Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 7

49ers report card: Clutch finish leads to 3-0, first-place mark

SANTA CLARA – Here is how the 49ers (3-0) graded in Sunday’s 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals (2-1) in their home opener:

PASS OFFENSE: B+

Mac Jones aggravated a month-old knee sprain but engineered a two-minute drive that yielded the 49ers’ walk-off field goal. Jones also shook off two fourth-quarter gaffes he blamed on himself: an interception at Arizona’s 20-yard line, and then a safety on the ensuing possession in which Calais Campbell swam past Dominick Puni for a holding penalty in the end zone. Jones relied too heavily on two targets – Christian McCaffrey (10 catches, 15 targets, 88 yards) and Ricky Pearsall (eight catches, 11 targets, 117 yards – but the 49ers were down, let’s see, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins, etc. Pearsall’s 34-yard, fourth-and-2 catch at the 6-yard line set up Jones’ only touchdown pass — a 1-yard grenade on a play-action bootleg to Kyle Juszczyk. Sacked once all game, Jones completed passes to four different receivers – Jake Tonges, Skyy Moore, Kendrick Bourne, McCaffrey – on the winning drive. Cue: Brock Purdy, next Sunday against Jacksonville.

RUN OFFENSE: D

McCaffrey struggled to find room on his 17 carries for 52 yards. Brian Robinson relieved him for just two carries, but one resulted in a 19-yard gain on a potential go-ahead drive halted by Jones’ interception four snaps later. McCaffrey got stopped for no gain on the snap before the interception; it was the 49ers’ final run. Rookie guard Connor Colby’s starting debut saw him called for a holding penalty to nullify a 7-yard run by McCaffrey on the first snap after halftime.

PASS DEFENSE: C+

Third-down pass breakups by Fred Warner and Upton Stout halted the Cardinals’ final two possessions. Earlier, Renardo Green’s pass-interference penalty in the end zone set up Kyler Murray’s lone touchdown pass, that being a 1-yarder to Trey McBride against Dee Winters. The 49ers have no interceptions through three games, and Warner had one slip through his hands while also wishing he had snatched that aforementioned third-down throw.

RUN DEFENSE: A-

Murray scooted his way for just 37 yards on six carries. The biggest run stop came when Marques Sigle injured James Conner’s ankle on the Cardinals’ second play after halftime. Conner had just 22 yards on nine carries, while upstart back Trey Benson had 10 carries for 42 yards, 29 of which came on one run. Warner racked up 11 tackles for the second straight game and Winters had eight. Chalking up tackles-for-loss were Bryce Huff, Deommodore Lenoir, Jordan Elliott and Mykel Williams, whose came after he returned from a second-quarter wrist injury.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A

Related Articles Photos: San Francisco 49ers claim first place in NFC West with 16-15 win over Arizona Cardinals McCaffrey shows toughness again in 49ers’ win over Cardinals. How long he keep it up? Kurtenbach: ‘Next man up’? For the 3-0 49ers, it’s not just an empty saying What the 49ers said after beating the Cardinals Studs and Duds: Ricky Pearsall’s elite day lifts Niners to improbable home win

The kicker, Eddy Piñeiro, did his job. He made all three field-goal attempts and a lone point-after kick. Sounds simple. It hadn’t been with his predecessor, Jake Moody. Once Piñeiro made the 35-yard winning field goal as time expired, the 49ers found themselves as the NFC West’s only unbeaten team. As for other special teams issues, Skyy Moore probably should not have made a fair catch at the 6 on the Cardinals’ final punt, as it set up a safety, but he did have kick returns of 31 and 30 yards.

COACHING: A

Ratatouille — defined as a humble, rustic vegetable stew — is an apt culinary metaphor. Kyle Shanahan cooked up another win. Third in three tries. Second via a fourth-quarter comeback, third with fourth-quarter heroics. This is not Shanahan’s signature style. Injuries be damned. The Niners are undefeated. Their stadium hosts the Super Bowl on Feb. 8. Commissioner Roger Goodell was on site to verify that Sunday — Levi’s Stadium as a Super Bowl site, and perhaps the 49ers as an actual contender.

Horoscopes Sept. 22, 2025: Bonnie Hunt, take a new approach to life

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Tom Felton, 38; Bonnie Hunt, 64; Andrea Bocelli, 67; Joan Jett, 67.

Happy Birthday: Take a new approach to life, love and achieving the happiness you deserve. A change of scenery, revamping your routine and learning more about the people, places and things that interest you are good places to start. Change begins with you, and without taking the initiative and establishing boundaries, standards and plans, you’ll continue to spin your wheels and go nowhere. Shake things up, and you’ll make things happen. Your numbers are 6, 13, 21, 28, 35, 42, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Simplify your life and spend time with loved ones or pursuing your passion. Choose fitness, a healthy diet and taking better care of yourself over gimmicks that promise the impossible. Channel your energy to benefit yourself, not help someone else get ahead. Discipline, a solid plan and open discussions will pay off. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put your energy where it counts. Refuse to let anyone redirect or take advantage of you. Pay more attention to how you look, feel and spend your time. Engage in physical activities that promote strength, stamina and self-confidence. Clear a space to practice or work on a project that enhances your life personally or financially. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Socializing will be uplifting and rewarding in regard to the connections you make and the possibilities that arise. Think big, but don’t subscribe to something you cannot afford or that you don’t have the time to pursue. Balance, integrity and fair play will be the pathway to success and peace of mind. Avoid unnecessary domestic changes. 5 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Take time to breathe, rethink your next move and slim down plans that are far-fetched or too expensive. Moving forward with restraint, common sense and knowledge of what’s possible will give you the upper hand when dealing with those with whom you share common interests, expenses or joint ventures. Choose physical activity to lower stress. 2 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Live, love and learn. Conversations will be eye-opening if you ask the right questions. Don’t hesitate to banter with people of interest who can challenge you to think about what you want to pursue. Don’t brag or exaggerate, or you’ll end up taking on more than you can handle. Today is about listening and learning. 4 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Pay attention to detail. Don’t make a move or change a thing if you feel something is not right. Direct your energy toward self-improvement, rather than trying to change others or attempting the impossible. Getting back to nature or engaging in a physical activity you enjoy will clear your head and reset your perspective. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Embrace what you feel most passionate about doing, and it will encourage you to put yourself first for a change. Research is the best place to start when you want to make a lifestyle adjustment. Consider what sparks your interest, and see what’s available in your community. The first step is the hardest. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’ll need an outlet to calm your nerves. Look for a creative way to take the edge off. Engage in taking care of unfinished business or broadening your knowledge about something you can incorporate into your everyday routine. Expanding your interests will tweak your imagination and encourage innovative pursuits. Self-improvement and romance are favored. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Home is where the heart is, so do your best to make it as comfortable and convenient as possible. Engage in hosting events or interest groups, and you’ll make an impression on someone who can offer you inroads to a job or position that interests you. Keep track of your health and avoid high-risk environments. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Look for opportunities to expand your knowledge. Talk to experts, get up to date with the latest technology and trends, and consider how you can upgrade your skills to enhance your chances of fitting the requirements of a position that interests you. Choose your words carefully and verify information before proceeding with your plans. 2 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put more time and energy into your investments. Whether it’s how you spend your time or money, it’s a good idea to look for innovative alternatives that lead to superior management. A change at home that lowers your overhead or adds to your assets is favored. Don’t make a snap decision that leads to regret. 5 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Spend more time on personal and domestic improvements. Pay attention to meaningful relationships, and consider how to nurture them and ensure you are working toward similar goals. Expand your interests and allocate more time to socializing and connecting with those already engaged in what you want to pursue. Romance is in the stars. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are compassionate, innovative and curious. You are intelligent and engaging.

