49ers QB situation in flux
Similar to Week 4, the 49ers’ starting quarterback for next week’s game in Tampa might hinge on who’s healthier, Mac Jones or Brock Purdy. Purdy was scratched from the lineup on Wednesday, three days after aggravating the toe injury he initially suffered in Week 1. He said during the week that his big toe doesn’t feel as bad as it did after the Week 1 Seattle Seahawks game but he did not practice in the run-up to Thursday’s game.
Jones, meanwhile, seemed to struggle with the left knee injury that’s been bothering him since training camp and cameras also caught trainers working on his right wrist/forearm area on the sideline. He was seen limping at one point in the third quarter and had to be helped off the field later in the quarter after a hit by Rams edge rusher Byron Young. Jones played with a brace on the knee throughout the game.
The only other option at the moment is Adrian Martinez, who’s never attempted a regular-season NFL pass. Martinez was promoted to the 53-man roster prior to Thursday’s game.
Rams secondary has a troubling day
The Rams entered with a top-10 defense by nearly every metric but had shown leakage in one specific area: guarding wide receivers. Big plays on the perimeter the past two weeks after Ahkello Witherspoon went to injured reserve were a sign, and tonight, it meant Kendrick Bourne going for a career day with 10 catches for 142 yards on 11 targets.
What was different than the past two weeks is much of Bourne's activity came in the slot, with several catches against Quentin Lake, often a star in the Rams' defensive backfield. But Lake is better when his role is blurred between the nickel and the safety spot, and he was locked in man assignments on Bourne a little too often.
The 49ers used a smart approach by throwing super quick with Mac Jones against one of the best pass rushes in the NFL. The Rams built their defense in resources all around the front four, and that's more true with Witherspoon down. But teams throwing quick can be an antidote with the right personnel packages and play designs, and Kyle Shanahan often has a way of getting to those in these matchups.
49ers edge Rams in OT
The San Francisco 49ers have beaten the Los Angeles Rams 26-23 in overtime at SoFi Stadium, winning the game on a defensive stop on fourth-and-1.
Rather than kick a short game-tying field goal, Rams coach Sean McVay opted to go for it on fourth down from the 11-yard line. But safety Marques Sigle and the 49ers defense stuffed Rams running back Kyren Williams, ending the game.
The 49ers improved to 4-1 and took over sole possession of first place in the NFC West, while the Rams fell to 3-2.
San Francisco was missing Brock Purdy, George Kittle and a slew of wide receivers but got huge performances from Mac Jones (342 passing yards, two touchdowns), Christian McCaffrey (139 total scrimmage yards) and Kendrick Bourne (10 catches, 142 yards).
Matthew Stafford threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns in the loss.
49ers QB situation in flux
Similar to Week 4, the 49ers’ starting quarterback for next week’s game in Tampa might hinge on who’s healthier, Mac Jones or Brock Purdy. Purdy was scratched from the lineup on Wednesday, three days after aggravating the toe injury he initially suffered in Week 1. He said during the week that his big toe doesn’t feel as bad as it did after the Week 1 Seattle Seahawks game but he did not practice in the run-up to Thursday’s game.
Jones, meanwhile, seemed to struggle with the left knee injury that’s been bothering him since training camp and cameras also caught trainers working on his right wrist/forearm area on the sideline. He was seen limping at one point in the third quarter and had to be helped off the field later in the quarter after a hit by Rams edge rusher Byron Young. Jones played with a brace on the knee throughout the game.
The only other option at the moment is Adrian Martinez, who’s never attempted a regular-season NFL pass. Martinez was promoted to the 53-man roster prior to Thursday’s game.
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