A big development in the AI space is that neurons are now legible. With all these advancements in science and technology, we might finally come closer to understand what the hell is going on in Kyle Shanahan’s brain. I’m so grateful we have the football version of Leonardo Da Vinci coaching my favorite football team. I’m even more grateful that the Denver Broncos beat the Seattle Seahawks.
49ers’ Christian McCaffrey is working less. His thoughts? It’s complicated (paywall)
“I want to win — whatever it takes to win games,” McCaffrey said. “I think what I love about this team is you’ve got a bunch of selfish, unselfish guys. Obviously, people want the ball every play, but not at the expense of the team. …
“I think we’ve got to do whatever it takes to win and when you have a roster like ours where the ball can get spread around so much, you should probably not get as many touches, either. It’s never my job to count them, but to make them count.”
Why is Shanahan finally taking better care of McCaffrey this season? It’s not about extending his career. It’s about reinvigorating his rushing attack.”
Mike Evans broke ribs and got even better: How the 49ers WR’s history made him who he is (paywall)
“But over time, his skills sharpened, and he became a sort of point forward — someone who could bring the ball up the court, guard the opponent’s tallest player and finish with 16 rebounds.
He plays wide receiver like a rebounder, using his tremendous length — the 6-foot-5 Evans has a nearly 7-foot wingspan — to box out defensive backs when the ball is in the air. The quarterback’s rule when targeting Evans: Even when he’s not open, he’s open.
“It’s feel, and it’s years of repetition,” Evans said of knowing where a defender is even when he’s behind him. “That helps a lot.”
Terry Petteway also learned how to tap into his pupil’s hypercompetitiveness. He’d point to the biggest kid on the other squad and tell Mike he couldn’t guard him.
“He’d look over and say, ‘What? That guy?’” Terry recalled. “Then he’d go and tear the guy’s head off. All you needed to do to motivate Mike was tell him he couldn’t do something.”
Asked whether Evans ever got into fights on the court or football field, Terry laughed. “That’s not a fair question!” he protested. “I’m gonna put it this way: Mike was never, ever going to back down from anybody. And he’s still like that today.”
Christian Kirk getting closer to making a difference for injury-riddled 49ers
“I believe I have a lot of really good football left,” Kirk said on Thursday. “In no way, shape or form, I thought about anything other than that. It’s just all about working to get my body back to feeling great, to be able to go out and play.”
Kawakami: John Lynch’s near-perfect offseason has relaunched this 49ers era (paywall)
“I’ve already said that Odighizuwa is better than Hargrave. Let’s go bigger than that with this rookie: Halton’s Seahawks-wrecking performance last Sunday was the 49ers’ best game by a defensive tackle since DeForest Buckner in his prime.
It’s early. But Halton, the 107th pick in this draft, looks like he’s everything the 49ers hoped to get when they signed Hargrave or took Alfred Collins 43rd in 2025 and Javon Kinlaw 14th in 2020.
The minor complication is that Halton looks like a natural three-technique DT. And you usually play only one of those at a time, with a nose-tackle type next to him on early downs. But lining up two explosive three-technique types together, with Odighizuwa and Halton, makes for a very dynamic interior DL.”
Kyle Shanahan shares updates ahead of 49ers-Commanders game
“San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters ahead of Thursday’s practice as the team prepares for its Week 6 matchup against the Washington Commanders.”
49ers injury updates: Christian Kirk returns; Mike Evans is dealing with a new injury
“As for Bosa’s availability for Monday night, Shanahan said, “Hoping he can go, but not going to practice today.” He believes it won’t be an injury that lingers for the rest of the season.
Linebacker Nick Martin won’t return this week. There was speculation about Martin returning with Greenlaw and Wallow out, but Shanahan said, “He’s not getting up this week.”
Deebo Samuel could head to the injured reserve. Shanahan said, “I think if we didn’t have that bye week, it’d be around that area. But gaining that week where we don’t play is still why we’re trying to wait on that right now. And hope we don’t have to do it.”
Wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling is “a ways away,” but Shanahan thinks he’s on track.
There’s an “outside chance” Demarcus Robinson returns before the bye week. Shanahan said they’re hoping to have him back after the bye, which is his way of saying that’s the expectation.