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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Barron rallies to take Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach

PEBBLE BEACH — Doug Barron birdied the last three holes at Pebble Beach Golf Links for a 6-under 66 while his pursuers faltered down the stretch and won the Pure Insurance Championship by one shot on Sunday for his fourth senior victory.

Barron finished at 12-under 204. He trailed Steven Alker by four shots entering the day, and Alker still had a chance to match him with a birdie on the seaside par-5 18th but made bogey for a 72 to finish two shots back with Retief Goosen (65). Vijay Singh was second after he parred the final three holes for a 69.

Fred Couples tied for fifth at 8 under, the 65-year-old’s best finish since February.

It was the 56 year-old Barron’s fourth win on PGA Tour Champions in 117 starts and his first since the 2024 Regions Tradition.

“My dad passed away in January and he played in the Monterey Peninsula for years and years and he loved it, we talked about it all the time,” Barron said. “He was with me today. I wanted to dedicate today to my dad.”

Barron played bogey-free golf Saturday and Sunday at Pebble Beach after having two bogeys in Friday’s round at Spyglass Hill Golf Course. He takes home a purse of $360,000.

Singh, who won the 2004 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, tied for third at last year’s Pure Insurance Championship. This year’s second place finish was his best in 11 starts in the tournament and made him $211,000 richer.

The tournament included 80 First Tee members from 48 U.S. chapters who were paired with, and mentored by, PGA Tour Champions players and amateurs from the business world. To be selected, juniors were measured in both golf proficiency and life skills knowledge.

The top 24 First Tee Juniors (12 male and 12 female) after 36 holes advanced to the final round at Pebble Beach. Jake Smaron (Y.E. Yang) and Julio Rodas-Rhim (David Bransdon) earned the win in the boys division, finishing at 16-under 200, while Margaret Kerr (Steven Alker) took the crown in the girls division at 18-under 198

Photos: San Francisco 49ers claim first place in NFC West with 16-15 win over Arizona Cardinals

The San Francisco 49ers pulled out more fourth-quarter heroics and used Eddy Piñeiro’s 35-yard field goal as time expired to claim a 16-15 triumph over the Arizona Cardinals.

Related Articles 49ers report card: Clutch finish leads to 3-0, first-place mark McCaffrey shows toughness again in 49ers’ win over Cardinals. How long he keep it up? Kurtenbach: ‘Next man up’? For the 3-0 49ers, it’s not just an empty saying What the 49ers said after beating the Cardinals Studs and Duds: Ricky Pearsall’s elite day lifts Niners to improbable home win

I know I’ve got to make the kick. If not, I probably won’t be here,” said Piñeiro, Jake Moody’s replacement after the season opener. “I’m just happy I was able to make some kicks and I can be here to enjoy the ride.”

Coach Kyle Shanahan beamed afterward about this shift-on-the-fly squad which now sits alone atop the NFC West.

“I said it to them, and using big words for myself: fortitude, resilience, and character,” Shanahan said. “… It was a (heck) of a job by everybody.”

Quarterback Mac Jones was 27-of-41 for 284 yards with a touchdown and an interception in possibly his final start in place of Purdy, who might be back from a toe injury next Sunday when the 49ers host Jones’ 2024 team, the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1).

Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News GroupSan Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against Arizona Cardinals’ Mack Wilson Sr. (2) in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (18) smiles after kicking the game-winning field goal against the Arizona Cardinals to win 16-15 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (18) kicks the game-winning field goal against the Arizona Cardinals at the end of the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers’ Fred Warner (54) celebrates a play against the Arizona Cardinals in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) can’t make a catch against Arizona Cardinals’ Mack Wilson Sr. (2) on fourth down in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Football fans stand during the playing of the national anthem before their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (18) celebrates his 51-yard field goal with San Francisco 49ers’ Thomas Morstead (7) against the Arizona Cardinals in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers’ Jake Tonges (88) can’t make a catch against Arizona Cardinals’ Kitan Crawford (36) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (18) receives a hug from quarterback Mac Jones (10) after defeating the Arizona Cardinals during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 16-15. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers’ Brian Robinson Jr. (3) runs against Arizona Cardinals’ Mack Wilson Sr. (2) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers George Kittle (85) smiles while talking to quarterback Brock Purdy (13) on the sideline in the second quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers’ Jason Pinnock (25) tackles Arizona Cardinals’ Trey Benson (33) after a catch in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Juszczyk (44) celebrates his touchdown with teammates against the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Arizona Cardinals’ Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (42) intercepts a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall (1) in the fourth quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 16-15. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Juszczyk (44) spins the football in the end zone after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 16-15. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News GroupSan Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals’ Mack Wilson Sr. (2) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)A San Francisco 49ers fan cheers for his team during the 49ers game against the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Football fans make their way to the stadium as they arrive for their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Arizona Cardinals’ Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (42) makes an interception against San Francisco 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall (1) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) looks to pass the ball against the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers George Kittle (85) smiles while talking to quarterback Brock Purdy (13) on the sideline in the second quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall (1) makes a 34-yard catch for a first down against Arizona Cardinals’ Kei’Trel Clark (13) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Football fans stand during the playing of the national anthem before their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall (1) makes a catch against Arizona Cardinals’ Jalen Thompson (34) in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

 

 

McCaffrey shows toughness again in 49ers’ win over Cardinals. How long he keep it up?

