Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 17

49ers’ 5 keys to winning without Purdy, Kittle at New Orleans Saints

NEW ORLEANS – Open with back-to-back road wins, then finish deep in the playoffs, maybe even the Super Bowl. That is the 49ers’ script for odd-numbered years, or so it has played out in 2019, ’21 and ’23.

That history surely will spark boundless optimism Sunday if the 49ers beat the host Saints to follow up a season-opening comeback win in Seattle.

A harsh reality check, however, is that they’ll burrow into the Superdome without quarterback Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle, who sustained injuries in the Week 1 win and could be sidelined into next month.

Such is life in the NFL, where injuries wreak havoc, perhaps even more so with the 49ers. Ironically, the 49ers had to cancel a joint practice in last year’s training camp with the Saints because of injury attrition.

The Saints are undergoing their own roster upheaval. For as much talk as the 49ers’ defense has generated with a new cast around Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, the Saints entered this season with 25 new players under first-year coach Kellen Moore.

Here are five keys to victory for the 49ers (beyond “1. Do. 2. Not. 3. Get. 4. Hurt. 5. Anymore.”):

1. 2017 DRAFT REUNION

The 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey and the Saints’ Alvin Kamara are two of the NFL’s most versatile running backs, and they’ve been that since arriving in the 2017 NFL Draft. Look for each offense to rely on them more than their quarterback.

McCaffrey sidestepped last week’s calf issue to wrack up 142 yards (69 rushing, 73 receiving) in the opening win at Seattle. It was his 31st career game with 50-plus rushing and 50-plus receiving yards, the second-most behind Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk’s 41.

Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks during the game at Lumen Field on Sept. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Such production isn’t anything new for McCaffrey or Kamara. Their stats, since 2017, when McCaffrey was Carolina’s first-round pick out of Stanford and Kamara was New Orleans’ third-rounder out of Tennessee:

McCaffrey: 6,456 rushing yards (52 touchdowns, 1,339 carries), 4,539 receiving yards (29 touchdowns, 533 catches).

Kamara: 6,824 rushing yards (61 touchdowns, 1,554 carries), 4,774 receiving yards (25 touchdowns, 575 catches); he has played 20 more games than McCaffrey. Kamara debuted Sunday with 45 rushing yards (and a touchdown) and 12 receiving yards

2. QUARTERBACK MATCHUP

Neither quarterback has won an NFL start inside the Superdome. So don’t rule out a tie. But seriously …

Spencer Rattler went 0-6 as a second-round rookie last year, and last Sunday’s 20-13 loss to Arizona dropped him to 0-7 as the Saints’ starter. Rattler, a 2024 fifth-round pick, kept that job after beating out Tyler Shough, a rookie second-rounder.

San Francisco 49ers’ Jalen Graham (50) sacks New Orleans Saints’ Spencer Rattler (18) in the fourth quarter of their preseason game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Rattler is only 6-foot with a career 57.3-completion percentage (four touchdowns, five interceptions). But he can move, and the 49ers notoriously struggle with quarterbacks who can escape the pocket (21.9 yards per rush).

“This quarterback, I’m telling you, he’s going to be a household (name) by the end of the year,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. “He’s a twitchy athlete, he has a heck of an arm, he’s very decisive, he’s accurate.”

Mac Jones, Purdy’s replacement, will be making his 50th career start, and although he’s played in over half the NFL stadiums, this is his Superdome debut, even tracing to his three years at Alabama. Jones is 20-29 as a starter, including a 10-7 mark as a 2021 Pro Bowl rookie for the Patriots, who took him 15th overall after the 49ers audibled in the draft process to select Trey Lance No. 3.

After three years in New England and last season’s seven spot starts in Jacksonville, Jones arrived this spring and matured well into Kyle Shanahan’s scheme, up until an Aug. 16 knee sprain ended his 13-of-16 preseason performance in Las Vegas. Should Jones go down in this game, then it could be Adrian Martinez claiming his first win, in the Superdome or anywhere in the NFL.

3. PROTECT JONES BETTER

Jones is not considered as mobile and elusive as Purdy, who sustained a left-shoulder injury on a second-quarter hit Sunday before his toe injury on a scramble just before halftime.

Warning: Left tackle Trent Williams is battling a knee injury, after uncharacteristically allowing six pressures in the season opener. Left guard Ben Bartch and right guard Dominick Puni are also battling knee issues.

The San Francisco 49ers’ Trent Williams (71) points during practice at the San Francisco 49ers’ practice facility in Santa Clara, Calif., on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

Purdy was pressured on 57.9% of his drop-back passes in the opener, the highest single-game rate of his career. He responded by going 13-of-20 for 126 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and a sack.

The Saints’ pressure might best come from Cameron Jordan, a 15th-year veteran out of Cal who had 1 1/2 sacks in Sunday’s opener, as did Carl Granderson. Former 49ers defensive end Chase Young has been sidelined by a calf injury.

