49ers notebook: San Francisco gets a surprise boost from a former first-round pick
What was true about the 49ers offense Sunday against the Giants could also be said about the defense.
The offense, of course, was missing starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, star tight end George Kittle and a slew of others. The defense, meanwhile, was playing its first game without the reigning defensive rookie of the year, Nick Bosa, and was down to backups at both cornerback spots.
The results were just fine.
Daniel Jones and Co. managed just 231 yards on just 49 plays and never reached the red zone. Their three field goals, all from at least 42 yards, were all they could muster in the lopsided 36-9 defeat to the banged-up road team.
“I know all the big boys up front did an outstanding job in the run game and then got after it in the pass,” said linebacker Fred Warner, who had an interception. “They made it hard for Daniel all game long, having to get the ball out quick and forcing some of those incompletions.”
Jones, without star running back Saquon Barkley and top receiver Sterling Shepard, could only muster 179 yards on 17 of 32 completions. He threw one interception and lost a fumble — and 83 of his passing yards came in the fourth quarter when the game was out of hand. He also had 49 of New York’s 66 rushing yards, which speaks to the Giants’ reliance on Barkley’s star power and how well San Francisco’s defense played with backups at key positions.
Warner had an interception late in the second quarter that gave the 49ers the ball at New York’s 32-yard line. He was all over tight end Evan Engram on out route and credited safety Jaquiski Tartt with alerting him to the play before the snap.
“With that play, we talked about it all week long, that concept,” Warner said. “I got to shout out Tartt. Before they even snapped the ball, he was alerting it to me. ... it just played out perfect, read the quarterback’s eyes, kind of baited him into throwing it and was able to take it home.”
Jason Verrett made his first start at cornerback since Week 1 in 2017 with the Chargers. He had no noticeable gaffes after returning to the practice field this week following a hamstring injury late in training camp that cost him the first two games.
“I was so happy for Jason Verrett,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “Jason Verrett is a stud and he’s been a great player in this league.”
Verrett, of course, hasn’t appeared in multiple games in a season since 2016, when he appeared in just four before tearing his ACL. He aggravated the injury a year later and went on injured reserve last season with knee injury after playing just one game — which came after tearing his Achilles during a conditioning test before training camp in 2018.
Verrett was thrown into a starting role because Ahkello Witherspoon was ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained during practice last week. Additionally, the 49ers lost Emmanuel Moseley in the first half to a concussion, forcing Dontae Johnson into action.
Verrett may be needed, especially with Sherman unable to return for at least one more week.
“(Verrett) got his opportunity today and he had a great week of practice. It was awesome watching him on those three days,” Shanahan said. “It felt like he was going to do a really good job today and he did. Just seeing him after the game, seeing how happy he was, he really earned and he deserves it. I’m pumped he’s on our team.”
The 49ers also got a sack from Kerry Hyder, giving him two to lead the team this season. Dion Jordan, the defensive end promoted from the practice squad for the game, had a late sack in garbage time and also recovered a fumble when tight end Evan Engram dropped an end-around.
Jordan Reed banged up
Tight end Jordan Reed, who was a focal point of the offensive game plan coming in, was not available in the second half after suffering ankle and knee injuries.
Reed appeared to suffer a left ankle injury during an end-zone incompletion, but later returned to the game after testing. Then he suffered the knee injury and didn’t return.
“I’m not sure exactly the extent of it,” Shanahan said. “I feel pretty optimistic it’s not going to be anything long term or anything like that. But we’ll find out tomorrow.”
Reed’s snap counts were limited in Week 1 and expanded significantly over the last two weeks after missing all of last season and dealing with setbacks early in training camp. The good news is George Kittle is close to returning. Kittle practiced all last week and the team took the cautious approach by keeping him out Sunday.
▪ One of the few blemishes coming out Sunday, aside from the general state of the team’s injury situation, was at long snapper. Kyle Nelson, who had been reliable previously, had bad snaps on at least four field goal attempts or extra points, leading to his benching in favor of backup offensive lineman Justin Skule for the final attempt.
Shanahan indicated afterward that Nelson had no physical issues and he might have a case of the yips. He was seen on the sidelines during the broadcast looking emotionally shaken by the struggles.
“He’s done a real good job throughout his whole career and helped us out a ton. But today wasn’t that case,” Shanahan said. “Fortunately, it didn’t end up costing anything.”
Shanahan said Skule was the top option in place of Nelson and right tackle Mike McGlinchey was another.
“(Richard) Hightower told me Skule was good at it and McGlinchey is someone who’s good at it, but we put Skule in there at the end and from what I saw it was a pretty good snap and he did a hell of a job and we were able to get that point,” Shanahan said.
This story was originally published September 27, 2020 at 3:55 PM.
