called “as good” as the 2023 NFC championship group.

San Francisco is 5-7 but only two games behind NFC West-leading Seattle with five games remaining as the Chicago Bears (4-8) arrive Sunday.

“I’ve found the whole discussion on Kyle rather comical,” Lynch said in an interview Friday with KNBR in San Francisco. “We have won four of the last five division championships. We’ve been to two Super Bowls. The standard here is to win championships, and we’ve fallen short of that, I understand.

“But we have an excellent head coach, and the fact that people are talking about stuff like that, I do find it comical. We’re 100 percent behind Kyle and what he brings to our organization. Like I said, our focus is really on the Bears and doing everything we can. That’s where Kyle’s focus is, and that’s where all our focus is.”

San Francisco lost 35-10 in the snow at Buffalo last Sunday night and the 49ers placed their top two running backs on injured reserve due to injuries in that game. Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) could return for Week 18 at Arizona if the 49ers are still fighting for a playoff spot.

In a top-down ranking of NFC teams by record and playoff position, the 49ers are No. 11 entering Week 14.

“You are what your record says you are in this league, and that isn’t very good. So I think we’ve been through a lot as a team, this current team with a lot of stuff that has happened to members of our organization. Injuries, tragic circumstances, ultimately those are just excuses. One thing I can tell you is I’m proud of how this group has stuck together, had each other’s back. The other thing I can tell you is the story’s not written yet. We’re still grinding, and we’re still playing.”

The 49ers last missed the postseason in 2020 with a record of 6-10 that followed an appearance in the Super Bowl — San Francisco’s first title game loss of two to the Kansas City Chiefs.

San Francisco’s upcoming schedule after Sunday includes a short week before playing the division rival Rams on Thursday, at Miami (Dec. 22), a Monday night matchup with the Detroit Lions on Dec. 30 and the finale against the Cardinals.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) walks on the field before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

49ers’ Kyle Shanahan expects Christian McCaffrey to debut vs. Bucs

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Barring a setback, star running back Christian McCaffrey is ready to make his season debut for the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Niners coach Kyle Shanahan commented on the progress McCaffrey has made in practice when speaking to KNBR radio in San Francisco on Thursday afternoon.

“He’s been awesome these last two days,” Shanahan said. “You never know (about) a setback or anything, but these two days have been great, and I expect to see him out there.”

McCaffrey was inactive for Week 1 before being placed on injured reserve Sept. 14 with bilateral Achilles tendinitis. The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year sought treatment in Germany, where he received a platelet-rich plasma injection.

On Monday, he practiced for the first time since September, starting the timer on his 21-day window to return from the IR midseason. He was listed as a limited participant on the 49ers’ practice report both Wednesday and Thursday.

McCaffrey led the NFL with 2,023 yards from scrimmage last season: a league-leading 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns plus 67 catches for 564 yards and seven touchdowns. He had another 59 carries for 268 yards and four touchdowns plus a team-leading 19 receptions for 152 yards in the playoffs.

McCaffrey last played in a game on Feb. 11, the 49ers’ loss to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. McCaffrey had 22 carries for 80 yards and eight receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown.

–Field Level Media

Jan 22, 2022; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) during a NFC Divisional playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

49ers coach: Nothing ‘remotely close’ on Deebo Samuel trade calls

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San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that the team has yet to receive a suitable trade offer for hybrid wide receiver Deebo Samuel.

“You’ll consider anything. You have a responsibility to help your organization the most you can,” Shanahan said on Friday night. “But losing a player like Deebo, it’s hard to see how that helps your organization. So you try to look into all the aspects of it and what people are willing to do, and nothing was even remotely close to what we thought would be fair to us or fair for the Niners.”

Multiple media outlets reported the New York Jets offered the 10th overall selection of the 2022 NFL Draft in a pick swap with San Francisco. The 49ers declined, and the Jets selected Ohio State wideout Garrett Wilson with that pick.