“It is going to be a good front. Cam definitely hasn’t slowed down,” right tackle Colton McKivitz said. “It’ll be a good challenge for us up front. And obviously with Brock being out, we are going to have to be at our best on Sunday.”

4. 49ERS D-LINE VS. SAINTS O-LINE

Like the Seahawks a week ago, the Saints present a homegrown offensive line, but with four first-round picks: left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. (2025), left guard Trevor Penning (2022), right guard Cesar Ruiz (2022) and right tackle Taliese Fuega (2024); Fuega hurt his knee in the Saints’ opener and was limited in practice this week.

The 49ers’ revamped defensive front came through in the clutch in the season opener, or at least Nick Bosa did in producing a strip-sack fumble recovery in the final minute to clinch that victory.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) runs down the field with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

“We put some really good effort on tape. That was a big emphasis of ours,” Bosa said. “The run game, we held up well. There’s a lot to improve on.” Seattle’s two-back combination of Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet totaled just 67 yards (3 yards per carry).

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Top draft pick Mykel Williams recorded one tackle in 39 snaps as a versatile lineman, to which Bosa said: “He’s stout, strong. He needs to clear up some things in his head to allow him to play faster, but he has the tools.”

Bosa was a rookie in that 2019 epic win in New Orleans and did not play in the 2020 encore because of an ACL tear.

5. KICKER’S FIRST IMPRESSION

Eddy Piñeiro, Jake Moody’s overdue replacement at kicker, played the past three seasons for the Carolina Panthers, so he has experience kicking in their NFC South rival’s historic dome. “It was fun. It’s a little dark, not too many lights. But it’s loud,” said Piñeiro, whose 88.1 field-goal percentage ranks fourth in NFL history; ex-Niner Robbie Gould is ninth (86.5%).

Getty ImagesEddy Pineiro (4) of the Carolina Panthers celebrates after kicking the game-winning field goal during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 29, 2023, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images/TNS)

In New Orleans’ season opener last Sunday, the Saints blocked a field-goal attempt in the final five minutes. That is a reminder to note that Moody was not the sole culprit of the 49ers’ special teams blunders in recent years, and porous protection resulted in a blocked field-goal attempt Sunday in Seattle.

“At the end of the day, I’ve got to make kicks, and if I don’t, I’ll be out of here,” said Piñeiro, who also drew interest from Atlanta. “Thank God this opportunity came up and this is what I wanted. … At this point, I want to win. This was the best opportunity. I wanted to go somewhere we can win and this is the place.”

Horoscopes Sept. 13, 2025: Lili Reinhart, don’t lose sight of who you are

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Lili Reinhart, 29; Ben Savage, 45; Jean Smart, 74; Jacqueline Bisset, 81.

Happy Birthday: Put your head down, map out a course and refuse to let anyone disrupt your plans. How you reach your pinnacle will go hand in hand with your drive and determination to turn your dream into a reality. Don’t lose sight of who you are and what you can achieve. Take the helm and control the outcome. A change will instill confidence and encourage you to strive for excellence. Your numbers are 6, 11, 22, 29, 34, 45, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Use your imagination and deliver whatever message you want with gusto and charisma. Find your passion and become the influencer who mesmerizes and persuades others to do and see things your way. Trust and believe in yourself, and devote your time and energy to making progress. Personal gain and romance are favored. 4 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Pay attention to where your money goes. Emotional spending or underestimating the cost of hiring a contractor will set you back. Focus on your work ethic and overtime to ensure you don’t fall short when the bills arrive. Research and consider what’s a necessity, and proceed with caution. Physical fitness will help ease stress. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Let your actions speak for you. How you conduct yourself today will determine the extent of your achievements. Distance yourself from people and groups that ask for too much. A change or perspective will point you in a direction that considers cost, connections and commitment first. Home and self-improvements will be uplifting. Romance is favored. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Jumping to conclusions will lead to trouble. Be open, ask questions and determine what’s best for you before you engage in events or activities that are costly or indulgent. Protect your reputation and physical well-being by sticking close to home and associating with people you love and know you can trust. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Reach out to experts, gather information, and broaden your perspective regarding what’s possible and what’s best left untouched. The changes you implement will have a lasting impact on how you live and those with whom you spend the most time. Don’t share personal data or family secrets. Update your surroundings to make your life easier. 4 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Open discussions will help you determine your next move. Once you size up your situation, the possibilities and who wants to stand beside you, it will make your decisions and plans easy to manifest. Mix business with pleasure, and something unexpected will offer the boost you need to reach your target. 2 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Ask what’s entailed or expected of you before you volunteer or commit to a subscription or ongoing donation. A change to where or how you live can help you invest in your future by encouraging you to move forward with your plans. Attend gatherings that foster connections with like-minded individuals who share your thoughts and values. 5 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Keep a friendly demeanor, and avoid unnecessary altercations with random people. How you carry yourself and treat others will make a difference to how your day unfolds. A helpful, positive attitude will encourage others to see and do things your way. Protect your health, reputation and future by maintaining integrity and avoiding places that pose risks. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Create opportunities. You make a better leader than a follower, so put on your best attire, speak up and develop a circle around you that can help you reach your goal. Personal growth will come through the conversations you engage in and the places you travel to. Listen, take notes and update your plans accordingly. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Broaden your plans to fit your needs. Assertive action will ensure you get things done and attract positive attention. Be open to suggestions and partnerships that are valuable to the outcome you are striving to reach. A smart, efficient cash flow will keep you in the game and entitle you to a hefty payback. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You are overdue for a change. Be the one to kick things off. A change that saves you money will also reduce stress and give you extra cash for entertainment or a special treat. Personal growth is within reach and will provide you with the boost you need to follow through with your plans. 5 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Ultimatums will turn into emotional battles. Take a moment to consider what’s truly important to you. Compromise and kindness will go a long way when dealing with difficult individuals. Expand your interests to include activities that connect you with people who share your views. Avoid unnecessary purchases, paying for others and donating more than you can afford. 2 stars

