The players may be combatants on the field, but we are one big happy family here at SBNation. My favorite feature every week is the five questions feature because it allows me to get behind enemy lines
to see what is going on with that week’s opponent. Nicholas McGee of Niners Nation was kind enough to join me for five questions in advance of this week’s game
Battle Red Blog: The 49ers gave Brock Purdy a huge pay day, but he has been hurt much of the year and Mac Jones has been the quarterback for much of the season. Is there a quarterback controversy in San Francisco or is Purdy still the man when he is healthy?
Nicholas McGee: It’s still Purdy’s team, for as much as Jones has been extremely impressive. Jones simply doesn’t have the same ability Purdy does to make plays outside of the structure of the offense and, when healthy, that gives Purdy a much greater upside.
The problem is that Purdy’s turf toe is proving extremely troublesome. It’s not on the scale of Joe Burrow’s injury clearly, but it could still be a couple more weeks before we see Purdy. It will almost certainly be Jones under center in Houston.
BRB: The 49ers have been as ravaged by injuries as any team in the league. Which one is the most impactful in your opinion on offense and defense?
NM: It’s too early to know how impactful the Fred Warner injury will be. It will likely prove hugely significant, but right now the most impactful blow on defense is definitely the loss of Nick Bosa. While the defensive line stepped up in a big way against Atlanta, for the most part the pass rush just hasn’t been the same since Bosa went down. Expect the 49ers to make a trade to address the deficiency and give Bryce Huff a running mate off the edge for the second half of the season.
On offense, the most impactful injury was the hamstring injury sustained by George Kittle in Week 1. The running game was lifeless without him, but exploded back into gear last Sunday upon his return. With everything he can do in the passing game on top of his run blocking, the offense should continue to improve in the coming weeks.
BRB: We usually don’t get to watch the 49ers here in Houston, but we do see them occasionally. Who are some players on offense and defense we may not have heard about but will be impactful on Sunday?
NM: Given the strength of the Texans’ D-Line, it feels right to spotlight an offensive lineman for the 49ers. Trent Williams is a future Hall of Famer, but across from him the 49ers have seen significant strides from Colton McKivitz at right tackle, who has been their most consistent player up front. The 49ers recently handed him a contract extension, and that move is looking very smart with how he’s played this season.
There’s a couple on defense. Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott has made huge improvements on his play of 2024, while Sam Okuayinonu was outstanding at defensive end against the Falcons last week. He can rush inside and out and, with Bryce Huff sidelined a couple weeks, is probably going to be the 49ers’ main rush threat off the edge on Sunday.
BRB: The NFC West is perhaps the most competitive and interesting division in football. Which team do you see as the 49ers biggest competition for the division crown? Which NFC West team do 49ers fans enjoy beating the most?
NM: I still view the Rams as the most complete team in the division, despite how good the Seahawks have been on both sides of the ball. If the 49ers want to seriously contend for the division, they’ll need to find a way to stop Matthew Stafford and complete the sweep of the Rams. That said, I still think Seattle is the team 49ers fans enjoy beating the most. The recent string of road wins in Seattle have been very fun.
BRB: The 49ers are 1.5 point underdogs according to Fanduel. How do you see the game going? Are there any prop bets you feel comfortable recommending?
NM: This is a really tough one to call as the 49ers’ injuries continue to pile up. However, I think the 49ers find enough ways to move the ball through Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle to win a close, low-scoring game.
We want to thank Nicholas for taking the time to answer our questions. We also want to remind you to go to our sister site, Niners Nation, for all of your news and commentary needs on the San Francisco 49ers. We want to wish the 49ers and Nicholas the best of luck for the remainder of the season. As per usual, we hope that luck begins on Monday morning.
