Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 9

49ers report card: Pass-game miscues add to the misery after Warner injury

TAMPA, Fla. — Here is how the 49ers (4-2) graded in Sunday’s 30-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) at Raymond James:

PASS OFFENSE: C-

Mac Jones, already battered through three starts, was sacked six times and intercepted twice but threw for 347 yards with a sore oblique and knee. Coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t blame Jones for getting intercepted on the opening possession’s third down, seeing how Kendrick Bourne apparently turned the wrong way on his route.

Bourne, to his growing credit, did rack up 142 yards for a second straight game. Jauan Jennings’ return was far from smooth as he got into a sideline tiff with Shanahan, drew two penalties on the first drive after halftime and finised with a seven-yard reception on three targets.

RUN OFFENSE: D

Christian McCaffrey delivered the 49ers’ first rushing touchdown all season. He scored on a do-over, third-and-goal run from the one-yard line to put the 49ers in front for all of five minutes this game. But McCaffrey had just 54 yards (17 carries) with more yards as a receiver (57 on seven catches). Brian Robinson Jr. and Isaac Guerendo had no carries; Jones converted two short-yardage runs.

PASS DEFENSE: F

No interceptions for an NFL-record 13th straight game. One sack, the first from rookie Mykel Williams. No other quarterback hits. Two pass breakups. Two touchdowns allowed on blown coverages, including a 45-yarder past safety Marques Sigle for a 27-19 deficit that sealed the 49ers’ fate. This is a toothless unit on every level, and MVP candidate Baker Mayfield preyed on it (256 yards, 139.0 passer rating).

RUN DEFENSE: D

Fred Warner’s first-quarter ankle injury has devastating implications for the rest of the season, and it certainly crushed the 49ers’ morale during and after the game.

Warner was hurt when his right leg got rolled up by teammate Ji’Ayir Brown as the latter tackled Rachaad White on a 10-yard gain against a 10-man defense missing a right end. Two rushing touchdowns were surrendered but just as damning was a 15-yard scramble by Mayfield for a third-and-14 conversion, two plays before his 45-yard touchdown throw. That run only happened because he slipped from Huff’s grasp on a near sack.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C

Related Articles Is Shanahan sideline spat the beginning of the end for Jennings and the 49ers? Kurtenbach: Fred Warner’s season-ending injury is a breaking point for the 49ers’ season What the 49ers are saying after losing to the Buccaneers Studs and Duds: 49ers had too many duds to overcome Fred Warner’s injury, Baker Mayfield Bucs 30, 49ers 19: Warner’s cart-off injury, Jones’ interceptions doom Niners

Eddy Piñeiro made all four of his field-goal attempts (52, 54, 42, 29 yards) and is 15-of-15 this season since replacing Jake Moody in Week 2. Pineiro also had his left foot stepped on by a lineman after one kick, and punter Thomas Morstead had his right knee slammed into by 350-pound Vita Vea in the fourth quarter to keep alive a last-gasp drive. On Skyy Moore’s two punt returns, he curiously fielded them at the 2- and 3-yard lines in the first quarter. Moore and Robinson took over kick return duties in place of Guerendo.

COACHING: C

Shanahan looked as downcast as expected after losing Warner and a game the 49ers still could have won against a Bucs team also missing key players to injury. Shanahan uncharacteristically ripped into Jennings on the sideline before halftime, signaling a serious and concerning divide no matter how competitive they are. Good luck to Robert Saleh as he pilots a defense missing Warner and Nick Bosa for 11 more games. That defense missed a right end on the play Warner got hurt and substitution errors can be crushing.

Horoscopes Oct. 13, 2025: Sacha Baron Cohen

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Caleb McLaughlin, 24; Sacha Baron Cohen, 54; Kate Walsh, 58; Marie Osmond, 66.

