SANTA CLARA — Proper on cue each October, John Lynch dials up the NFL’s trade-market hotline, sometimes searching for a go rusher.
The 49ers want another than ever in Lynch’s tenure as common supervisor, now {that a} shocking 4-1 begin has morphed his shorthanded squad again into an NFC contender.
“I’m having quite a lot of conversations, quite a lot of good and productive ones,” Lynch stated Thursday on KNBR 680-AM. “It’s a premium place, so groups don’t like simply letting these guys out the door after they’re good soccer gamers.”
Bryce Huff joined the 49ers 4 months in the past in a cope with the Philadelphia Eagles, and the 49ers (4-1) desperately want one other sack artist reverse him, having misplaced Nick Bosa to a season-ending knee harm within the Sept. 21 house opener.
The 49ers’ game-by-game sack complete: 1, 3, 1, 0, 1. Solely the Chicago Bears and the Carolina Panthers have fewer, at 5 sacks every this season.
“We’ll proceed to develop. I’m not hitting any panic buttons,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh stated. “There are quite a lot of younger guys in there looking for their manner via the NFL.”
Bosa had a sack every of the primary two video games, Huff is as much as three sacks, and rookie nickel again Upton Stout owns the one different sack for the 49ers, who will want strain Sunday (1:25 p.m., CBS) to disrupt Baker Mayfield’s scorching begin with the 4-1 Tampa Bay Bucs.
As heroic because the 49ers’ run protection was in final Thursday’s 26-23 time beyond regulation win over the host Los Angeles Rams, the go rush is lacking Bosa as anticipated.
“You need to establish the proper man that, No. 1, goes to assist us,” Lynch added. “I’ve been very clear: you’re not going to discover a participant, you recognize, that’s going to go change Nick Bosa and be as efficient as him.”
Bosa had a strip-sack fumble restoration to clinch the opening win at Seattle, then added one other sack at New Orleans whereas Huff’s fumble-forcing sack sealed that Week 2 victory. As soon as Bosa tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his proper knee within the house opener, the 49ers have been in dire want of a go rusher.
“That’s actually troublesome to do, however can you discover somebody who makes the whole thing of our group higher, such that collectively we’re higher?” Lynch said. “That’s, you recognize, extra consistent with what we’re on the lookout for.”
The likeliest candidates are on expiring contracts on a shedding group, similar to Troy Hendrickson (Bengals), former 49er Arden Key (Titans), Cal product Cam Jordan (Saints), and Miami’s Jaelan Phillips, who broke Jimmy Garoppolo’s foot in 2022 and launched Brock Purdy’s beginning profession.
The 49ers are nonetheless ready for the primary profession sacks from first-round draft choose Mykel Williams and defensive tackles Alfred Collins (second spherical) and C.J. West (fourth spherical). Collins resumed practising Thursday with a big brace on his proper knee.
Veteran Sam Okuayinonu, Bosa’s alternative within the lineup, has no sacks in his previous 14 video games, and he has no quarterback hits in 181 snaps this season. Robert Beal Jr. has an analogous line: No sacks in 15 straight video games, and no quarterback hits since his lone profession sack within the 2023 season finale.
Yetur Gross-Matos has no sacks in 87 snaps this season, and a hamstring harm final sport might shelve him, together with a knee concern he’s battled because the 2024 preseason. Trevis Gipson performed simply eight snaps however made a key play (fumble restoration) in final Thursday’s time beyond regulation win at Los Angeles.
Lynch didn’t publicly chastise that group, saying: “Proper now, I’m actual pleased with the best way the hassle our guys are taking part in with. If we discover a strategy to make our soccer group higher and it aligns, then we won’t be shy in pulling the set off.”
He has pulled trade-deadline offers up to now for defensive linemen Jordan Willis (2020), Charles Omenihu (2021), Randy Gregory (2023), and Chase Younger (2023). Offensive stars additionally arrived earlier than the deadline: quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (2017), vast receiver Emmanuel Sanders (2019) and Christian McCaffrey (2022).
The present corps is concentrated on Mayfield, not the commerce market.
“Baker Mayfield is a superb participant. He’s actually emerged as one of many high quarterbacks within the NFL,” Mykel Williams stated. “It’s all the time thrilling while you get an opportunity to go in opposition to anyone like that. He’s a relentless competitor, a quarterback that may do all of it. He’s an actual canine.”
PRACTICE OBSERVATIONS
Brock Purdy (toe) ran on a aspect area with Ricky Pearsall (knee) whereas Jauan Jennings (rib, ankle) returned to observe.
Mac Jones (knee, indirect) was suited up for observe however was not throwing to receivers in warmups. Backup Adrian Martinez threw together with quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi and assistant tools supervisor Doc Dressler.
Operating again Christian McCaffrey and left sort out Trent Williams practiced after their typical veteran relaxation day on Wednesday.
DEFENSIVE FLASHBACK
Final Thursday’s defensive heroics haven’t escaped Saleh’s thoughts, and he shared his insights into each the fourth-down, game-ending cease and Collins’ pressured fumble on the 1-yard line with a minute left in regulation.
On the grand finale sort out of Kyren Williams for no achieve, Saleh stated: “It was a type of take-a-shot offers. It was one in every of their greatest performs and so they’re very, very profitable at it. It was the third or fourth time we noticed it. Our guys triggered, took their shot and made the play.”
On Collins’ touchdown-preventing pressured fumble and restoration, Saleh famous that the 6-foot-5 rookie provides their defensive entrance its greatest size since DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead patrolled the inside.
“To pressure and take the time to separate the double group and make the violent punch out, it’s one of many coolest efforts I’ve seen from a defensive lineman,” Saleh stated.
Initially Printed:
