SANTA CLARA – Three males walked right into a bar … or perhaps they want they did.
Kyle Shanahan, Robert Saleh and John Lynch got here collectively at midfield and gazed on the 49ers’ defensive gamers they’d left for Thursday’s follow, underneath nearly sarcastically sunny skies.
In fact, that unit presses on with out Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Mykel Williams the remainder of this season. However two extra defensive mainstays missed Thursday’s session: linebacker Dee Winters (knee, knee) and defensive deal with Alfred Collins (hip).
Additionally added to the harm report after restricted responsibility had been just-acquired defensive finish Keion White (groin) and defensive deal with Kalia Davis (ankle).
Alas, extra reinforcements could possibly be wanted on an ever-changing protection, one which should bond quick Sunday when the 49ers (6-3) host the Los Angeles Rams (6-2).
Saleh, in his more and more difficult encore as defensive coordinator, should orchestrate extra magic than ever anticipated from a younger and recalibrating protection. Name it a “New-Title Protection.”
Doug Duran/Bay Space Information Group
San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh throughout follow on the 49ers coaching camp on the follow facility at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, July 24, 2025. (Doug Duran/Bay Space Information Group)
So who’s surfacing now because the vocal chief, because the enforcer, as a turnover-forcing playmaker?
“That’s the thrilling half,” Saleh stated. “Once we had been right here in ’17 and ’18, it was, ‘Who’s going to be subsequent?’ You noticed this little skinny linebacker named Fred Warner and no one anticipated it to be him. Jimmie Ward, (Jaquiski) Tartt, (DeForest) Buckner and (Arik) Armstead, all these guys had been so younger, rose to the event, and made a reputation for themselves.”
That group is gone, besides formally for Warner, who was within the 49ers locker room Thursday and in upbeat spirits whereas scootering round on his surgically repaired proper ankle.
Nonetheless, the 49ers are scouring to fill Warner’s on-field void. The candidates?
“This group, being as younger as it’s, I want I might let you know,” Saleh stated. “I’ve an thought. I’m excited for everyone to reap the benefits of their alternative and evolve the way in which we all know they’re able to.”
Bryce Huff, with a team-high 4 sacks, is predicted to return from a hamstring harm and align on a frontline with final week’s newcomers, White and Clelin Ferrell. Nametags wouldn’t be a nasty thought at this level.
“Man, I’m horrible with names, so simply attempting to be taught everyone’s identify is massive for me,” White stated. “The blokes in my room are actually cool, actual humorous. It’s cool to get to know them.”
White gave no indication his groin concern is critical, and he praised Saleh’s “aggressive, one-gap, one-man” scheme. Added White: “Coach Saleh says, ‘Go be disruptive, play one hundred pc and we’ll determine the remainder after.’ “
Added Ferrell: “While you are available in on a brand new crew, you’ve got, I don’t need to say extra vital issues, however you’ve got so many stuff you’re attempting to be taught. It comes with that awkward second of, ‘What’s your identify once more?’ But it surely’s fairly regular.”
Their mission Sunday: maintain Matthew Stafford from including to his NFL lead of 21 landing passes.
Lynch, in his ninth season as normal supervisor, defended the 49ers’ trade-deadline motives by pointing to his 4 earlier trades, from Huff’s arrival in June to White’s acquisition final week. Simply because Tuesday’s deadline got here with out extra assist didn’t imply the 49ers overslept.
“We weren’t going to get fleeced. We weren’t going to overpay,” Lynch stated on KNBR 680-AM. “It’s simply not good enterprise.”
And it’s simply not a superb cross rush or ball-hawking protection that’s ushering the 49ers into the second-half push towards the playoffs. Then once more, Saleh’s protection has delivered well timed performs, from win-clinching sacks of their first two video games at Seattle and New Orleans to final month’s time beyond regulation win in Los Angeles, the place a fourth-down cease ended issues however solely after Collins compelled and recovered a fumble on the 1-yard line late in regulation.
Linebacker Tatum Bethune, who has a thigh concern forward of his fourth begin in Warner’s place, insists the management vacuum is being stuffed by all. “All of us come collectively to search out out what we will do higher collectively as a protection,” Bethune stated. “After the sport, we get on the aircraft, and all of us arise watching movie, attempting to right stuff we might have executed higher within the recreation.”
HEALTH UPDATES
Quarterback Brock Purdy stays restricted in follow for a fourth straight week, and maybe signaling one other week on the sidelines, the 49ers had alternative starter Mac Jones deal with the media once more Thursday. Middle Jake Brendel (hamstring) was additionally restricted.
Large receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) remained out however ran nicely on a aspect area. Full members had been Jones (knee, knee), huge receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder), left guard Ben Bartch (ankle), and cornerback Darrell Luter (Achilles).
The Rams upgraded huge receiver Puca Nacaua (chest) and cornerback Darious Williams (shoulder) to full members whereas huge receiver Jordan Whittington (again) was their lone participant out.
EXTRA POINTS
— Jones stated of Christian McCaffrey, the NFL’s Seventh-leading receiver: “He’s tremendous proficient. I’d seen it from afar, however being on the sector with him in OTAs and camp, he’s explosive. He trains all of the actions. He will get open and catches the ball, the 2 very important elements of being a receiver.”
— Return specialist Skyy Moore was saddened to be taught former Western Michigan teammate and Dallas Cowboys defensive finish Marshawn Kneeland died by suicide Thursday following a police chase. Moore stated he and Kneeland had been a part of the identical 2019 recruiting class.
— Left deal with Trent Williams, a three-time All-Professional and 11-time Professional Bowler, was stunned to be taught he received the 49ers’ in-house nod as Offensive Participant of the Week. “Once I walked into the O-line room, I bought fined for being up there. That’s how I figured it out.” Why has Williams by no means been the NFC Offensive Participant of the Week? “That’s a sound level. I’d like to listen to the reply, too,” he replied.
