Report: 49ers TE George Kittle dealing with mid-to-low ankle sprain “After the game, Kittle said he does not believe the injury was a high-ankle sprain, which typically results in extended missed time.”
49ers vs. Colts PFF grades: Best and worst from the game, plus snap counts
Left tackle Trent Williams was the highest-graded offensive lineman in the game, earning a 91.0 offensive grade and the top run-blocking grade (93.0).
Center Jake Brendel recorded the best pass-blocking grade of the game (80.0), though his 63.0 run-blocking grade was the lowest among 49ers offensive linemen with significant snaps…Two 49ers tied for the best pass-rushing grade of the game. Defensive tackles CJ West and Alfred Collins each earned career-high 91.7 pass-rushing grades and recorded their first NFL sacks.“
49ers practice and media schedule ahead of Week 17 matchup vs. Bears
“Wednesday, December 24
12:45 p.m. – Kyle Shanahan press conference
Following Shanahan – Robert Saleh press conference
Following Saleh – Brock Purdy press conference
2:35 p.m. – Practice
Thursday, December 25
No media availability – Merry Christmas
Friday, December 26
1:10 p.m. – Practice
After practice (approx. 2:20 p.m.) – Kyle Shanahan press conference”
Kawakami: Yes, the road to Super Bowl LX goes through … Brock Purdy (paywall)
“In fact, Purdy probably will be the most important QB in the NFC tournament — Matthew Stafford is an incredible past Super Bowl winner, but the Rams have more around him than the 49ers have around Purdy this winter; Sam Darnold is solid, but Seattle wins with its running game and defense; same for Jordan Love in Green Bay, Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia, and Caleb Williams in Chicago.
Each one of those teams could win the NFC and the Super Bowl. Each one of those QBs could play better than Purdy in a matchup. But none of those teams are as dependent on their QB as the 49ers are dependent on Purdy.
That’s not usually the ideal way to go into the playoffs — great defenses almost always beat great offenses in the biggest games. Middling defenses are too vulnerable to a roasting by a high-quality offense.“
49ers’ Brock Purdy getting hot at just the right time: ‘Pretty close to a perfect game” (paywall)
“It’s a unique talent that some people have and some people don’t,” Shanahan said last week when asked how Rivers can be effective at his age and after so much time has passed between his NFL starts. “Whether it’s vision, whether it’s arm-throwing angles, whether it’s mental processing or whether it’s just your feel and clear mind in the pocket — when things are moving fast at an elite level, athletically, it’s really hard to get away from those (defensive) guys. It’s about getting rid of the ball and letting someone else do it.”
That description, of course, also applies to Purdy.
He turns 26 on Saturday, and he’s started only three seasons’ worth of games. But he has the processing ability of a far older, much more experienced player.
And, decidedly unlike Rivers, he runs like a guy in his mid-20s.
That’s what he did on his second-quarter touchdown to Kittle. Purdy rolled out to his right at the 11-yard line, didn’t like what he saw in the right corner of the end zone and kept scanning the backside of the play until he spotted Kittle breaking open.
He had an even more impressive foot-mind combo play in the fourth quarter when, again moving to his right, he fired a ball snagged by tight end Jake Tonges at the side of the end zone as he went out of bounds. The officials ruled it an incompletion, but replays showed Tonges managed to drag the toe of both cleats across the end zone turf as he hauled in the pass.
Shanahan said he was thinking about challenging the call, but that Purdy decided to go up-tempo on the next play and snapped the ball before the coach could throw his red handkerchief.“
Before making Pro Bowl history, 49ers’ Trent Williams, 37, makes statement: ‘I’m not leaving’ (paywall)
“Williams became the fourth offensive lineman in league history with at least 12 Pro Bowl selections. He joined Bruce Matthews (14), Randall McDaniel (12) and Will Shields (12).
Will he keep playing long enough to possibly catch Matthews? On Monday, after the 49ers’ 48-27 win in Indianapolis, Williams responded to 49ers fans who were chanting “One more year” during his on-field interview with ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt.“
Christian McCaffrey among six 49ers selected to represent NFC in NFL Pro Bowl
“Running back Christian McCaffrey, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, tight end George Kittle and left tackle Trent Williams join special-teamers Luke Gifford and Jon Weeks as Pro Bowl members of the 49ers.
In addition, 49ers return specialist Skyy Moore was named as a Pro Bowl alternate.“