Birthday Baby: You are charming, thought-provoking and persuasive. You are talkative and entertaining.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes.
2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others.
3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals.
4 stars: Aim high; start new projects.
5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

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High School football: Bonilla’s three touchdowns lead Toreadores past Aptos

MONTEREY — It took eight years and numerous legal battles within the neighborhood before the lights at Monterey High could glow and glitter in the twilight of the evening.

Up until the lights sparkled in a ceremony that brought alumni back from 70 years, Toreadores head football coach Alex Besaw wasn’t concerned about it being a distraction.

“As soon as the lights came on, I could sense our focus slipping away,” the Monterey coach said. “I told the kids to be excited. But my message was keep your composure. We still have to execute.”

While a penalty on the first offensive play wasn’t ideal, the Toreadores quickly regained their focus, scoring on their opening drive Friday, beginning Gabilan Division play with a 33-14 win over Aptos.

For the second time in four years, the Toreadores are off to a 3-0 start, one of just three teams in the Gabilan Division that are still undefeated.

Since giving up 14 points in the first quarter in their season opener at Christopher, the Toreadores have outscored the opposition 99-29, turning to a tenacious defense that has started as many as five sophomores.

“We were relentless for four quarters on defense,” Besaw said. “We played phenomenal tonight. That is a credit to our scout kids getting our defense ready in practice. That’s not an easy offense to prepare for.”

Besaw was speaking about the Mariners throwback Wing-T attack, in which they run up to the line of scrimmage, with three backs in the backfield.

Last year Aptos went to the Central Coast Section Division III title game, where it fell 62-35 to eventual State Division 5 AA champ Carmel.

In three Gabilan Division meetings against Aptos, the Toreadores — who will visit Palma next Friday — are averaging 41.5 points a game, scoring four touchdowns in the first half on Friday.

“We always talk to the kids about being ready for their moment and taking advantage of it,” Besaw said. “We had a couple of kids tonight that certainly did that on defense.”

Besaw was speaking about linebackers Craig Prewitt and Charlie Storelli, who were all over the field, each recording a handful of tackles, including a pair for losses.

“He (Prewitt) hadn’t seen a lot of action in the first two games,” said Besaw, who has taken Monterey to the playoffs three straight years. “He got his number called and made some huge plays for us.”

With three straight games of over 100 yards rushing, Ethan Bonilla is emerging into one of the more prolific running backs in the Pacific Coast Athletic League.

Coming into the season with just one carry on his resume, the senior ran for 168 yards on just 15 carries, producing the team’s first three touchdowns.

“What you’re seeing is what we saw when he got opportunities in practice last year,” Besaw said. “He did a lot of this on our scout team. He’s stepped into this role.”

The 5-foot-9, 205-pound Bonilla was playing behind two-time all-county tailback Enobong Wirth last fall, who is now showing off his craft at Monterey Peninsula College.

“He’s sneaky fast,” said Besaw of Bonilla, who has 401 yards and five touchdowns in three games. “He’s a physical runner. He makes it tough in terms of their (defense) pursuit angles. He was bouncing off guys. He’s hard to catch.”

Twice Bonilla broke tackles at the point of attack, before escaping into the open field and outrunning the Mariners secondary to the end zone for touchdowns of 51 and 49 yards in the first half.

That only opened the offense up, where quarterback Branson Gulley took turns finding receivers Kai Vaughn, Dekota Ordonio and sophomore Isaiah Gonzalez.

Vaughn caught a pair of touchdown passes, while Gonzales had a huge first quarter for the Toreadores, going across the middle for a 32-yard reception.

“Isiaah is a pretty dynamic kid,” Besaw said. “He’s extremely athletic. It’s another good problem to have, finding all these athletes’ ways to get the football.”

With the teeth of its schedule in the Gabilan Division about the heat up, trimming the amount of penalties is something Besaw is preaching, not only in practice, but during the games.

Monterey was flagged eight times in the first half, including 35 yards on one Aptos drive that helped set up their first touchdown, which tied the game at 7 in the first quarter.

“We preach this stuff all the time,” Besaw said. “The kids are aware of it. We have to understand we can’t do that consistency and expect good results. We have to change what we’re doing in practice because it’s happening too often.”

SF Giants beat Dodgers on Bailey’s walk-off grand slam in 10th inning

SAN FRANCISCO — Patrick Bailey remained calm, collected. His celebration was subtle yet suave, a drop of his bat with a flick of his wrist. The stoicism, though, could only last so long, fading with every base he touched. Once Bailey reached home, the official completion of a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning, Bailey surrendered himself to the moment.

He heaved his helmet to the heavens. Rafael Devers tossed water in Bailey’s vicinity, and Heliot Ramos followed behind with yellow Powerade. Willy Adames, as is his wont, ripped off Bailey’s jersey, the two emphatically dapping hands and bumping chests.

And there were the fans, an announced attendance of 40,509 that orchestrated one of the loudest crowd pops of the season. This night was not just a celebration of a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. This night was an affirmation that the Giants, a team whose playoff ambitions appeared gone, are within reach of October baseball.

“I think it shows a lot of who we are as a team to go through what we went through,” Bailey said, “to have one of the roughest stretches in baseball and to be able to compete right now.”

“It’s a dream come true, honestly,” said outfielder Grant McCray. “It’s something that kids dream of. It’s intense. It’s fun. It’s energy all around. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. If we can keep this going until October and play every game like that, then I’m all here for it.”

The Giants’ standing as a contender with 15 games remaining is largely the product of their best run of the season, winning 14 of their last 19 games. It’s also been a product of the continued free fall of the New York Mets, who have lost seven games in a row and 11 of their last 15 games. Should the Giants maintain this brand of ball, October baseball is well within their grasp.

Justin Verlander went bar-for-bar with the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto as each starter turned in seven innings of one-run ball. McCray redeemed himself after being thrown out at the plate in the bottom of the ninth by unfurling an outfield assist in extra innings. Joey Lucchesi, Ryan Walker and Joel Peguero combined for three scoreless innings of relief.

“It’s been extremes all year, and we’re riding this one right now,” said manager Bob Melvin. “It’s taken everybody to win these games.”

For Verlander, his latest quality start was possible due in part to a sacrifice from Dominic Smith, who sacrificed his body for an out.

With two on and two out in the top of the fourth, Andy Pages pulled a grounder into the six-hole. Third baseman Matt Chapman, who successfully appealed his one-game suspension, made a diving stop and fired to first. Smith stretched as far as his body would allow, inadvertently hitting the splits in the process. Pages was out; Smith was hurt.

As Smith collected himself, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts tried to challenge the ruling. The call stood and the Giants maintained their 1-0 lead, but Smith’s night was over due to a right thigh injury. An MRI on Saturday will determine the severity of Smith’s ailment.

The Giants’ one-run lead would not hold. Former Giant Michael Conforto homered to center in the top of the seventh, and Los Angeles threatened for more.

Ben Rortvedt, the Dodgers’ No. 9 hitter, doubled with two outs, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. With a base open, Melvin elected to intentionally walk one MVP in Shohei Ohtani to get to another MVP in Betts. Melvin had two relievers ready and warmed but stuck with Verlander.

On his 105th and final pitch of the night, Verlander reached back for 95.5 mph four-seam fastball. Betts, despite his recent hot streak, hit into an inning-ending fly out. As Verlander walked off the mound, he was greeted with a raucous standing ovation.

“It’s one of those games that had a bit of a playoff atmosphere to it from the beginning,” said Verlander, who reached his 20th year of service time. “It was one of those games where you never know who’s going to step up and make a great play.”

McCray saw his opportunity to make a play in the bottom of the ninth. Luis Matos, pinch-hitting for Drew Gilbert, reached base to start the inning when Betts made a throwing error. After Ramos struck out, Devers singled to right field and Matos advanced to third.

With Adames due up, Roberts went to right-hander Blake Treinen. An intentional walk of Adames brought up Wilmer Flores, who entered the game for Smith. On an 0-1 count, Flores sent a sweeper from Treinen to shallow center field.

McCray, who was pinch-running for Matos, challenged the right arm of Pages. Pages’ throw arrived with feet to spare. McCray was out, the inning was over.

“You gotta send him there,” Melvin said. “They have to make a perfect throw, and they did. The way that game went, runs were tough to come by. Their guy throws well in the outfield. Once it got to that spot with the bases loaded, we’re going to try to get our fastest runner in there.”

The next half-inning, McCray wanted to “just make a play.” A play, he made.

With runners on first and second, Betts skied a fly ball to McCray in right field. Rortvedt, the automatic runner, challenged McCray, who unfurled a dart for the double play. At 101.7 mph, it was the hardest-thrown outfield assist by a Giant in the Statcast era (since 2015).

