San Francisco 49ers News Page 5 - NFL | FOX Sports

49ers OLB Fred Warner reflects on defending Eagles QB Jalen Hurts | SPEAK

49ers OLB Fred Warner reflects on defending Eagles QB Jalen Hurts | SPEAK

FEBRUARY 9 • Fox Sports

Azeez Al-Shaair - Role decrease in 2022 Al-Shaair finished the 2022 regular season with 44 tackles (20 solo) and no auxiliary stats across 12 games with the 49ers.

Impact Al-Shaair was coming off of a career year in 2021 (102 tackles), but an injury early in the season cost him his starting job alongside Fred Warner. Dre Greenlaw took over the weakside linebacker position, leaving Al-Shaair to man the Sam position on base formations only. The 25-year-old will now become an unrestricted free agent, providing great athleticism and coverage ability for potential suitors this upcoming offseason.

FEBRUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Jimmie Ward - Splits time at safety/corner Ward finished with 50 tackles (38 solo), three interceptions and a forced fumble across 12 regular-season games with the 49ers in 2022.

Impact Ward turned in another solid season in red and gold, this time playing both free safety and nickel corner. The 31-year-old was not thrilled about the position change, as he felt he should remain at free safety over Tashaun Gipson, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Ward has proven effective at both safety and corner during his nine-year tenure with the 49ers, but it sounds like he is ready to test the free-agent market as a free safety.

FEBRUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Brock Purdy - Specific surgery still unclear Purdy revealed during an appearance on KNBR San Francisco on Thursday that the plan to repair the tear of the UCL in his right throwing elbow on Feb. 22 may change during the surge...

Impact Purdy is slated to meet with Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas on Feb. 21 before undergoing the procedure one day later. While an InternalBrace repair is scheduled, Meister will have clearance to opt for "a hybrid surgery" that also would include a reconstruction. "Yeah, that's Dr. Meister's call," Purdy said. "He's done this year after year with the best of the best with MLB pitchers. So he's definitely seen this kind of thing happen, and he's going to make the best call, and not just for the heck of it. It's obviously for the best call for my career moving forward." The most optimistic timetable for Purdy's recovery is for the quarterback to resume throwing after three months and be ready for training camp, but that's subject to change. With Trey Lance (ankle) expected to be healthy by the offseason program, Purdy will be playing catch up no matter what happens during the upcoming operation.

FEBRUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

NFL Commissioner Goodell tackles diversity, concussions

From diversity to concussions, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reiterated the league is still looking for improvement

FEBRUARY 8 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP source: 49ers QB Purdy to undergo surgery Feb. 22

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will undergo surgery on his injured elbow later this month and should be fully recovered by training camp

FEBRUARY 8 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rivera: Howell goes into spring as Commanders' starting QB

Ron Rivera says Sam Howell will go into preparations for the 2023 season as the Washington Commanders' starting quarterback

FEBRUARY 8 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brock Purdy - Surgery scheduled Purdy is slated to meet with Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas on Feb. 21 before undergoing surgery to repair the complete tear of the UCL is his right throwing elbow on Feb. 22, Ian Rap...

Impact Purdy suffered the injury during the 49ers' loss in the NFC Championship Game at Philadelphia on Jan. 29. The Niners had some concern that he may require Tommy John surgery, but considering he's expected to be ready for training camp, per Rapoport, Purdy appears set to undergo the InternalBrace repair. San Francisco enters the offseason with just two quarterbacks under contract -- Purdy and Trey Lance (ankle) -- with the latter expected to be healthy for the offseason program. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has yet to name a starter or commit to a favorite in the competition for San Francisco's quarterback duties in 2023, but Purdy at least will be given a chance to reclaim the gig after his impressive run as the starter for the team as a seventh-round rookie this past season.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Pro Picks: Eagles' talent over Chiefs' experience

The Philadelphia Eagles left their dog masks at home

FEBRUARY 8 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP source: 49ers hire Steve Wilks as defensive coordinator

A person familiar with the choice says the San Francisco 49ers are hiring former Carolina interim head coach Steve Wilks as their new defensive coordinator

FEBRUARY 7 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tashaun Gipson Sr. - Finishes season as starter Gipson finished with 61 combined tackles (43 solo) and five interceptions across 17 regular-season games with the 49ers in 2022.

Impact Gipson signed with San Francisco to serve as safety depth, but his strong play vaulted him into a starting role by midseason. The veteran safety proved to be an effective starting option at free safety, so there is a good chance the 49ers will be bidding on his services during the free agent period this offseason.

FEBRUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Deommodore Lenoir - Shows flashes in 2022 Lenoir finished with 79 tackles (54 solo), a sack and an interception in 17 regular-season games.

Impact Lenoir had to step into a starter's role after Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley suffered season-ending injuries midseason. The 2021 fifth-round pick did not perform well in coverage, but those limitations did result in a high tackle total. Lenoir did show some improvements later in the year, so he might have done enough to fight for a starting spot across from Charvarius Ward in training camp next season.

FEBRUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Charvarius Ward - Plays well with new club Ward finished the 2022 regular season with 87 tackles (59 solo) and an interception across 17 games.

Impact Ward had a successful first season with his new club after leaving Kansas City to come to San Francisco. The 26-year-old finished with a career high in tackles, but he did suffer lapses in coverage at times. Ward will enter the second year of his three-year contract with the 49ers serving as the team's top corner once again.

FEBRUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Talanoa Hufanga - Breakout year at safety Hufanga finished the 2022 season with 97 tackles (66 solo), four interceptions, two sacks and two forced fumbles across 17 regular-season games.

Impact Hufanga also scored a touchdown on one of his interceptions, rounding out a breakout year at safety. The 2021 fifth-round pick remains on his rookie contract through the 2024 season, but he will likely command some sort of extension before then if he can reproduce the results we saw this year. Hufanga will begin next season as the 49ers' starting strong safety, putting him in position to post strong IDP numbers.

FEBRUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Fred Warner - Racks up 130 tackles in 2022 Warner finished the regular season with 130 tackles (79 solo), two sacks and two turnovers forced across 17 games with the 49ers.

Impact Warner turned in another premier IDP season from the Mike linebacking position. The 26-year-old has averaged 126.8 combined tackles over his five first seasons as a pro, and he is showing no signs of slowing anytime soon. Warner will return to San Francisco in 2023 and continue serving as the team's defensive captain up the middle.

FEBRUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Super Bowl backup QBs have shined from Hostetler to Foles

Brock Purdy’s bid to join the select group of quarterbacks to go from a backup for most of the season to a Super Bowl starter got derailed when he suffered his own injury in the NF...

FEBRUARY 7 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mahomes, Hurts buoy Super Bowl teams amid QB injury spate

The Chiefs and Eagles are bringing MVP finalists Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts to the Super Bowl to cap a season in which the NFL had a glaring amount of instability at quarterba...

FEBRUARY 7 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fired Marsch not given chance to see Leeds overhaul through

Jesse Marsch must have thought he had more time at Leeds after bringing in a fellow American in his coaching staff and overseeing an outlay of around $45 million in the recently cl...

FEBRUARY 7 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tyron Johnson - Finds new squad Johnson signed a reserve/future contract with the 49ers on Monday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Impact Johnson appeared in four games during the 2022 season, two with the Raiders and two with the Texans. The 27-year-old has also spent time with the Jaguars and most notably the Chargers, with whom he had 20 catches on 26 targets for 398 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie 2020 campaign. He'll work to make the most of his new opportunity in San Fransisco in 2023.

FEBRUARY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Ross Dwelley - Serves backup role in 2022 Dwelley had three receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown across 12 active regular-season games in 2022.

Impact Dwelley was able to produce a couple of big plays while George Kittle recovered from an injury to start the season, but he ultimately was limited to special teams for the majority of the year. The 27-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but he is unlikely to land in a situation that warrants fantasy consideration after posting forgettable totals through the first five years of his pro career.

FEBRUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Tyrion Davis-Price - Disappointing rookie season Davis-Price rushed for 99 yards and no touchdowns on 34 attempts across six regular-season games in his rookie season.

Impact Davis-Price failed to earn a significant role on offense at any point of the season, despite the 49ers needing running back depth. The 2022 third-round pick struggled in limited opportunities, averaging a mediocre 2.9 yards per carry while being limited to a healthy scratch most weeks. Davis-Price will have to prove himself in training camp in order to earn a roster spot next season, as he currently sits fourth on San Francisco's depth chart prior to the draft and free agency.

FEBRUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Jordan Mason - Solid rookie showing Mason finished the 2022 season with 43 carries for 258 yards and a touchdown across 16 regular-season games with San Francisco.

Impact Mason was a surprise addition to the active roster out of training camp, and he parlayed that opportunity into a special-teams role to begin the year. The undrafted rookie eventually was called upon to replace injured backups, and he averaged 6.0 yards per carry in his limited action on offense. Mason is signed through the 2024 season, so he figures to operate as the 49ers' third back to open camp behind Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell (groin).

FEBRUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE