Robert Saleh, Brock Purdy, Klay Kubiak preview 49ers-Seahawks Week 1 matchup
“San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, and quarterback Brock Purdy addressed reporters following Thursday’s practice as the team prepares for its Week 1 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Here’s everything they said.“
Kawakami: ‘You’ve gotta reload’: How Nick Bosa got with the 49ers’ new plan (paywall) ““Just that it can’t revolve around one player being in or out,”
Bosa said. “We have to play with the intensity that has made us who we are over the years.”
Do you think there was a slippage of intensity last year?
“Yeah, yeah, I do. I think when you’re losing games and you’re losing confidence and you’re starting to play in meaningless — not meaningless, but in terms of playoff-contention, meaningless — things do slip, details slip,” Bosa said. “I think every person is guilty of losing a little bit of that focus and intensity.”
Where youth-infused 49ers finish in Matt Maiocco’s 2025 NFL season predictions
““I think it’s possible,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said on Wednesday. “There are a number of challenges. We’re going to play a lot of young guys as this year goes. We’re going to start out doing that.”
The 49ers finished in last place in the NFC West a year ago with a 6-11 record. Even with so many young players, they still have enough top players to make another run.“
Brock Purdy was the NFL’s darling as Mr. Irrelevant. Who will he be as a $265 million man? (paywall)
““When I was a rookie, I came in and I knew nothing but the quarterback (package of plays),” Purdy said from outside the locker room after practice last week. “It didn’t matter who was out on the field with me — I was just going through my progressions and ripping it. I was a machine.
“So this offseason, I was getting back to that standard of being hard on myself, being disciplined, and obviously not trying to do too much.”….. Purdy has become one of those leaders. Williams said he gets a kick whenever the quarterback yells at receivers.
“They’re not used to quarterbacks getting back to the third read, and maybe they’re not where they are supposed to be,” Williams said. “And this is early on. Mr. Irrelevant, no status off the jump. He had one of the most uphill battles that anybody can have, and he strided up that hill like it was flat ground.”
Purdy had an instant connection with Shanahan, who takes pride in the plays he draws up and wants them carried out.
“I came in and was just going through reads … and he saw that I was playing like a machine, and he loved that,” Purdy said. “He can call a pass play on first, second and third down multiple times and trust that I was gonna make the right decisions over and over again.”
Will the 49ers’ renovated, rookie-riddled roster return to NFL elite? (paywall)
““There are all sorts of holes in the roster that need to be filled by either traded or young players that we haven’t seen before,” Young said. “The fans are going to be wearing certain jerseys right now. (George) Kittle, (Christian) McCaffrey, Brock, Warner. That’s fine. But if this team is going to transition super fast and threaten to go the distance, you’re going to be wearing jerseys by Thanksgiving of guys who you don’t even know the names of right now.
“If there are four or five of them, then we’re transitioning pretty quick. And you better watch out. But if not, and a couple guys get hurt, especially Trent, that’s an entirely different narrative.”
49ers’ Colton McKivitz makes rare admission as he enters contract year (paywall)
“Where many pro athletes in that circumstance might say they’re not focused on money because that can be a distraction, McKivitz is different. He speaks with candor rather than in cliches.
During his first five NFL seasons, the 2020 fifth-round pick has admitted he initially lacked the urgency and work ethic that a later-round pick needs to survive. And he has openly discussed his wavering confidence and on-field failures.
But things are now looking up, and his authenticity hasn’t changed. McKivitz was on-brand Wednesday when he was asked about his thoughts entering his contract year.“
With 49ers rookie Jordan Watkins back in practice, which WRs will play Sunday? (paywall)
“Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) was also back at practice after missing Wednesday.
A high ankle sprain had sidelined Watkins, a fourth-round draft pick, leaving his Week 1 availability in limbo. Head coach Kyle Shanahan may still opt to list Watkins as inactive for Sunday’s season opener against the Seahawks in Seattle; someone has to be. The 49ers had their entire 53-man roster and 17-man practice squad participating in some capacity during the portion of the session open to the media, meaning some tough decisions will need to be made in the coming days.“