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers are atop the NFC West in a most unusual fashion. They’re doing enough just to get by on offense with key players on the sidelines, nowhere near the juggernaut they were in previous years when they were laying waste to the division and going deep into the playoffs.

The latest example Sunday was a 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals, with a 10-play, 63-yard drive finished off by a 35-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro. The play was set up on a middle screen to Christian McCaffrey, who broke loose for 20 yards on a pass from Mac Jones to keep the field goal attempt at a reasonable distance.

Without George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Brock Purdy and Jauan Jennings, this isn’t your father’s 49ers offense, Or even that of your uncle or aunt. This was Jones, McCaffrey and Ricky Pearsall Jr. hoping to score enough points to reward a defense that was stout even with the loss of Nick Bosa to a knee injury in the first half.

In three games, the 49ers have scored 17, 26 and 16 points and won them all. They’ll probably need to sustain their gritty personality for a few more weeks until the cavalry arrives in the form of Kittle, Purdy, Aiyuk and Jennings.

And if Bosa is out for any length of time — coach Kyle Shanahan said an ACL tear wasn’t confirmed by initial tests but he couldn’t rule it out — they’ll probably need to score even more.

San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa (97) heads to the locker room in the second quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Pearsall has blossomed into a top-flight NFL receiver as evidenced by eight receptions for 117 yards including a 34-yard strike on fourth-and-2 from Jones that set up a 1-yard flip from Jones to Kyle Juszczyk.

But can McCaffrey possibly keep this up?

He carried 17 times for 52 yards and caught eight passes for 88 more. And it’s conceivable he took more punishment in those 25 snaps than at any time since donning a 49ers’ uniform for the first time in 2022.

McCaffrey averaged just 3.1 yards per carry and took everything the Arizona defensive line have to offer. Linebacker Mack Wilson blew him up twice, once breaking up a pass and another time getting thrown down as if in a WWE bout along the sideline. All that was missing was the turnbuckle and hitting him over the head with a chair.

“We were in the cold tub next to each other and I told him, ‘You took a lot of hits,’ and he said, ‘Yeah, I’ll be good though,’” Jones recalled of his postgame chat with McCaffrey. “That’s just who he is. I’ve learned a lot about the body and what you need to do to get ready being around him.”

San Francisco 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall (1) makes a 34-yard catch for a first down against Arizona Cardinals’ Kei’Trel Clark (13) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

I asked McCaffrey if he is taking an almost perverse joy in taking the punishment and bouncing back to his feet.

“No, I do not,” McCaffrey said. “I don’t like getting hit. Sometimes there are games when you take a lot of shots and sometimes you don’t, but I feel great. It’s the nature of the best and what I’ve learned before is I’ve been very fortunate in this league to have a lot of success and had some seasons that have been humbling. I’ve realized that it’s better not to focus on anything other than what you can control in the moment and continue to grow and get better every week.”

Juszczyk, one of McCaffrey’s closest friends, said the entire focus of the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year was to fully bounce back from last season’s bilateral Achilles tendinitis and PCL strain, which limited him to four games.

“I train with Christian in the offseason, and I’m telling you, there is nobody on this planet that trains like Christian McCaffrey,” Juszczyk said. “He put absolutely everything into getting back to his form. Six, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. he was grinding. And you’re seeing that pay off. And it’s needed. He gets tackled 30 times a game. I get tackled once and I’m sore. No matter how many times he gets hit, he always has something left in the tank. He had that screen to put us in field goal position, and that’s the guy we’re going to call on in those types of situations.”

The 49ers ran 62 offensive plays and 32 of them went to McCaffrey — 17 rushes and 15 receiving targets.

Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News GroupChristian McCaffrey (23) of the 49ers escapes Mack Wilson Jr. of the Cardinals Sunday at Levi's Stadium.

That whole notion of working in Brian Robinson Jr. to take off some of the load? Shanahan did what he has always done when McCaffrey is healthy enough to take the field: Get him the ball one way or the other as many times as he can and damn the punishment.

Robinson carried only twice, but the good news is a quick toss to the right broke free for 19 yards on a drive that ended with a Jones interception with the game tied 13-13 with 5:19 to go.

Another good sign was the 49ers’ game-winning drive. Jones got things going with an 11-yard pass to tight end Jake Tonges, and then had a 10-yarder to Skyy Moore. There were consecutive passes to Kendrick Bourne of 7 and 11 yards.

By that point, the 49ers were at the Arizona 36 and in field goal range. It was then that the middle screen gained 20 more yards to make Pineiro’s game-winner more reasonable.

San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (18) celebrates after kicking a 35-yard game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 16-15. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

McCaffrey had an assist in terms of the play execution as well before the ball was even snapped. Jones said he got a quick tutorial from McCaffrey on the play before the ball was snapped because he hadn’t run it before.

Related Articles 49ers report card: Clutch finish leads to 3-0, first-place mark Photos: San Francisco 49ers claim first place in NFC West with 16-15 win over Arizona Cardinals Kurtenbach: ‘Next man up’? For the 3-0 49ers, it’s not just an empty saying What the 49ers said after beating the Cardinals Studs and Duds: Ricky Pearsall’s elite day lifts Niners to improbable home win

“You look around in the huddle and you have confidence because he’s Christian McCaffrey,” Jones said. “You know that he’s there and he’s going to make plays. I know he’s my safety blanket. I can throw it to him and I know I’ll get between 6 and 15 yards every time.”