“There’s plenty of plays that you could say were the plays of the game. I don’t know that there was a bigger play in the game than that,” Melvin said. “That’s a guy that’s been sitting around for quite some time. Didn’t even know he’d be in this game. The next thing you know, he’s got the ball and he’s got to make a perfect throw to third.”

An even bigger play loomed in the bottom of the frame.

With one out and a runner on third, Roberts summoned the left-handed Tanner Scott to face Jung Hoo Lee. An unintentional walk of Lee and an intentional walk of Casey Schmitt brought Bailey to the plate with the game on the line.

Scott tried to elevate a fastball. It wasn’t elevated high enough.

Bailey turned a 96.5 mph four-seamer from Scott into his third walk-off hit of the season; his third home run in the last four games; and his first homer as a right-hander since Aug. 23, 2023. In the process, Bailey became the first player in MLB history with a walk-off inside-the-park homer and walk-off grand slam in the same season.

“Both are definitely pretty cool,” Bailey said with a smile. “I’m definitely not as tired with this one.”

Fed Governor Lisa Cook claimed 2nd residence as ‘vacation home,’ undercutting Trump fraud claims

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST and CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook referred to a condominium she purchased in June 2021 as a “vacation home” in a loan estimate, a characterization that could undermine claims by the Trump administration that she committed mortgage fraud.

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President Donald Trump has sought to fire Cook “for cause,” relying on allegations that Cook claimed both the condo and another property as her primary residence simultaneously, as he looks to reshape the central bank to orchestrate a steep cut to interest rates. Documents obtained by The Associated Press also showed that on a second form submitted by Cook to gain a security clearance, she described the property as a “second home.”

Cook sued the Trump administration to block her firing, the first time a president has sought to remove a member of the seven-person board of governors. Cook secured an injunction Tuesday that allows her to remain as a Fed governor.

The administration has appealed the ruling and asked for an emergency ruling by Monday, just before the Fed is set to meet and decide whether to reduce its key interest rate. Most economists expect they will cut the rate by a quarter point.

Bill Pulte, a Trump appointee to the agency that regulates mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has accused Cook of signing separate documents in which she allegedly said that both the Atlanta property and a home in Ann Arbor, Michigan, also purchased in June 2021, were both “primary residences.” Pulte submitted a criminal referral to the Justice Department, which has opened an investigation.

Claiming a home as a “primary residence” can result in better down payment and mortgage terms than if one of the homes is classified as a vacation home.

The descriptions of Cook’s properties were first reported by Reuters.

Fulton County tax records show Cook has never claimed a homestead exemption on the condo, which allows someone who uses a property as their primary residence to reduce their property taxes, since buying it in 2021.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

AP writer Jeff Amy in Atlanta contributed to this report.

49ers’ good humor man Mac Jones ready for his opportunity replacing Brock Purdy

SANTA CLARA — Mac Jones came to the 49ers to back up Brock Purdy after washing out in both New England and Jacksonville, working his hardest to be ready when called upon.

It happened sooner than anyone imagined when Purdy came out of a season-opening 17-13 win over Seattle with toe and left shoulder injuries, which could sideline him for multiple games.

If that’s not enough to worry 49ers fans, quarterback Adrian Martinez will be promoted from the practice squad as the backup and he’s been with the team all of two weeks.

“It’s the front side of the season here, and I feel prepared,” Jones said Friday. “I’ve been working for this and fortunate to have started, I think this is my 50th game in the NFL, so I have my routine down, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”

Jones will start Sunday’s game in New Orleans against the Saints (10 a.m., PST, Fox). If there’s any concern about whether Jones is up to the task, it’s been well hidden. Teammates have lauded both his skill set and ability to quickly adapt to coach Kyle Shanahan’s system as well as his presence in the locker room.

After starting out leading the Patriots to a playoff berth as a rookie to being a backup for a poor Jacksonville team in his fourth season, Jones has plenty of experiences both good and bad to draw from.

“I’ve been fortunate to play in a lot of different roles, and your job as a quarterback is to either hand it off or throw it and that’s how simple I’m going to keep it,” Jones said. “That’s when I play my best, when I have a low pulse and just go out there and go through my reads and have that intensity and focus. You’ve got to be ready to play and have a system that works for you.”

Shanahan said he saw the same thing from Jones he’s seen every week since he signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the 49ers.

“It’s been awesome,” Shanahan said. “The same this week as he has been all camp. Our team really believes in him, our team really enjoys him and he did a hell of a job this week in practice.”

While Purdy’s persona is more laid back and serious, Jones, by contrast, is buoyant and quick with a joke among teammates.

“I definitely think that’s part of my personality, and I play to have fun and try to win,” Jones said. “It’s hard when you’re in the NFL and it’s your job, but winning is fun, and I understand that. I want to go out there and be loose.”

Right tackle Colton McKivitz immediately picked up on Jones’ penchant for being light-hearted.

“That’s one cool thing about him, even in the huddle, he’ll still laugh and crack a joke, but when it’s game time, he locks in and commands the huddle,” McKivitz said. “He likes to have fun but he’s a winner. He’s proven that at Alabama and obviously now that we’ve got him, he’s going to want to show some stuff on Sunday. “

General manager John Lynch believes Jones has fit in perfectly with the team and coaching staff.

Shae Hammond/Bay Area News GroupQuarterback Mac Jones has won over teammates with his sense of humor as well as his ability to run the offense.

“What I can tell you is it’s probably better than advertised, better than what we thought he would be in terms of stepping in and just feeling like he was a real good fit for this offense,” Lynch said on KNBR-680.

Jones has already meshed with his teammates, and also has friendships on the roster from college (Brian Robinson Jr. played with him at Alabama), New England (wide receiver Kendrick Bourne) and Jacksonville (tight end Luke Farrell).

“I’ve known him since I was 17 years old,” Robinson said. “We were kind of in the same situation early in our career, second- and third-stringers. We weren’t playing much at the time. We had to work our way up to those spots and we constantly developed. I’ve watched his whole process all the way up to this point and have no doubt he’s ready for this opportunity.”

At Alabama, Jones passed for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions in leading the Crimson Tide to a national championship.

Selected with the No. 15 pick in the first round in 2021, in the same draft the 49ers traded up and took Trey Lance No. 3, Jones was named the starter by Bill Belichick and led the Patriots to a 10-7 record and a Wild Card playoff berth.

It turned out to be the peak of his New England experience, and one that Bourne saw up close after signing with New England in free agency.

“Mac helped me when I transitioned over there,” Bourne said. “It was his rookie year and I had one of my best years. But things go how they go. Every year is different. Some are good, some are bad. We both kind of fell victim to certain situations and things not going the way we planned. He kind of took it on the chin, and just to see him here and the joy he has is great.”

Delighted to be in a place where he can “get back on track,” Jones found himself on the field the other day with both Bourne and quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi, who was a New England assistant.

“Mick’s like, `Who would’ve thought we would all be be standing here on a Thursday afternoon — me, Kendrick and Mick,” Jones said. “Kind of crazy.”

Martinez, 25, played at Nebraska, Kansas State and most recently for the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL, winning the league Most Valuable Player award and leading his team to a championship.

If Martinez is nervous or intimidated at the thought of taking over should something happen to Jones, it’s not apparent.

“You come in, you learn the offense, you put in time, and I wouldn’t say it’s been any different than any of the other processes I’ve taken,” Martinez said. “I’m very confident. I think that’s part of my job, whether you’re a starter, second string or practice squad.”

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Martinez spent the Seattle game with an ear piece where he could hear communication between Shanahan and Purdy and learn the play-calling rhythm and game tempo.

Shanahan conceded he’d have to make some adjustments to his play-calling should Martinez be needed.

“He’s prepared for it all, but I’ll have an idea of the stuff he likes more than others,” Shanahan said. “I mean, he’s been here two weeks. You don’t tell a guy, `Hey, just take these 10 plays.’ You try to tell him to learn the whole game plan. But I always want to know what he’s more comfortable with and and hopefully we can stick with that if the game allows us to.”

 

Appeals court rules Trump administration can end legal protections for more than 400,000 migrants

By MICHAEL CASEY

BOSTON (AP) — A federal appeals court ruled Friday that the Trump administration can end legal protections for around 430,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

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The ruling by a three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is the latest twist in a legal fight over Biden-era policies that created new and expanded pathways for people to live in the United States, generally for two years with work authorization. The Trump administration announced in March it was ending the humanitarian parole protections.

“We recognize the risks of irreparable harm persuasively laid out in the district court’s order: that parolees who lawfully arrived in this country were suddenly forced to choose between leaving in less than a month — a choice that potentially includes being separated from their families, communities, and lawful employment and returning to dangers in their home countries,” the judges wrote. “But absent a strong showing of likelihood of success on the merits, the risk of such irreparable harms cannot, by itself, support a stay.”

In a two-page ruling, the court lifted a stay issued by a district court and is allowing the administration to end humanitarian parole for those groups while the lawsuit plays out. The ruling Friday is a victory for the Trump administration but doesn’t change anything on the ground.

Esther Sung, the legal director of Justice Action Center, a co-counsel in the case, said the ruling “hurts everyone.”

“People who came here from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela did everything the government asked of them, and the Trump administration cruelly and nonsensically failed to hold up the government’s end of the bargain,” Sung said. “While we are deeply disappointed by this decision, we will continue to advocate zealously for our clients and class members as the litigation continues.”

A district court issued a stay in April halting the administration’s decision, but the Supreme Court lifted the lower court order at the end of May with little explanation.

The Trump administration had argued the appeals court should follow the Supreme Court and reverse the district court ruling.

The protections for people fleeing turmoil in their home countries were always meant to be temporary, and the Department of Homeland Security has the power to revoke them without court interference, the Justice Department said in a court filing.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that ending parole on a case-by-case basis would be a “gargantuan task” that would slow the government’s efforts to press for the removal of the migrants.

“The Secretary’s discretionary rescission of a discretionary benefit should have been the end of the matter,” lawyers for the government wrote in their brief.

Plaintiffs, including people who benefited from the legal protections, urged the appeals court to endorse the district court ruling, which found that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem could not categorically end protections for these groups, but instead had to evaluate each case individually. They also cited the district court’s finding that Noem ignored the humanitarian concerns that led to the legal protections in the first place.

“The district court applied the law correctly and did not abuse its discretion when it concluded that Secretary Noem’s action inflicted irreparable injury on the class members (among others) and that the public interest and balance of the equities tip sharply in favor of preliminary relief,” attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote in a brief.

Republican President Donald Trump promised on the campaign trail to deport millions of people. Since taking office, he has sought to dismantle Biden administration policies that expanded paths for migrants to live legally in the U.S.

The Trump administration’s decision was the first-ever mass revocation of humanitarian parole, attorneys for the migrants said in court papers, calling it “the largest mass illegalization event in modern American history.”

Matt Chapman wins appeal over shove suspension, will start for SF Giants vs. Dodgers

SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Chapman won’t be suspended for his role in last week’s benches-clearing incident the Giants and Colorado Rockies, the team announced on Friday afternoon.

“We ended up not having to do the full hearing,” said Chapman, who took his regular spot in the Giants lineup Friday night against the Dodgers. “They just offered a settlement. We took it and felt like it was a fair deal and move on.”

Chapman had a condensed hearing on Thursday to appeal a one-game suspension he received on Sept. 3, a day after the incident. On Friday, Major League Baseball downgraded Chapman’s punishment to an undisclosed find, which was also part of the original punishment.

“I had a lot of people in my corner trying to help me out, from the Giants to (agent Scott) Boras to a lot of people,” Chapman said.

Chapman effectively missed the entirety of the Giants’ win on Sept. 2 win over the Rockies at Coors Field after shoving Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland. Freeland took exception to Rafael Devers’ admiration of his first-inning home run, igniting the benches-clearing episode.

Following the incident, Chapman was ejected from the game along with Freeland and Willy Adames. Chapman, however, was the only player who was suspended (Adames, Devers and Freeland received fines).

Chapman said he had a case prepared ahead of the hearing, stating how he didn’t start the incident and he was only trying to defend his teammate. He also pointed out that he essentially missed a game already, being ejected before he took an at-bat or took the field. Despite his preparation, Chapman never had to make his case during the hearing.

“I think that probably helped that I missed the whole game already,” said Chapman, who has a .810 OPS with 21 home runs over 113 games this season. “I was the only person that got handed a suspension. After they looked at the film and reviewed it, I probably deserved to get the same punishment as other people.”

Said manager Bob Melvin: “Based on the fact nobody else got suspended for a day, we felt like there was a pretty good chance. … It seems like it’s the right thing.”

Chapman batted fifth as they begin a crucial weekend series with the NL West-leading Dodgers. Entering Friday, San Francisco were 1.5 games back of the New York Mets for the third and final wild-card spot.

“It’s a big one,” Chapman said. “Anytime we play the Dodgers it’s a big one, but we know what’s at stake there. They’re in first place, we’re battling for the wild card spot, they’re battling to stay in first place. Everybody’s got stuff on the line.

“We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves, but we need to treat each game like it’s a playoff game for us because it pretty much is. We’ve got to win a lot of games to go to where we want to go. Tonight’s a big one and we’re excited for the challenge.”

This three-game set at Oracle Park features three marquee pitching matchups. Justin Verlander will face Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Friday; Logan Webb and Clayton Kershaw will battle on Saturday; and Robbie Ray and Tyler Glasnow will finish the series on Sunday.

“They have a really good team. They have all year, and now they’re at full strength,” Melvin said. “We feel pretty good about the way we’re playing and we feel pretty good about our pitching matchups as well. As far as pitching matchups go, I don’t know that it gets better in a three-game series than the six names you see right now.”

Worth noting

Right-hander Landen Roupp (bone bruise in right knee) threw a 25-pitch bullpen today and will throw another bullpen in a few days.Left-hander Erik Miller (left elbow sprain) will throw a bullpen tomorrow.

The EPA wants to end a requirement that large polluters report their greenhouse gas emissions

By MATTHEW DALY

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday proposed doing away with a program that has required large, mostly industrial polluters to report their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions to the government.

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The program requires refineries, power plants, oil wells and landfills to report their emissions without risk of penalty as officials seek to identify high-polluting facilities and develop policies to lower emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Experts say the reporting held the companies publicly accountable for their emissions.

Since the program began in 2009, U.S. industry has collectively reported a 20% drop in carbon emissions, mostly driven by the closure of coal-fired power plants.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program “burdensome” and unhelpful to improving human health and the environment.

