{"id":367013,"date":"2025-09-14T09:17:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-14T09:17:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/367013\/"},"modified":"2025-09-14T09:17:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-14T09:17:10","slug":"49ers-news-game-day-niners-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/367013\/","title":{"rendered":"49ers News: GAME DAY | Niners Nation"},"content":{"rendered":"

QB Mac Jones puts a smile on 49ers\u2019 faces, but can he also deliver a Week 2 win? (paywall)<\/a>
\u201cNiners fullback Kyle Juszczyk<\/a> said Jones was dancing \u201c24\/7\u201d in the locker room throughout spring practices, not long after he met his new teammates after signing a two-year contract in March. His preferred music? None. The man literally grooves to his own beat.<\/p>\n

Right tackle Colton McKivitz\u2019s analysis: \u201cHe\u2019s definitely smooth.\u201d\u2026. As far as his rapping, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, who was Jones\u2019 teammate for three seasons with the Patriots, recalled how Jones would often freestyle with him in the locker room before games.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was one of the funniest things,\u201d Bourne said. \u201cIt was just instrumental. So we\u2019d play a beat and then we\u2019d just flow, mess around, say stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bourne\u2019s assessment: \u201cHe knows the culture. For a white guy, he\u2019s not bad. Not bad at all.\u201d\u2026. Jones said Shanahan is \u201creally funny\u201d and they share a similar humor. Asked about Jones\u2019 personality, Shanahan offered that he is \u201creally cool\u201d and noted his wife, Mandy, assumed he had a good sense of humor based on the fire-engine red suit he wore to last week\u2019s season-opening win at Seattle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think he\u2019s trying to be funny,\u201d Shanahan said. \u201cHe\u2019s just got swag. It\u2019s just him. Mac\u2019s himself, makes guys laugh, and he\u2019s got a lot of energy. Our guys have really enjoyed him so far. \u2026 Guys play hard for guys that they like. That\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jones addressed the team after Thursday\u2019s practice. Part of his message: \u201cWalk in your trap, take over your trap.\u201d It\u2019s a rap lyric meant to convey the 49ers\u2019 mission Sunday: Take over the Saints\u2019 home stadium.<\/p>\n

Juszczyk smiled as he relayed Jones\u2019 words of wisdom.<\/p>\n

\u201cMac,\u201d he said, \u201cis just a really funny dude.\u201d<\/p>\n

What I\u2019m hearing on Tyreek Hill\u2019s future, 49ers\u2019 injury bug and Chiefs\u2019 reset (paywall)
<\/a>There\u2019s a reason Jones signed this offseason with San Francisco on a two-year deal, even after turning down bigger offers elsewhere. He and Shanahan always had a natural connection, dating back to the 2021 draft cycle. When the 49ers traded up to No. 3 that spring, sources say, it was for Jones. Shanahan has since admitted the two quarterbacks they focused on during that strange Covid year were Trey Lance and Jones.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, they chose Lance at No. 3, while Jones slid to New England at No. 15. Rumors swirled afterward that Niners GM John Lynch pushed for Lance while Shanahan wanted Jones. But here\u2019s what\u2019s clear: Shanahan is one of the league\u2019s best coaches. He\u2019s proven he knows how to get the best out of any quarterback. He\u2019s not signing off on a quarterback unless he thinks he can make it work\u2026.As one New Orleans defender told me: \u201cNow, with the 49ers, he\u2019s in a way better situation. Just look at the offense \u2014 more weapons, better scheme, more support. It\u2019s night and day from Foxboro. Our game plan\u2019s pretty simple: Collapse the pocket, get pressure up the middle. Interior D-line getting their hands up is key. \u2026 Force him off his spot, make him uncomfortable, and you\u2019ll see the cracks.\u201d<\/p>\n

One last note on the 49ers: While watching Green Bay on Thursday night, a front-office executive from a different team sent me a line that stuck: \u201cThis is how you build a young team \u2026 they\u2019re the anti-San Francisco.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sports Illustrated: Demario Davis\u2019 Christian McCaffrey Take Before Saints-49ers<\/a><\/p>\n

The New Orleans Saints are just two days away from their second game of the 2025 National Football League regular season.<\/p>\n

The Saints are going to be trying their best to stop the playmaker on Sunday, but Saints star Demario Davis gave him his flowers<\/a> before the showdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cMan is just a tough challenge,\u201d Davis said. \u201cBeen going against Christian for a long time. When he was in our division, going against him twice per year was a challenge. Then going to an explosive offense like San Francisco really opened things up for him to do a lot of different things. He\u2019s one of the most dynamic backs in the league. He can do it all.<\/p>\n

\u201dOf course, being able to carry the ball 20, 25 times per game, but also catch the ball out of the backfield. I think he had a big week last week in the receiving game. Not afraid to throw his helmet in there and block. He is what you would want in a running back if you\u2019re trying to build your offense around your run game. Having a weapon like that, I think he\u2019s one of the top backs in the league and once he gets going, he\u2019s tough to deal with. I think it just takes all 11 guys.<\/p>\n

49ers vs. Saints picks: Who do experts like in this Week 2 matchup? (Saints Wire)<\/a><\/p>\n

If all things were equal and both teams healthy, I\u2019d take San Francisco by a touchdown. But as things stand we have a healthy 49ers defense paired with a shorthanded offense, lining up against a New Orleans offense which couldn\u2019t find the end zone against a much less-talented Arizona Cardinals defense one week ago. I like the Saints defense going against the 49ers here, and this could be a long day for left tackle Trent Williams, who has lost a step while playing hurt. I see a low-scoring game just like the last time these teams met, but at least now New Orleans has something resembling a strategy to work with offensively. Bold prediction: The Saints pass rush gets five more sacks, with Alontae Taylor bringing Mac Jones down twice to maintain his lead over Micah Parsons as the NFL\u2019s sacks leader in No. 1. — John Sigler<\/p>\n

Fantasy Football start\/sit recommendations for the 49ers in Week 2 vs. Saints (Niners Wire)<\/a><\/p>\n

RB Christian McCaffrey: Start<\/p>\n

McCaffrey came into Week 1 battling an injury, and he ended up as the third-best running back in fantasy football. His 69 rushing yards on 3.1 yards per attempt and nine receptions for 73 yards brought him to 23.2 points. With Jones in, expect McCaffrey to get a similar workload, if not more as an outlet out of the backfield.<\/p>\n

Pearsall looked really good against the Seahawks, catching four passes for 108 yards on seven targets, including a 45-yarder. The offense will be different without Purdy getting him the ball, but as the top receiver, he\u2019ll draw either Kool-Aid McKinstry or old friend Isaac Yiadom as matchups. He should be able to win both.<\/p>\n

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