49ers news: Injury report clean, McCaffrey and Purdy earn monthly honor
In 49ers news today: the injury report is mostly clean and 2 earned player of the month honors for Dec/Jan
The San Francisco 49ers listed just two players as not practicing ahead of their Wild Card Round game against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday afternoon.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo shouldn’t come as a big surprise. He’s been out with a foot injury and though it’s improving he shouldn’t be counted on to see any action right now.
The other, cornerback Ambry Thomas, has been out with an ankle injury since Week 12 against the Buccaneers. Thomas practiced once ahead of Week 18’s game vs. the Cardinals but was ruled out for the game.
Otherwise, everyone practiced in some capacity
Listed as limited were DT Arik Armstead, G Aaron Banks, LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (who exited in the first half Sunday and did not return), DT Javon Kinlaw, RB Christian McCaffrey, and LB Dre Greenlaw.
Greenlaw is expected to play.
DE Nick Bosa practiced Wednesay after a rest day on Tuesday. DT Kevin Givens was listed as a full participant as well.
So, a pretty good spot to be in for head coach Kyle Shanahan ahead of the game.
More 49ers news
49ers Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey honored among NFL players of the month for December
Brock Purdy and Chrstian McCaffrey earned some honors on Thursday morning. The two were named players of the month for December and January, games between Weeks 13 and 18.
Purdy was named Offensive Rookie of the Month.
Purdy racked up 1,308 yards since taking over for Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 13 against the Dolphins. He also holds a franchise rookie high of 13 touchdowns, besting a high water mark (10) set in 1974.
His QB rating of 107.3 through his first five starts also put hm above the likes of Patrick Mahomes.
McCaffrey was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month.
As for McCaffrey, during the time honors period, he rushed for 505 yards and four touchdowns, and caught 27 passes for 262 yards and three TDs.
CMC fnished the regular season with 244 rushing attempts or 1,139 yards and eight TD, as well as 85 receptions for 741 more yards and five TD.
Just in SF, he had 746 rushing (6 TD) an 464 receiving (4 TD)
49ers’ QB Brock Purdy not popular with The Ringer
We saw this originally via SF Gate. The Ringer’s Steven Ruiz put Brock Purdy as dead last in his playoff team quarterback rankings this week.
You can understand some worry about how Mr Irrelevant will do when everything gets a little bigger and a little tougher in the playoffs.
But LAST?!
Ruiz:
"At some point over the next month, the 49ers will need Brock Purdy to make a play in a big moment. Kyle Shanahan’s offense has protected him throughout his surprise run during the regular season, but playoff football is different. The best defenses make it harder to hide a flawed quarterback—even for a play-calling genius like Shanahan."
But Ruiz writes that Purdy’s chief weaknesses — pocket presence and arm strength — are likely to be exposed and he’s been helped quite a big by his teammates and coach to cover that up so far.
On Saturday, Purdy will become the first 49ers rookie to start in a playoff game, another milestone to go along with many.
Don’t worry though, Seahawks QB Geno Smith didn’t rank much better — 10th among playoff QBs.
