SANTA CLARA – Three males walked right into a bar … or possibly they need they did.
Kyle Shanahan, Robert Saleh and John Lynch got here collectively at midfield and gazed on the 49ers’ defensive gamers they’d left for Thursday’s follow, beneath nearly sarcastically sunny skies.
In fact, that unit presses on with out Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Mykel Williams the remainder of this season. However two extra defensive mainstays missed Thursday’s session: linebacker Dee Winters (knee, knee) and defensive sort out Alfred Collins (hip).
Additionally added to the damage report after restricted responsibility have been just-acquired defensive finish Keion White (groin) and defensive sort out Kalia Davis (ankle).
Alas, extra reinforcements may very well be wanted on an ever-changing protection, one which should bond quick Sunday when the 49ers (6-3) host the Los Angeles Rams (6-2).
Saleh, in his more and more difficult encore as defensive coordinator, should orchestrate extra magic than ever anticipated from a younger and recalibrating protection. Name it a “New-Name Defense.”
San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh throughout follow on the 49ers coaching camp on the follow facility at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, July 24, 2025. (Doug Duran/Bay Space Information Group) Doug Duran/Bay Space Information Group
So who’s surfacing now because the vocal chief, because the enforcer, as a turnover-forcing playmaker?
“That’s the exciting part,” Saleh stated. “When we were here in ’17 and ’18, it was, ‘Who’s going to be next?’ You saw this little skinny linebacker named Fred Warner and nobody expected it to be him. Jimmie Ward, (Jaquiski) Tartt, (DeForest) Buckner and (Arik) Armstead, all those guys were so young, rose to the occasion, and made a name for themselves.”
That group is gone, besides formally for Warner, who was within the 49ers locker room Thursday and in upbeat spirits whereas scootering round on his surgically repaired proper ankle.
Nonetheless, the 49ers are scouring to fill Warner’s on-field void. The candidates?
“This group, being as young as it is, I wish I could tell you,” Saleh stated. “I have an idea. I’m excited for everybody to take advantage of their opportunity and evolve the way we know they’re capable of.”
Bryce Huff, with a team-high 4 sacks, is predicted to return from a hamstring damage and align on a frontline with final week’s newcomers, White and Clelin Ferrell. Nametags wouldn’t be a nasty concept at this level.
“Man, I’m terrible with names, so just trying to learn everybody’s name is big for me,” White stated. “The guys in my room are really cool, real funny. It’s cool to get to know them.”
White gave no indication his groin situation is critical, and he praised Saleh’s “aggressive, one-gap, one-man” scheme. Added White: “Coach Saleh says, ‘Go be disruptive, play 100 percent and we’ll figure out the rest after.’ ”
Added Ferrell: “When you come in on a new team, you have, I don’t want to say more important things, but you have so many things you’re trying to learn. It comes with that awkward moment of, ‘What’s your name again?’ But it’s pretty normal.”
Their mission Sunday: hold Matthew Stafford from including to his NFL lead of 21 landing passes.
Lynch, in his ninth season as normal supervisor, defended the 49ers’ trade-deadline motives by pointing to his 4 earlier trades, from Huff’s arrival in June to White’s acquisition final week. Simply because Tuesday’s deadline got here with out extra assist didn’t imply the 49ers overslept.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – January 8 – San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh (proper) watches follow with head coach Kyle Shanahan and normal supervisor John Lynch, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, on the workforce’s follow facility in Santa Clara, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
“We weren’t going to get fleeced. We weren’t going to overpay,” Lynch stated on KNBR 680-AM. “It’s just not good business.”
And it’s simply not an excellent cross rush or ball-hawking protection that’s ushering the 49ers into the second-half push towards the playoffs. Then once more, Saleh’s protection has delivered well timed performs, from win-clinching sacks of their first two video games at Seattle and New Orleans to final month’s additional time win in Los Angeles, the place a fourth-down cease ended issues however solely after Collins compelled and recovered a fumble on the 1-yard line late in regulation.
Linebacker Tatum Bethune, who has a thigh situation forward of his fourth begin in Warner’s place, insists the management vacuum is being stuffed by all. “We all come together to find out what we can do better together as a defense,” Bethune stated. “After the game, we get on the plane, and we all stand up watching film, trying to correct stuff we could have done better in the game.”
HEALTH UPDATES
Quarterback Brock Purdy stays restricted in follow for a fourth straight week, and maybe signaling one other week on the sidelines, the 49ers had substitute starter Mac Jones handle the media once more Thursday. Middle Jake Brendel (hamstring) was additionally restricted.
Huge receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) remained out however ran nicely on a facet area. Full individuals have been Jones (knee, knee), extensive receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder), left guard Ben Bartch (ankle), and cornerback Darrell Luter (Achilles).
The Rams upgraded extensive receiver Puca Nacaua (chest) and cornerback Darious Williams (shoulder) to full individuals whereas extensive receiver Jordan Whittington (again) was their lone participant out.
EXTRA POINTS
— Jones stated of Christian McCaffrey, the NFL’s Seventh-leading receiver: “He’s super talented. I’d seen it from afar, but being on the field with him in OTAs and camp, he’s explosive. He trains all the movements. He gets open and catches the ball, the two vital parts of being a receiver.”
— Return specialist Skyy Moore was saddened to study former Western Michigan teammate and Dallas Cowboys defensive finish Marshawn Kneeland died by suicide Thursday following a police chase. Moore stated he and Kneeland have been a part of the identical 2019 recruiting class.
— Left sort out Trent Williams, a three-time All-Professional and 11-time Professional Bowler, was stunned to study he gained the 49ers’ in-house nod as Offensive Participant of the Week. “When I walked into the O-line room, I got fined for being up there. That’s how I figured it out.” Why has Williams by no means been the NFC Offensive Participant of the Week? “That’s a valid point. I’d like to hear the answer, too,” he replied.