McCaffrey already has 75 touches in three games. In 2023, he averaged 21.1 in 16 games. So Shanahan isn’t going to be shy about feeding him the ball. The question is whether he can hold up in the face of some punishment that borders on inhuman.

The 49ers’ hopes to retain their NFC West lead will depend on it.

San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws an interception against the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Kurtenbach: ‘Next man up’? For the 3-0 49ers, it’s not just an empty saying

SANTA CLARA — “Next man up” is the kind of football phrase that gets tossed around locker rooms like used spat tape.

And it’s usually a desperate Hail Mary — a coping mechanism for a team that’s already on life support — limping to a six-win season like the one the Niners did last year.

We’ve heard “next man up” quite often in Santa Clara over the years. And we’re hearing it a lot this season, too.

But after Sunday’s 16-15 comeback win over the Arizona Cardinals, something’s different this year.

The 49ers’ MRI machine might as well have a waiting room outside it this season. The starting quarterback’s out. The No. 1 and No. 2 receivers are on the shelf (don’t forget about Brandon Aiyuk, folks). The star tight end is on injured reserve. Then, just to twist the knife, all-world defensive end Nick Bosa went down in the first quarter of Sunday’s game with a knee injury that looks like anything but minor.

Any other team, and you’d have a white flag flying over the stadium.

But this team might end this season on top of the NFC West.

San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (18) receives a hug from quarterback Mac Jones (10) after defeating the Arizona Cardinals during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 16-15. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

The Niners are 3-0 with two division wins to their name, following a wild Houdini act against the Cardinals.

How?

Because this 2025 edition of the Niners goes deeper than the surface.

Three games in, and this team has already proven it has some serious gumption.

You see it in the rookies and first-time starters who are receiving a trial by fire and seem incombustible.

You see it in backup quarterback Mac Jones, who drove the team down the field in the final two minutes to kick the game-winning field goal Sunday despite a gimpy knee, a shaky offensive line and, frankly, a roster of guys who probably don’t know each other’s names yet, outside of Ricky Pearsall and Christian McCaffrey. (The duo received nearly 70 percent of the Niners’ pass attempts Sunday.)

You see it in the coaches, who have shown an exceptional ability to roll with the punches and not be overwhelmed by circumstances, even as the circumstances have become increasingly dire.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) and George Kittle (85) stand behind head coach Kyle Shanahan in the fourth quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 16-15. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

This Niners team doesn’t have the same talent level we saw in 2019 or 2023 — five-star squads who often rolled over NFL competition like Ohio State rolls over some East-West State Polytechnic. Injuries have only made that disparity more obvious.

No, this is a team that has to fight for every single inch, playing games that will be decided on the margins. But they seem prepared to handle that reality. They seem comfortable in these new, tight quarters, even as they play with relative strangers.

As head coach Kyle Shanahan said, “The fortitude, the resiliency throughout that game was really, really impressive.”

“All three of those games were games that could have gone either way. We’ve had to overcome a lot in those games going into them, with some injuries and some people we lost during the game,” Shanahan continued. “Those are some of the games we struggled to win last year. …  And to win all three? I can’t say enough about the guys in there.”

Yes, San Francisco has played three nail-biters, and they probably have 14 more down-to-the-wire games coming. But so far, they’ve thrived. Ignore the box score, forget the bad plays — pay attention to the only thing that matters: the final digits on the scoreboard.

San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (18) kicks the game-winning field goal against the Arizona Cardinals at the end of the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Because the Niners’ success isn’t just about the big plays in the clutch; it’s about how they’ve responded to mistakes, to counterpunches, to chaos. Jones threw a boneheaded interception with five minutes to play, and on the next possession, the Niners gave up a safety, giving Arizona the lead and the ball with 206 seconds to play.

Yet they still won the game.

It was the kind of performance that was brutal for a columnist trying to make a deadline and incredible for an NFL team trying to make the playoffs.

“[It’s] testimony about how we play for each other,” said cornerback Deomodore Lenoir.

As fullback Kyle Juszczyk put it, “This team is not what it’s going to be, yet. We’re still trying to figure out who we are. … We’ve found ways to win, and you always want to be able to try to figure things out and still finish with a win.”

Yes, this Niners team is looking like a squad that refuses to lose, and given the circumstances, that’s more dangerous than any All-Star roster.

San Francisco 49ers’ Jason Pinnock (25) tackles Arizona Cardinals’ Trey Benson (33) after a catch in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

And it better be, because with all these injuries, it’s hard to imagine a Pro Bowl roster getting together in Santa Clara before the NFC and AFC Champions arrive for the Super Bowl in February.

As star linebacker Fred Warner likes to remind folks, the injury rate in the NFL is 100 percent. The question isn’t whether you’ll get injured, it’s when. And since the football gods have decided the Niners will never get any relief in that department, it’s best they get on with things.

In past years, the Niners have assessed the circumstances and said “see you next year” behind the scenes, while pushing the “next man up” narrative in public.

Not this year, though.

This year, they mean it.

This year, they believe it.

And after three wins in three tight games, can anyone tell them they’re wrong?

San Francisco 49ers’ Fred Warner (54) celebrates a play against the Arizona Cardinals in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

What the 49ers said after beating the Cardinals

The 49ers may be battered and bruised, but they are 3-0 after beating the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in their home opener.

Star defensive end Nick Bosa suffered a knee injury in the 16-15 win, but backup quarterback Mac Jones led a late drive that became a game-winner when Eddy Piñeiro nailed a 35-yarder as time expired.

Piñeiro was 3-for-3 on the day. Jones completed 27 of 41 passes for 284 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Ricky Pearsall led all receivers with eight catches for 117 yards. Christian McCaffrey rushed for 52 yards on 17 carries and had 10 catches for 88 yards, including a key screen pass on the final drive.

Here’s what the Niners had to say about the win:

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) and George Kittle (85) stand behind head coach Kyle Shanahan in the fourth quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 16-15. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Kyle Shanahan

On Bosa’s knee injury:

We can’t rule anything out. They checked for ACL and stuff there; it was good with that. But we’re still not sure, so we gotta check with more thorough stuff tonight and tomorrow.