Removing the rule would save American businesses up to $2.4 billion in regulatory costs over 10 years while maintaining the agency’s statutory obligations under the Clean Air Act, Zeldin said. If finalized, the proposal would remove reporting obligations for most large industrial facilities in the United States, as well as fuel and industrial gas suppliers and carbon dioxide injection sites.

“The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program is nothing more than bureaucratic red tape that does nothing to improve air quality,” Zeldin said in a statement.

“It costs American businesses and manufacturing billions of dollars, driving up the cost of living, jeopardizing our nation’s prosperity and hurting American communities,” he said. “With this proposal, we show once again that fulfilling EPA’s statutory obligations and Powering the Great American Comeback is not a binary choice.”

But experts say dropping the requirement — as Zeldin promised in March when he unleashed what he called the greatest day of deregulation in U.S. history — risks a big increase in emissions, since companies would no longer be publicly accountable for what they discharge into the air. And they say losing the data — at the same time the EPA is cutting air quality monitoring elsewhere — would make it tougher to fight climate change.

Joseph Goffman, who led EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation under President Joe Biden, said eliminating the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program “blinds Americans to the facts about climate pollution. Without it, policymakers, businesses and communities cannot make sound decisions about how to cut emissions and protect public health.”

FILE – The Warrick Power Plant operates, April 8, 2025, in Newburgh, Ind. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)

By hiding pollution information from the public, “Administrator Zeldin is denying Americans the ability to see the damaging results of his actions on climate pollution, air quality and public health,” Goffman said, calling the plan “yet another example of the Trump administration putting polluters before people’s health.”

David Doniger, a senior strategist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group, called the proposal “a cynical effort to keep the American public in the dark, because if they don’t know who the polluters are, they can’t do anything to hold them responsible.”

Big polluters may want to keep their climate pollution secret, he added, but the public, states and local policymakers “have depended on this data” for more than 15 years. Public accountability and pushback from investors have led many companies to reduce their climate pollution even before EPA sets stricter standards, Doniger said.

But Zeldin said reducing the overall regulatory burden on U.S. industry will allow companies to “focus compliance expenditures on actual, tangible environmental benefits.”

The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program covers 47 source categories and requires more than 8,000 facilities and suppliers in the U.S. to calculate their greenhouse gas emissions annually, Zeldin said.

“Following a careful review, EPA proposed that there is no requirement under (the Clean Air Act) to collect GHG emission information from businesses, nor is continuing the ongoing costly data collection useful to fulfill any of the agency’s statutory obligations,” he said.

The EPA will accept public comments on the proposal for more than six weeks after the plan is published in the Federal Register, expected in coming days.

Trump administration to award a no-bid contract on research into vaccines and autism

By MIKE STOBBE

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal health officials intend to award a contract to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to investigate whether there is a link between vaccinations and autism, according to a government procurement notice.

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The Troy, New York, engineering school is getting the no-bid contract because of its “unique ability” to link data on children and mothers, according to the notice posted this week.

Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to questions about the notice, including how much the contract is for or what exactly the researchers intend to do.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a leading voice in the antivaccine movement before President Donald Trump selected him to oversee federal health agencies, announced in April a “massive testing and research effort” to determine the cause of autism by this month. He has repeatedly tried to link vaccines to the condition.

An RPI biotech engineering professor, Juergen Hahn, has used artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to look for patterns in blood samples of children with autism. Hahn “is renowned for the quality and rigor of his research,” RPI officials said in a statement acknowledging the intended grant.

“If this project is awarded, he intends to publish the results of his work at the conclusion of the project,” the statement added.

The Associated Press left messages seeking comment from Hahn.

The notice raises many questions, said Alycia Halladay, who oversees research activities and grants for the Autism Science Foundation.

RPI is not known in the field as having any special access to data on this kind of question and “wouldn’t be the obvious choice,” Halladay said.

It’s also not clear how the contract fits into other autism research that the government may be planning, she said.

But perhaps the biggest question is why money is being spent on such a study at all, she added.

Scientists have ruled out a link between vaccines and autism, finding no evidence of increased rates of autism among those who are vaccinated compared with those who are not.

“The question has been studied for 20 years, multiple times by researchers around the world using millions of people, and there has never been a credible association found between vaccines and autism,” Halladay said.

Those who have spent decades researching autism have found no single cause. Genetics play a role, and other factors include the age of a child’s father, the mother’s weight, and whether she had diabetes or was exposed to certain chemicals.

Whatever amount is being spent on the project could instead be going to “other important research questions,” including studies of genetics and environmental factors, Halladay said.

“I think that’s the most frustrating part,” she said.

For months, HHS officials have been trying to use vaccine safety data compiled by the CDC to look for harms that might be tied to shots. Kennedy has accused CDC leaders of stonewalling those efforts, but the actual obstacle has been something else, said one former federal health official familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

About a dozen medical research organizations collect the vaccine safety data and report it to the CDC. Contracts that stretch back nearly two decades give those entities — not the CDC — control over the data, and HHS has not yet been able to get it, the official said.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.