SANTA CLARA – The shortest week of the 49ers’ season is mercifully here, leading into Thursday’s annual visit to the Los Angeles Rams and Levi’s South.
No time to dwell on Sunday’s first loss of the season? Nah, there is ample time to review these 10 things that caught my eye in that hot mess of a 26-21 defeat Sunday to Jacksonville’s spy kids:
1. CLOSE BUT NO BIG RUNS
Most alarming is the 49ers’ muted rushing attack despite a healthy Christian McCaffrey. They’re the only NFL team without a touchdown run, and McCaffrey’s rushing output has declined each Sunday: 69 yards (22 carries) at Seattle, then 55 yards (13 carries) in New Orleans, 52 yards (17 carries) against Atlanta, and 49 yards (17 carries) against Jacksonville.
McCaffrey can’t break a 20-yard run, or a even 3-yarder inside the 10? He had three carries Sunday inside the 10, for 2, minus-1 and 2 yards. His longest run Sunday went for 11 yards, on the game’s fourth play. His longest run all season: 15 yards.
“It’s not good on paper and I put a lot of that on me,” McCaffrey said. “… It is tough when you have a lot of guys flushing in and out, and when you’re missing guys, things can be just off. But we are close and we’ll get it going.” The 49ers offense will miss George Kittle’s run-blocking and pass-catching presence at least one more game with him on Injured Reserve.
2. BOSA HANGOVER
The least alarming aspect Sunday was the 49ers’ muted pass rush, two days after Nick Bosa’s season-ending knee surgery. Trevor Lawrence didn’t get sacked or even hit. He had 31 pass attempts and two scrambles.
“We’ve got to get home, point blank, period,” Bryce Huff said. “Even though they had quick passes, we got to find a way to get home impact this someway.”
Sam Okuayinonu started in Bosa’s place, but the pass rush also relied upon and failed with Huff, Mykel Williams, and Yetur Gross-Matos. “Nick’s presence is felt at any point in time on the field,” Huff added. “That’s out of our control, so all we can do is get better and control what we can control, and find ways to impact the game where we can.”
3. PEARSALL’S KNEES
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall came down hard on his right knee on a deep route early in the third quarter. He briefly returned but was clearly missed as their fourth-quarter comeback failed without him.
“I fell pretty hard on my knee. I was just feeling pain and a little bit of instability. I wasn’t trying to mess with it,” said Pearsall, who hurt his other knee on a hard fall the previous game and missed Wednesday’s practice.
Pearsall caught 4-of-5 targets for 46 yards, with a 31-yard third-down conversion on a play that immediately preceded the Jaguars’ first interception. Pearsall better healthy up fast. Same with Jauan Jennings’ ribs/ankle/shoulder/calf. And will the 49ers ever announce a timeline for Brandon Aiyuik’s comeback, from which he is eligible to start today?
Sunday’s snap count among wide receivers: Jennings 48 (out of 66), Kendrick Bourne 44, Pearsall 37, Demarcus Robinson 25, Skyy Moore eight.
4. DROPPELGANGERS
No matter how rusty Brock Purdy appeared as passes sailed high, at least five throws hit hands and were dropped, including that first interception McCaffrey initially bobbled in Jaguars’ territory. Jennings dropped a low but potential touchdown pass, and Bourne’s third-down gaffe at midfield preceded the Jaguars’ 87-yard punt return for their eventual winning points.
“I’ve got to catch the ball, so that’s how I look at it from my end,” said Bourne, who had one other drop. “I felt like I was in the wrong spots a little bit. I’ve just got to be in better spots for Brock, give him a better target.”
5. PURDY’S HEALTH
Purdy’s toe injury was not revealed until the day after the 49ers’ season-opening win, so take this as you will: he “felt good” after Sunday’s return. “I was able to go out and play quarterback and give our team a chance,” said Purdy, adding that his (right big) toe did not bother him.
Purdy scrambled once, so his mobility couldn’t be overly scrutinized, but his mechanics seemed off (22-of-38) in his orientation to a slew of wide receivers not named Pearsall.
6. TRICK OR TREAT
It’s resorted to this to rev up the 49ers’ offense: a shovel pass to McCaffrey so he could weave his own way to the end zone, and a hook-and-lateral pass from Pearsall to McCaffrey to breach the red zone. Those were fun and timely calls. The rest weren’t.
7. STOUT ROBBED
Upton Stout’s first career interception looked like a gem, as he cut infront of fellow rookie Travis Hunter in Jaguars’ territory. It came three plays after Brock Purdy’s 8-yard shovel-pass touchdown to McCaffrey pulled the 49ers within 17-14.
“That call on Upton was egregious, but hey this is football, you have to roll with the punches,” Okuayinonu said.
Stout did not think he committed a penalty, but added: “I can’t argue with the ref, so whatever happens. I have to make a play next time and figure out how I could fix it.”
Another bad call: Ace gunner Siran Neal appeared to get illegally blocked in the back (as did another 49er) on Parker Washington’s 87-yard punt return for a touchdown.
8. WARNER’S NEAR MISSES
The 49ers defense matched an NFL record, going an 11th consecutive game without an interception. For the second straight Sunday, Fred Warner twice came close to ending that drought. He also forced a fumble that the Jaguars recovered; it was his 17th career forced fumble, passing Patrick Willis for the 49ers’ most since 1994.
“I look at opportunities that I missed,” Warner said. “I had two opportunities to pick the ball off and that didn’t happen. The ball’s on the ground and we don’t get it. So yeah, we have to find ways on defense to take the ball away.”
9. ARMSTEAD’S REVENGE
Arik Armstead slapped the ball out of Purdy’s hands with 2:47 remaining, and the Jaguars rewarded Armstead with a ceremonial game ball for his hand, if you will, in defeating the franchise that released him in March 2024 after nine seasons.
Armstead said this was a game he’ll never forget, and he made sure to point out how this was a big road win for the Jaguars, who went 1-8 on the road last season.
“Man, it was good seeing Arik,” Jauan Jennings said. “It is always good seeing ‘Mr. Stay Hungry’ himself. So, I’m proud of him, man. He’s still my brother.”
10. SAY WHAT?!
Whether defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s accusations about the Jags’ sign stealing were a “we’re-onto-you” warning or a compliment as Shanahan suggested, Jaguars coach Liam Coen took offense and shouted postgame to Saleh: “Keep my name out of your mouth.”
Coen had already done an obligatory handshake with Shanahan and was walking off the field when he, ahem, spied Saleh. Players and staff members separated them, reminiscent of then-49ers coach Jim Harbaugh mixing it up in Detroit with then-Lions coach Jim Schwartz about a dozen years ago.
Saleh’s terse response to Coen, per ESPN: “I’ll (expletive) your world up. You don’t wanna (expletive) with me. I will (expletive) end your (expletive) life.”
Now that is the most alarming thing to come out of this game. Saleh on Thursday attributed the Jags’ ability to detect tendencies to the Rams’ coaching tree. Next game: against Sean McVay and the Rams.
This story still has legs this week. But if the 49ers beat L.A., a loss to the Jaguars will get a Bosa-lile shoulder shrug in the long run.