49ers star DE Nick Bosa eyeing Week 6 return vs. Commanders after calf injury
“But the fact that I’m already feeling like I could go out on Monday night and definitely not wait,” Bosa said. “Definitely Atlanta, possibly next week. Probably.”
Bosa said he was initially concerned the calf injury could be a long-term situation.
“I’ve never had a calf, so I didn’t really know,” he said. “They told me they’re pretty finicky sometimes, calves. But, actually, I checked with my brother (Joey), who had one
last year in OTAs. He said three weeks, and he never even noticed it (after that).”
Nick Bosa said he has been during two-a-day running sessions and his normal lifts in the weight room. He said he felt as if he turned the corner with his recovery within the past few days.
“I’m feeling better and better,” he said.”
49ers DT Sebastian Valdez worked in the shadows as a rookie, but his coaches were watching (paywall)
“(Sebastian) Valdez is No. 1 for me; he has been for the last two years,” Puni, the San Francisco 49ers right guard, said recently. “He just does a great job at giving the right look. And he matches the right intensity that you should have for practice.”
Added left guard Connor Colby: “You know his effort is always going to be there. Especially the padded practice (on Thursday) — it helps out a lot. It gives you an opportunity to work on things you need to correct.”
Until two weeks ago, Valdez’s de facto job title was Guy Who Preps the Starters. As a defensive tackle on the 49ers’ practice squad and scout team, his role was to line up in the three-technique and mimic how the upcoming opponent would play the run, the pass, etc., so that offensive linemen such as Puni, Colby and center Jake Brendel were well prepared on Sunday. He was essentially a sparring partner for the interior offensive line.”
Mykel Williams to make season debut in 49ers-Seahawks; Upton Stout questionable
“Williams is listed as questionable, but coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed on Friday that he will be back for the 49ers.”
Five 49ers to watch as Kyle Shanahan, offense try to solve Seahawks in Week 5
“Green had a good training camp and has gotten off to the best start of his three-year NFL career. In four games, he has surrendered only 12 receptions for 101 yards and no touchdowns. He had an interception of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in the season opener.
Green faces a stiff task on Sunday, as Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold will look to target Jaxon Smith-Njigba early and often. Smith-Njigba might be the best receiver in the game today. He already has 32 receptions for 481 yards and six touchdowns.”
49ers vs. Seahawks: The Standard’s 5 fast predictions (paywall)
“Kawakami: Seahawks 20, 49ers 17. The 49ers are fully capable of winning at Lumen Field and have, in fact, done it several times in the Shanahan/Purdy era. But they have to be at their absolute best — and usually need Bosa doing Bosa stuff to close it. They won’t have Bosa plus a few others in this one. The 49ers will probably get two more shots against the Seahawks this season. Presumably with Bosa in those games.”
49ers-Seahawks preview: Giddy up (paywall)
“But against Seattle, I think Brock Purdy is going to need to take some of the dicier shots he’s turned down at times this season. The boundary, not the middle of the field, is the better place to beat the Seattle secondary….There have been some opportunities (like on this B gap release to Deebo on a corner route) where Purdy turned it down. Seattle condenses windows and runs a lot of Cover-6 and Cover-8 instead of this Cover-2 look, but they can be vulnerable to vertical stretch to the boundary. These also require time, of which Seattle usually offers little….Now, Seattle’s dominant against under center runs. But they can be vulnerable against counter because it funnels the ball away from where Seattle usually attacks….The Seahawks’ center-right guard pairing is the place to direct pressure. And you HAVE to get pressure against Darnold. He’s been abysmal when you speed him up.”
5 matchups to watch in 49ers-Seahawks: The 1 player Brock Purdy should avoid
“He’s one of the best linear athletes in the NFL. You have to make him flip his hips. You can’t let Emmanwori run in a straight line. Put him in conflict, whether with high-low concepts, or isolate him on George Kittle or Christian McCaffrey by giving them two-way go’s. Despite all the plays he can make, Emmanwori is not a player the 49ers should shy away from…..If you’re the Niners, as good as Williams is (8th-most quick pressures in the league, so pretty good!), you have to trust Puni. He’s been great all season. Last week was the first time Puni had a blown block in pass protection.
Connor Colby came close a couple of times in the first three weeks, but Zach Allen got the best of him in Week 4. He had three blown blocks in pass protection. Murphy is the final boss in the Allen hierarchy.
I’d like to see Colby be aggressive and use jump sets against Murphy. Colby has the prototypical farmer-boy frame from Iowa, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he’s a subpar athlete. Against Murphy, I’d like to see Colby be the aggressor, rely on some of that quickness and strength before Murphy can initiate his move. That could go a long way in how the offense can attack.”