On Mac Jones:

I thought he did some really good things. I know there’s a couple he’d love to take back. I thought his pick was just a bad play. Would love for Ricky to be able to break it up, but it was just a bad call. The way he came back on the end on that last drive, he was unbelievable. Even scrambling around, his knee was bothering him.

On his confidence in Piñeiro on the last kick:

We don’t have a lot of life experiences together, but I was feeling good with it and he definitely kept that going.

On McCaffrey’s toughness as he got hit a ton:

That’s how Christian is to me every day of his life, so grateful to have him.

On Pearsall coming through in big moments:

This is how Ricky’s been for a while. We felt it toward the end of last year. He’s been this way all through training camp, and it’s one of the reasons we wanted to draft him here, and he hasn’t disappointed us at all.

On overcoming a tough game:

You felt it throughout the whole game. You could tell it wasn’t going exactly how we would like — the time of possessions, stuff like that, really struggling on third down. I think we had our seventh play on offense, I want to say it was like seven minutes into the second quarter, so they were controlling the ball and we weren’t moving the ball on third down. They made it real tough, but the guys never wavered.

On the feeling around Bosa’s injury:

There is concern because of how he feels. They do tests and stuff on the sideline. Usually they say whether he definitely did (tear the ACL) or not, and they didn’t say that. But we are concerned with that and keeping our fingers crossed for the MRI.

On whether Piñeiro is confident:

Seems like it. He carries himself that way. He was cool breaking down the team there at the end, but we’ve enjoyed him here in these two weeks and liked how he’s handled himself. And definitely like guys even more when they make kicks.

On how the d-line played after Bosa went out:

I just saw them step it up. I saw a number of guys make plays. I thought they contained Kyler pretty good, which is a huge challenge.

San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Juszczyk (44) celebrates his touchdown with teammates against the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Kyle Juszczyk

On Mac Jones:

Mac was great the whole time. You don’t want to throw a pick when you’re a quarterback, so I’m sure he was feeling the pressure of that. I know he was a little banged up, he was kind of trying to limp his way through the rest of the game

On starting the season 3-0 despite injuries:

I think it says so much. This team is not who it’s going to be yet. We’re still trying to figure out who we are as well. … We know we’re not a finished product, but we’re going to continue to grow and we’re doing that as 3-0, 2-0 in the division.

On McCaffrey:

I train with Christian in the offseason and I’m telling you, there is nobody on this planet that trains like Christian McCaffrey. I’m telling you, he puts absolutely everything into getting back to his form for this season. That guy, literally six to seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. he has a trainer with him. 24/7 he was grinding and you’re seeing that pay off.

San Francisco 49ers’ Fred Warner (54) celebrates a play against the Arizona Cardinals in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Fred Warner

On the team’s mentality:

I think it just speaks to how gritty our team is. We got a team full of fighters who are willing to go the distance all four quarters. We’re calling on a lot of guys who probably didn’t know that they were going to be needed as much as they have been. So just extremely proud fo the group finding ways to win.

On Bosa’s potential absence:

Obviously he’s one of our best players, right? So it would be a huge loss. But like I said, hoping for the best with the news.

San Francisco 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall (1) makes a 34-yard catch for a first down against Arizona Cardinals’ Kei’Trel Clark (13) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Ricky Pearsall

On his fourth-and-2 catch:

I seen the corner pressed up on me. He was playing really inside leverage and as I was released, I was coming off my release and just kind of reading into the DB and he stayed inside. So I just took the outside release and Mac put it on the money on the sideline and I ended up making the catch on my helmet.

On the final drive:

I’m always optimistic and when we get the ball and we got two minutes left and we’re driving down the field, I have all the confidence in the world and in Mac and the entire offense to go down there and win the game for us. I think it really shows what kind of team we have to be able to go through adversity the entire game as an offense and be able to put up points at the end to win the game.

On Mac Jones:

He just got here this last summer. To be a quarterback where you really have to know where everybody’s at on the field at the same time, you ahve a different game plan each and every week. I just want to give all the credit in the world to Mac because that’s a really difficult situation to be in.

On his joyful demeanor:

I have fun every day, especially when KB is out there with me. We’re constantly dancing. I’m having a great time. I’m super blessed, super happy to be in the situation I am. Especially considering what I had to go through last year, being able to wake up every day and just be thankful for the day that is to come and being able to get in this locker room with these guys and being around great coaches, there’s a lot of things to be happy and excited about each and every day.

On Kendrick Bourne:

I feel like I’ve known the dude for a long time, but I’ve really only known him for like a week. He’s a great dude. He’s always smiling, laughing and that’s what I’m about. He’s one of those energy guys, good dudes to be around. You’re going to hear him when you’re in the meeting room with him, when you’re in the huddle with him.

On switching between quarterbacks:

Getting more and more reps with Mac, the more comfortable we’re getting with each other… but I don’t think it really matters what quarterback. For me, it’s just getting to those right spots at the right time, just to make it easier for the quarterback to throw the ball to me.

San Francisco 49ers’ Trent Williams (71) during practice at the 49ers training camp at the practice facility at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, July 24, 2025. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)Trent Williams

On Mac Jones:

He’s not a spring chicken, you know what I’m saying. He’s played some ball and has been in some really intense games, intense atmosphere and you can tell. So I think he’s been wonderful last couple weeks in the huddle. Even when the stakes are high, he’s still the same person.

On Bosa’s injury:

Anytime you lose a guy like Nick and he doesn’t come back and his status is unknown, it’s a real buzzkill. I can honestly say that going down to win the game, on the drive to win the game, I thought about Nick plenty of times I was in the huddle. Just hoping, praying that we get some good news. It’s cliche to say it’s a next-man-up league. When you loes a guy like that, you need three or four guys to come and fill those shoes. I think we got the depth and we got the youth, so hopefully they can continue to improve.

Christian McCaffrey

On the gritty wins:

Anytime you open up 3-0 with two division games, that’s a big deal. I think the best part about it is we’re definitely just not satisfied with how we’re playing. But to not be satisfied and still find ways to grit out some wins is a huge deal.

On the screen:

It was a great call. Just a little under screen. O-line did a great job blocking and receivers did a great job blocking downfield and made my job easy. Eddie came in there, new to this team and didn’t blink.