Samuel, 26, recently requested a trade from San Francisco on the heels of his breakout season. He is heading into the last year of his $7.24 million rookie deal and is due to make $3.99 million this year with a salary-cap hit of $4.89 million, according to Spotrac.

Samuel made first-team All-Pro last season after proving to be effective as both a ball carrier and a pass catcher. He made 77 receptions for 1,405 yards (league-leading 18.2 yards per catch) and six touchdowns, and he added 59 carries for 365 yards and eight touchdowns.

In three postseason games in the 2021 season, Samuel added 10 catches for 154 yards and a TD plus 27 carries for 137 yards and a score.

The 49ers selected Samuel in the second round of the 2019 draft out of South Carolina.

“We’ve been with him for three years,” Shanahan said. “I think we know him pretty well. He knows us pretty well. And things haven’t been the best over the last couple of months through outside perception. But I see that happen a lot in this league, especially in contract situations. So, you try not to overreact one way or the other on it. You try to be patient with it because emotions can get high with people, especially when you care about people and a lot is riding on it. But that’s what you’ve got to make sure you don’t react to. And you’ve got to make sure that when it’s all said and done, first and foremost, you do what’s right for the organization. And then second of all, you try to get a win-win for both sides.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 27, 2020; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn looks on during the first half against the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

49ers reportedly hire Anthony Lynn as assistant head coach

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The San Francisco 49ers plan to hire former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn as their new assistant head coach, ESPN and USA Today reported Friday night.

One report said terms had yet to be discussed, but a verbal agreement was in place.

Lynn, 53, joins San Francisco after spending 2021 as offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions. He coached the Chargers for four seasons, from 2017-20, compiling a 33-31 record with one playoff appearance.

He was also assistant head coach of the New York Jets (2013-14) and Buffalo Bills (2015-16), taking over the Bills’ head-coaching duties on an interim basis at the end of 2016.

The 49ers and coach Kyle Shanahan needed a new assistant head coach after parting with Jon Embree earlier this week. Embree was also the team’s tight ends coach.

In Shanahan’s fifth season as coach, the Niners reached the NFC Championship Game as a wild-card team and lost to the Los Angeles Rams, 20-17.

Lynn and the Shanahan family have history together as Lynn played for Kyle Shanahan’s father, Mike Shanahan, for the Denver Broncos as a running back and special teamer.

–Field Level Media

Sep 26, 2021; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan stands on the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Shanahan: No QB battle for 49ers, not a weekly decision

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San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan reiterated once more on Wednesday that Jimmy Garoppolo is their starting quarterback and rookie Trey Lance isn’t challenging him for more playing time.

The 49ers (2-1) have used Lance on a handful of plays in certain packages and scenarios so far this season. The rookie threw for a touchdown in Week 1’s win over the Detroit Lions and powered in for a 1-yard rushing touchdown in Week 3’s loss to the Green Bay Packers.

A reporter asked Shanahan if the Niners aren’t using Lance earlier and more often because it might prevent Garoppolo from developing a rhythm early.

“There’s not a quarterback battle right now,” Shanahan said. “We’re going with our starting quarterback, who I think is playing very well. I’m happy that he is, so that Trey is not thrown into any situations he has to do too early.

“If he ever is thrown into that, then I know Trey will deal with that and he’ll get better as it goes. But we have the luxury where we don’t have to do that yet, to Trey or to our team.”

For his part, Garoppolo has completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 760 yards, four touchdowns and one interception through three games. Were it not for Aaron Rodgers’ last-minute heroics on Sunday night, the 49ers might be 3-0. After a slow start, Garoppolo led three second-half touchdown drives to take the lead late.

San Francisco hosts the Seattle Seahawks (1-2) on Sunday in what will be each team’s first NFC West game of the season.

–Field Level Media

Aug 14, 2021; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) warms up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

49ers’ Kyle Shanahan: WR Brandon Aiyuk not being punished

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk followed up a strong rookie season with limited opportunity in the opener last weekend.

Coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday that Aiyuk isn’t in the doghouse. Rather, the team is rewarding fellow wide receiver Trent Sherfield for being a consistent presence in practice.

“I know this all being (looked at) that we’re punishing Aiyuk or something because Trent got even reps with him or we rotated those guys,” Shanahan said. “I’m not gonna sit here and say he needs to do A, B and C to get back out there, but it’s more that we’ve been practicing the last month and one guy has been there every day and the quarterback has a lot of confidence in him.

“… If he wants to be out there every single play, he’s got to be a lot better than the guy behind him.”

Sherfield, 25, opened the scoring on Sunday with a 5-yard touchdown reception in San Francisco’s 41-33 win over the Detroit Lions.

Sherfield finished with two catches for 23 yards. Aiyuk was held without a reception while dealing with the effects of a nagging hamstring injury.

Aiyuk, 23, led the team in catches (60), receiving yards (748) and receiving touchdowns (five) in 12 games last season. He also rushed for two scores for the 49ers, who selected him with the 25th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

August 14, 2021; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (5) and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) warm up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Shanahan has ‘good idea’ of starting QB but won’t spill

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San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t see a reason to name a Week 1 starting quarterback yet — other than to get reporters to stop asking him.

Asked Wednesday about the status of the competition between Jimmy Garoppolo and first-round draft pick Trey Lance, Shanahan said he had a “pretty good idea” of which quarterback he’d name to start, but wasn’t ready to share it yet.

“If there would be one reason I can think of by naming it that would help, it’d be to end those questions,” Shanahan said. “If you could give me another reason that it’s a big advantage that helps our team, affects anything that has to do with us, then I will name it. But I don’t think it does.

“And you know, why tell people? I know you guys want an answer, which is fine. I get the suspense of it, but I’m not just going to answer it to end your guys’ suspense.”

Shanahan’s remarks came hours after the Jacksonville Jaguars officially named No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence their starting quarterback and the Denver Broncos announced Teddy Bridgewater would start over Drew Lock.

It leaves the 49ers as the one of the few remaining teams without a Week 1 starter solidified — or at least publicly known.

Garoppolo was asked Wednesday if Shanahan had divulged to him which quarterback would start Week 1 against the host Detroit Lions.

“Yeah, I have a pretty good idea,” Garoppolo said. “It’s whatever (Shanahan) decides, yeah. I have a pretty good idea. I’m pretty happy with where I’m at right now and everything and just the offense as a whole.

“Yeah, Kyle’s the head man. He’ll make the call.”

Shanahan said at the start of training camp that Garoppolo was entering camp as the No. 1 on the depth chart and Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in April, would start as second string. The fifth-year Niners coach also said this month that Lance would see the field at least “situationally” during his rookie season.

Reports out of San Francisco’s camp have said Lance has received more first-team snaps of late.

Garoppolo has a 22-8 regular-season record as the 49ers’ starter but has battled a number of injuries, including a torn ACL and two high ankle sprains. He started Super Bowl LIV for the Niners, a game they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.

–Field Level Media

Jaguars Head Coach Urban Meyer claps as his players transition between drills on the practice fields outside TIAA Bank Field during the Jacksonville Jaguars mandatory veterans minicamp session Monday morning, June 14, 2021. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union] Jki 061421 Jaguarsveterans 1

Reports: 49ers, Cowboys, Jags dinged for OTA violations

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The Jacksonville Jaguars were fined $200,000 and the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys were each fined $100,000 for violating NFL rules about organized team activities, ESPN and NFL Network reported Thursday.

New Jaguars coach Urban Meyer was fined $100,000 while 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy were levied $50,000 fines. In addition, according to the reports, each team had to forfeit a certain amount of OTA practice time, either this year or for 2022.

The precise violations were not made public.

The Jaguars released a statement saying that the club is “vigilant about practicing within the (Collective Bargaining Agreement) rules and will re-emphasize offseason training rules as they relate to contact. We are looking forward to the start of training camp later this month.”

OTAs are held during the offseason and are typically run at a lower speed and intensity. Players are only allowed to wear helmets, shorts and jerseys — no pads — in accordance with the CBA.

–Field Level Media