SANTA CLARA – Moments before the Super Bowl kicked off and the Seattle Seahawks triumphed on the 49ers’ home field, coach Kyle Shanahan appeared on NBC Sports’ pregame show with his quick wit, wisdom, and humor.
“What’s so hard about facing the Seahawks’ defense?” asked Chris Simms, an NBC Sports analyst and Shanahan’s friend since their University of Texas days.
Shanahan’s response: “I know you guys want my expert opinion but I haven’t scored a touchdown on these guys the last two times we played them, so I don’t know how good that is.”
Wednesday made for a great time to revisit that question. The 49ers (4-0) put their undefeated record and NFC West stature on the line Sunday against the Seahawks (3-1) in Seattle, where the 49ers got eliminated 41-6 in the divisional-round playoffs.
So, coach, what’s so hard about the Seahawks’ defense?
“How sound they are, yet still aggressive, if that makes sense,” Shanahan replied Wednesday. “When they’re aggressive. It’s tough to get big plays on them, run or pass. They make you work for everything. They have lot good players out there.”
Shanahan headed out of Levi’s Stadium after halftime and before the Seahawks finished off the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX, recalling how “it was tough” watching.
Linebacker Fred Warner, who also was part of NBC’s pregame show, shrugged off whether the 49ers are extra motivated because of that Super Bowl.
“Here’s the thing, there’s always extra juice with them, regardless of what last year was,” Warner said. “Those divisional games truly just mean more. … Their stadium is one of those places where it’s going to be hostile and what’s what it kind of that (rivalry) thing.”
Since last season, Shanahan obviously has dissected film looking for ways to conquer Mike Macdonald’s defense that also produced a 13-3 win over the 49ers in the regular-season finale. The Seahawks celebrated that win by smoking cigars in Levi’s Stadium’s visitors’ locker room.
Shanahan described the Seahawks’ scheme as aggressive with a deep defensive front and back-end safeties who prevent big plays. “They play like overachievers because of how hard they go, but it’s more than that, they’re very talented,” Shanahan added.
PRACTICE REPORT
Not participating Wednesday were defensive linemen Nick Bosa (calf) and James Thompson (ankle), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (knee), and, safety Marques Sigle (ankle). Limited: Defensive end Mykel Williams (knee), wide receiver Mike Evans (ribs), cornerback Upton Stout (shoulder), and and running back Kaelon Black (illness).
WILLIAMS’ COMEBACK
Williams, last year’s first-round pick, has made it through the “redundant” process of anterior cruciate ligament repair to likely make his season debut Sunday against the Seahawks. “I don’t care who was (the next opponent). I’m just ready to play ball,” Williams said. “I’ve been sitting down too long.”
After saying he didn’t play up to his best ability last season with one sack in nine games, Williams looks and feels ready to impress.
“I feel quicker. I’m around the same weight but toned it up with my diet and how I worked this offseason,” added Williams, who called it “huge” for a Georgia native who cut out peach cobbler and ice cream. “I didn’t want to eat bad so I cut out sweets and added more protein.”
PETTIS OUT, EX-RAM IN
Wide receiver Dante Pettis got moved to the practice squad’s Injured Reserve list because of a calf injury he sustained in his second practice last week. Taking his spot is Xavier Smith, who got waived Friday by the Rams after inconsistent plays on special teams since 2024.
Smith ironically joins the 49ers as they head to Seattle, where his muffed punt return in last season’s NFC Championship Game helped trigger the Rams’ downfall. He averaged 9.4 yards on 50 punt returns and 23.1 yards on 26 kick returns over his three-year tenure.
The 49ers rank 31st in punt return average (4.2 yards), but Jacob Cowing has only returned five and fair caught three. Their kick-return unit is 19th with a 25.5-yard average, including nine by Deebo Samuel (25.7 yards per return) and two by Cowing (25.0 ypr).