On whether he takes perverse joy in getting hit:

No I do not. I don’t like getting hit. I don’t want to get hit. But sometimes there’s games where you take a lot of shots, sometimes there’s not, but I feel great right now. Once again, I think just the nature of the beast is sometimes when it rains, it pours. And I’ve been very fortunate in this league, seasons that have been humbling. I’ve just realized that it’s better not to focus on anything but what you can control in the moment.

San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws an interception against the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Mac Jones

On the fourth-and-2 pass to Pearsall:

It was my alert on the play. We don’t really throw it that often, so it was just a great catch. I don’t know, like, how he caught that but it was a great play.

On the game:

The offensive line did a great job this game keeping me clean for the most part. Just to be able to come together at the end and finish, like we talked about on the sideline, like ‘Hey, we got nothing to lose. Let’s go get it’ and the players made plays.

On his mindset for the game-winning drive:

I’ve failed a lot in that situation, to be honest, in the NFL, and I just know the guys have my back and like we talked about on the sideline, let’s go out there and rip it, just one play at a time and erase everything that happened. The two plays before or whatever were my fault, but just got to give your team a chance to win.

On his success in the two-minute offense:

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I’ve always been good at it or whatever. Like I said, I enjoy it because I think it takes thinking out of it and you just go out there and play, and you get into a rhythm.

On Pearsall:

I got a lot of reps with Ricky in OTAs and training camp. He was kind of hurt and working back in and stuff. So got a lot of reps with him and I loved watching him in college. And I loved watching him in college. I’m a secret fan of him always because I just enjoyed his tape and watching him on highlights. He’s a really fast guy — he’s really twitchy and then has straight-line speed and then his cuts in and out of his cut speed is really good, probably the best I’ve seen.

On McCaffrey:

We were just both in the cold tub next to each other, just watching. I was asking ‘You took a lot of hits,’ and he’s like ‘Yeah, I”ll be good though.’ He’s just tough. He’ll be out there and practicing and that’s just who he is. He takes care of his body the best I’ve ever seen every day.

On his interception:

I mean, I threw it right to the guy, so it wasn’t’ like he made a good play. I mean, good for him. He caught it. Like, awesome. But it was technically the second part of my read and I took a hitch to it and ripped it.

On acknowledging past late-game failures:

I’ve had a lot of potential game-winning drives or whatever, and a lot of quarterbacks have, but I’ve also done well in them and I’ve done pretty bad in them too. So really I was just motivated to change the narrative. And this team, I feel like they have my back and I got to be able to do that when I’m stepping in the game. Like I said, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, just go out there and let it fly.

Studs and Duds: Ricky Pearsall’s elite day lifts Niners to improbable home win

SANTA CLARA — Divisional games are always a slog, right?

The stakes are high, the bad blood is boiling, and the teams know each other so well that it turns into a chess match.

That’s the nice little story we tell ourselves to explain away the first two-and-a-half quarters of the snooze-fest that was the 49ers-Cardinals game on Sunday.

For a while there, it was a brutal watch. Two offenses that looked like they were allergic to the end zone. Kicks and punts and something even worse than three-and-outs — 12-play drives that only gain 30-something yards and no points — were the order of the day.

This is what we used our precious Sunday on?

But just as the Bay was, collectively, about to change the channel and start mowing the lawn or washing the car, the game shifted. It became a game.

And what a game it was. A back-breaking pick, a safety, and a 1:46-second game-winning drive all found their way into the final five-or-so minutes of the Niners’ 16-15 victory.

The film will probably be disowned by the NFL (“49ers-Cardinals Week 3, 2025? I don’t know what you’re talking about”), but the notch in the win column counts the same for the Niners.

Here are the studs and duds of a dud of a game and a stud of a win.

STUDS

Ricky Pearsall • WRYou look at the receiving corps around him — Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kendrick Bourne, Skyy Moore — and you think if there was ever a game for this kid to be really good, this was it. And he was. He ended the game with eight catches for 117 yards, but more importantly, he sparked the win.

Bryce Huff • DEWith Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams (for a stretch) out, Huff stepped up in a big way. Not only did he get a sack and a pass deflection in the first half, but he was also playing on running downs and holding his own. He was already a great pickup, but now he’s vital and will be asked to keep this up.

Skyy Moore • KR/PRThe Niners have gotten nothing from their returners for a long time. So when Moore does anything even remotely adequate — or, dare I say, above average — he makes the studs list.

Fred Warner • LBIt was the worst game of Warner’s season so far. And it was still a great game. That tells you everything you need to know about the world’s best linebacker.

Dee Winters • LBHe was exceptional in the run game and strong against the pass. Three games in, and Winters is playing at a Pro Bowl level. Is it early? Absolutely. But who saw this coming?

Mykel Williams • DEYou simply cannot run the ball on the Niners when this guy is on the field. After we spent an entire calendar year complaining about the run defense, he has almost single-handedly fixed the problem. Forget the stats — that impact is immense.

Christian McCaffrey • RBThe Niners might not have scored at all if it weren’t for McCaffrey, who, once again, was the engine of an otherwise unimpressive machine. His 20-yard, I’ll-do-it-myself screen set up the game-winning field goal, but in a game where Brian Robinson Jr. was getting almost no snaps and everything was geared up to stop McCaffrey, his effectiveness before that play was terribly impressive.

Eddy Piñeiro • KCould you have imagined Jake Moody lining up for that field goal?

It would have felt a hell of a lot different as it was being lined up.

Instead, there was a strange calm around a hardly-capacity Levi’s Stadium on Sunday. Dinero Piñeiro is money, right?

Indeed. And the Niners are 3-0 because of it.

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Red Zone Kyle ShanahanThe 49ers were on their best drive of the game, alternating gains between Pearsall and McCaffrey to reach the Arizona 6-yard line. Robinson had his only carry of the game to that point, a five-yard run to put the Niners on the doorstep. And that’s where they stayed.

McCaffrey’s run from 23 personnel didn’t have a prayer, and then instead of taking the field goal, Shanahan calls for a shotgun pass play against an obvious blitz. Mack Wilson’s number is probably still imprinted on McCaffrey’s chest. It was a strange sequence that led to a brutal turnover.

It was Shanahan at his worst: uncreative and then too cute by half. He might be the best play sequencer in the league, but he doesn’t have a bag of “cool” plays for these crucial moments.

Connor Colby • LGSure, there were a couple of nice flash plays. But a couple of penalties and a handful of absolutely snap-ruining blocks highlighted Arizona’s game plan: they attacked the rookie, and it worked.

Renardo Green • CBPass interference on a pass to a man who wasn’t even the intended receiver? That’s a tough look for the sophomore corner. It’s even tougher when you consider the Cardinals scored a game-tying touchdown two plays later.

Dom Puni • RGPuni actually had a strong game, but he made a critical error with just over three minutes to play. After he was absolutely demolished off the line by the ageless Calais Campbell, who was going to read Jones his last rites, Puni, reacting as anyone would, tried to recover and held Campbell in the end zone. That’s a safety. That’s two points. That’s Cardinals ball. And it could have been the ballgame.

49ers 16, Cardinals 15: Pineiro hits walk-off field goal after Bosa leaves injured

SANTA CLARA – Nick Bosa gave a thumbs-down signal to his parents up in a suite as he limped toward the 49ers’ medical tent with a still-unspecified knee injury forcing him from Sunday’s home opener.

Another injury to the ever-wounded Niners — and yet another victory.

The 49ers (3-0) pulled out more fourth-quarter heroics and used Eddy Piñeiro’s 35-yard field goal as time expired to claim a 16-15 triumph over the Arizona Cardinals (2-1).

“I know I’ve got to make the kick. If not, I probably won’t be here,” said Piñeiro, Jake Moody’s replacement after the season opener. “I’m just happy I was able to make some kicks, and I can be here to enjoy the ride.”

Coach Kyle Shanahan beamed afterward about this shift-on-the-fly squad, which sits alone atop the NFC West.

“I said it to them, and using big words for myself: fortitude, resilience, and character,” Shanahan said. “… It was a (heck) of a job by everybody.”

San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws against the Arizona Cardinals in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Mac Jones, Brock Purdy’s stand-in for a second straight game, had a minute and 46 seconds to deliver the game-winning drive, after the 49ers’ previous two possessions resulted in an interception at the Arizona 20-yard line and a safety in the 49ers’ end zone.

Jones blamed himself for those two plays, and he volunteered how he’s “failed a lot” in late-game situations in his journeyman-esque NFL career. And then … “We talked about it on the sideline, ‘Hey, we have nothing to lose. Let’s go get it.’ Players made plays,” Jones said. “It was awesome.”

Jones delivered completions to a replacement-laden corps — Jake Tonges (11 yards), Skyy Moore (10 yards) and Kendrick Bourne (seven and 11 yards) — before a screen to workhorse Christian McCaffrey got them to the 16-yard line with 12 seconds remaining. That was close enough for Piñeiro.

“I know I’ve got to make the kick. If not, I probably won’t be here,” said Piñeiro, who made both his field-goal attempts last Sunday after missing his initial point-after try in that Week 2 win at New Orleans. “I’m just happy I was able to make some kicks and I can be here to enjoy the ride.”

So is Jones, who revealed to reporters he wasn’t aware of the exact call on the screen play until McCaffrey clued him in. Vital yards ensued.

“It was a great call, just a little under-screen and the O-line did a great job blocking and the receivers did a great job blocking down the field. It made my job easy,” McCaffrey said. “Eddy came in there new to this team, didn’t blink and made the game winner.”

San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa (97) heads to the locker room in the second quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Even that grand finale could prove trivial in the long term compared to the game’s major injuries. The 49ers lost Bosa late in the first quarter, and the Cardinals carted off running back James Conner with a reported season-ending ankle injury early in the third quarter.

Shanahan said preliminary tests on Bosa’s right knee did not signal an anterior cruciate ligament tear but added: “We can’t rule everything out.”

“Anytime you lose a guy like Nick and he doesn’t come back and his status is unknown, it’s a real buzzkill,” left tackle Trent Williams said. “I can honestly say when we were driving to the game, I thought about Nick while we were in the huddle. … It’s cliché to say it’s a next-man-up league; when you lose a guy like that, you need three or four to fill the shoes. We have the depth and hopefully we’ll continue to improve.”

Bosa had a sack in each of the 49ers’ first two wins, at Seattle. His left knee, reconstructed after a 2020 Week 2 injury, was wrapped in ice after last Sunday’s win, though he downplayed it as “just a little sore. Just a long game.”

This was a long, topsy-turvy affair, too.

Jones was 27-of-41 for 284 yards with a touchdown and an interception in possibly his final start in place of Purdy, who might be back from a toe injury next Sunday when the 49ers host Jones’ 2024 team, the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1).

Of Jones’ 41 passes, 26 targeted McCaffrey (10 catches, 88 yards) and Ricky Pearsall (eight catches, 117 yards). The latter made a 36-yard, over-the-shoulder grab at the 6-yard line on Jones’ fourth-and-2 throw, and that set up the game’s first touchdown, a 1-yard pass from Jones to Kyle Jusczyk for a 13-6 lead.

San Francisco 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall (1) makes a catch against Arizona Cardinals’ Jalen Thompson (34) in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Then came a back-and-forth slugfest for the final 11 minutes, with the Cardinals responding with their own touchdown (1-yard pass from Kyler Murray to Trey McBride against Dee Winters’ coverage). Two snaps before that, 49ers cornerback Renardo Green was called for pass interference in the end zone.

Arizona (2-1) had edged ahead 15-13 with 3:15 remaining when 39-year-old Calais Campbell slipped past second-year guard Dominick Puni, who was called for holding in the end zone as Jones slipped free of Campbell’s attempted ankle tackle.

The 49ers were poised to secure the win much earlier, until Jones, on his 10th target of the game to Pearsall, got intercepted by safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson at the Cardinals’ 20-yard line with 5:08 remaining.

The 49ers defense may have been Bosa-less but it came through with a three-and-out stop on Arizona’s possession, highlighted by All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner’s third-down pass breakup at the line. The Cardinals punted, and Moore made a fair catch at the 6-yard line — to Shanahan’s dismay — and that pinned down the 49ers before the safety.

The Cardinals couldn’t do much with their ensuing possession, and rookie Upton Stout’s third-down pass defense forced another Cardinals punt — and another 49ers’ game-winning finish.

San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (18) kicks the game-winning field goal against the Arizona Cardinals at the end of the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Bosa and fellow defensive end Mykel Williams (wrist) were being evaluated in the 49ers’ locker room by the time a Pineiro field goal resulted in a 3-3 tie. Pineiro’s 38-yarder offset Chad Ryland’s 34-yarder which had given the Cardinals a 3-0 lead after their third possession that lasted six-plus minutes.

Pineiro easily cleared the crossbar on a 51-yard attempt 17 seconds before halftime to send the 49ers in with a 6-3 lead.

The Cardinals pulled even at 6 when Ryland’s 28-yard field goal capped a third-quarter drive in which they lost running back Conner (ankle) and had drops by Marvin Harrison Jr. (at midfield on a 25-yard throw) and Emari Demercado (third down, possible touchdown).

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The 49ers were on the doorstep of their first touchdown until a fourth-and-goal attempt from the 1 was scuttled just before the fourth quarter. McCaffrey got decleated on a hit by Mack Wilson just as Jones’ fourth-down pass was arriving. Earlier, Pearsall came through with four catches to spur along that 11-play, 63-yard drive, which Jones walked away from with a limp.

The 49ers’ defense came through in fine form to start the fourth quarter, nearly producing a safety when their three rookie linemen – Williams, Alfred Collins and C.J. West – pressured Murray into the end zone and an intentional-grounding penalty marked inside the 1-yard line.

Not only were the 49ers missing Purdy and George Kittle for a second straight start, Jauan Jennings was out with an ankle injury, leaving a threadbare receiving corps for Jones. Demarcus Robinson can come off suspension for Sunday’s home game against Jacksonville, and Brandon Aiyuk is eligible to be activated ahead of a Week 5 visit to the Los Angeles Rams, although a more likely target is Week 6 at Tampa Bay.

San Francisco 49ers’ Jason Pinnock (25) tackles Arizona Cardinals’ Trey Benson (33) after a catch in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

SF Giants avoid being swept by Dodgers as McDonald deals, offense finds late life

LOS ANGELES — On Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, Trevor McDonald made the first start of his major-league career. Against a playoff-bound team, McDonald proved himself worthy of making another.

The rookie right-hander turned in the best outing of his young career as San Francisco (77-79) beat Los Angeles 3-1 at Chavez Ravine, avoiding being swept in this four-game set. Over six-plus innings, McDonald held one of baseball’s best offenses to one run while totaling three strikeouts and 11 whiffs.

“He’s my favorite pitcher to play behind,” said top prospect Bryce Eldridge. “Works quick, throws strikes. Makes our job a lot easier. So I’m very happy for him. That was awesome going against that lineup. That was badass.”

Eldridge, making his first career start at first base, played no small part in the win. On Saturday, Eldridge generated three runs with his bat as he recorded the first hit of his career. On Sunday, Eldridge saved two runs — at the minimum — with his glove.

In the bottom of the seventh, with runners on second and third with one out, pinch-hitter Tommy Edman turned on a cutter by Spencer Bivens that looked destined to roll down the right-field foul line and score at least a pair of runs.

Enter Eldridge, who used his six-foot-seven frame to make a diving catch, then fired to third base to double off Andy Pages as Matt Chapman picked Eldridge’s throw out of the dirt for the inning-ending double play.

Eldridge hasn’t often practiced that throw from first to third during his training at first base, praising Chapman for scooping the low throw.

“I told him I’d get him back a few times,” Eldridge said. “This is the first time I’ve had PitchCom in my ear, so it’s a little bit easier to anticipate where the ball is going to be hit. I knew the ball was going to be pitched in on him and he had been hooking some foul balls. I was just trying to get a bead on it, and once I saw the ball coming at me, made an effort to go get it.”

Said manager Bob Melvin: “That was the key play of the game to keep it there. (Bivens) typically will keep the ball on the ground — which he did there — but you get it in Eldridge’s hands and now he’s got to make a throw across the diamond, too. He hadn’t been out there and he has to make a key throw, so it was good to see that too.”

Before Eldridge and Chapman turned the inning-ending double play in the seventh, San Francisco’s middle infielders collaborated to turn an equally crucial double pay in the sixth.

Shohei Ohtani led off the sixth by lunging at a well-placed, down-and-away changeup, shattering his bat but muscling a soft line drive into right field for a single. With Ohtani on first, McDonald used a sinker to induce a grounder off the bat of Mookie Betts.

Shortstop Willy Adames went into a short slide and fielded Betts’ grounder on the backhand. From his knees, Adames fired to second baseman Christian Koss. Instead of stopping his momentum, Koss received the ball as he tagged the bag, then made a leaping throw to Eldridge.

“That was awesome,” McDonald said. “That really fired me up. That was the stuff you see on SportsCenter Top 10. It was sick and it really helped me out a lot. The whole team played behind me today and it was awesome.”

Immediately following Eldridge’s inning-ending double play, the Giants’ offense finally found life by putting up a three-spot against reliever Blake Treinen, who was showered with boos as he was taken out of the game in the middle of the inning.

Patrick Bailey tied the game at 1-1, coming off the bench to deliver a pinch-hit, ground-rule double that scored Koss. Rafael Devers was intentionally walked with one out to load the bases, then Adames followed by drawing a nine-pitch walk to score another run. Chapman’s check-swing groundout scored Bailey to give the Giants a 3-1 lead.

Joey Lucchesi pitched a scoreless eighth and recorded the first out in the ninth before handing the baton to closer Ryan Walker, who retired both batters he faced to seal the win.

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The Giants will now return home to San Francisco after losing five of seven on this road trip for their final six games of the season: three against the St. Louis Cardinals, three against the Colorado Rockies. The Mets and Reds are now tied for the third NL wild card spot, leaving the Giants three games back of both teams. Per FanGraphs, the Giants’ playoff odds currently sit at 0.3 percent.