Happy Birthday: You’re going places this year. Concentrate on expanding your plans and pursuing your dreams. Discipline and hard work will pay off and change your perspective regarding what’s important to you. Building a healthy lifestyle and fulfilling your desires go hand in hand. Pay attention to detail, and prop up what you want to achieve with innovative thought and plans that promote what you can offer; this will satisfy your soul. Your numbers are 9, 14, 22, 29, 31, 43, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Concentrate on doing what’s best for you while taking care of what concerns you most. Your input can lead to progress and a position that can generate new friendships or additional income. Reach out and be helpful, and something unexpected and interesting will transpire. Loving what you do will promote a positive attitude and good results. 2 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Domestic changes you implement will bring you closer to those you deal with regularly. Discuss possibilities and compromises that encourage overall benefits and schedules you can live with. A little give and take will go a long way in fostering tolerance and reducing judgment. Choose kindness and consideration over stubbornness and brute force. 4 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A physical change will be uplifting and encourage you to get out and do more. Socializing will lead to interesting encounters and prompt you to rethink how you want to spend your energy. It’s time to renew and revitalize your lifestyle, bringing your vision to life and shaping the way you want your day to unfold. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Think big, but don’t overspend in the process. It’s crucial to be forward-thinking to accommodate your long-term plans. Take the initiative to get fit and take better care of your health and money. Aim for sustainability, and you’ll discover the peace of mind you desire. Don’t let denial stand in the way of progress. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t let anger set in when realization and courage are your tickets forward. Recognize what’s going on around you, and take the necessary steps to remove yourself from unsavory situations. An innovative approach to what works best for you will lead to comfort and joy. Be true to yourself, and don’t look back. Strive to be and do your best. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Group efforts will be surprisingly innovative and spark your interest and imagination in other aspects of your life. Interact, share ideas and utilize the information you receive to remix how you live your life. It’s time to make changes that suit your needs rather than accommodate and follow others. Commit to what moves you most. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Ease into your day; think before you act, and consider the consequences of your words. Focus on your health, wealth and security, and how you can look, feel and do your best. Change may be calling your name, but clever moves are the key to success. Patience and timing are necessary. 2 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Forge ahead with a plan. A motivated attitude, alongside intelligence, persistence and relentless courage, will make those who oppose you take a step back, giving you the runway you need to reach your destination and fulfill your dreams. Be true to yourself and make the most of your day, and you will reap the rewards you deserve. 5 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Proceed with caution. Hidden agendas and false information will put you in a vulnerable position. Ask questions and be aware of what others want before making a commitment. Consider changes that broaden your perception and teach you how to utilize your skills, talents and connections in a manner that benefits you and those you interact with. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Overthinking, letting emotions lead the way and taking on too much will be your downfall. Engage in objectives that utilize your intelligence, experience and skills to reach your goal. You have plenty to gain if you focus on what you do best. Networking will provide insight into changes that can enhance your chances of advancement. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Be a good listener, and you’ll gain insight into how to handle those you encounter. Anger will not help you reach your goal, but putting your energy where it counts will speak volumes about who you are and what you can achieve. A domestic change that lowers overhead and stimulates growth will pay off. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Broaden your vision. Interacting with others will enhance your ability to grow, reinvent yourself and chart your next steps. High expectations and discipline are essential to achieving what you set out to do. It’s time to try new things, meet interesting people and stretch your imagination. Romance is favored. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are intelligent, compassionate and disciplined. You are proactive and generous.

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.

Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.

Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.

Instant Warriors analysis: Podziemski, Kuminga lead Golden State skeleton crew in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – A half dozen future members of the Basketball Hall of Fame were in Crypto Arena on Sunday night. Unfortunately for the paying public, most of them were inactive in the Warriors’ 126-116 loss to the host Lakers. 

On the Warriors bench, Steph Curry and Al Horford were in street clothes, and Jimmy Butler was not even in the building, as he missed the game for personal reasons. 

The Lakers were down LeBron James, afflicted by nerve pain. Luka Doncic was still not game-ready, and former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart was ruled out a few hours before tipoff. 

The results were … predictably ugly for the Warriors. 

Starting Brandin Podziemski at point guard, Jonathan Kuminga next to Draymond Green at forward, and flanked by Quinten Post and Buddy Hield as shooters, the ragtag Warriors sputtered early, falling behind 63-46 by halftime. 

 If there was any area the team missed their stars, it was in the ballhandling department. Golden State committed 20 turnovers, a ghastly 14 of them in the first half. 

“The spacing wasn’t good,” coach Steve Kerr said. “then in the second half, that was much more how like we wanted to play.”

Podziemski was the star for shorthanded Golden State, with a stellar 23-point, eight assist night on 10 of 16 shooting. Kuminga poured in 13 points, and Gary Payton II had 11 points. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 21 points. Undrafted guard LJ Cryer scored 11 points, all in the fourth quarter. 

Green played 22 minutes, the most the 35-year-old has played thus far in any game this preseason. He will not suit up when the Warriors take on Portland on Tuesday.

“He will have the night off in Portland, and then play against the Clippers on Friday,” Kerr said.

The Warriors won the first matchup between West Coast teams 129-123 at Chase Center last week. 

Brandin Podziemski, point guard

Brandin Podziemski does all of the little things as a guard. He makes quick passes that maintain advantages. He fights for rebounds and earns Golden State extra possessions. He’ll make a few shots. 

But driving the offense as a point guard? That is far from one of his strengths, but something he was asked to do against the Lakers with Curry and Butler sitting. The results were decent, with the Santa Clara alum dishing out eight assists. 

“I think I’ve played pretty well (in preseason and training camp),” Podziemski said. “I’m just trying to find my lane and do the right things on and off the flor. And what I’ve been doing has been working.”

He flashed as a playmaker in the open court, driving in transition on a number of occasions before dishing off to a cutting Hield or another teammate.

 And on a night when his teammates couldn’t help themselves when it came to giving away possessions, Podziemski only had two turnovers. On an otherwise forgettable night in Los Angeles, Podziemski was a bright spot in the city of stars. 

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green passes the ball during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Jonathan Kuminga keeps on passing

With the team’s top offensive engines sidelined, the stage was set for a Kuminga chuckfest. Instead, the fifth-year forward adhered to the same pass-first philosophy – an ill-advised pullup 3-pointer aside – he had shown in the first two games. 

Kuminga dished out six assists in 22 minutes, the most impressive being a pair of first quarter dimes thrown in the open court. He was also the only Warrior to reach the free throw line in the first half, knocking down both of his foul shots. 

GP2 still has it

Steve Kerr seems to love few things more than raving about Gary Payton II’s impact during the team’s run to the 2022 championship. Back then, Payton was a destructive and uber-athletic 6-foot-3 bundle of energy, capable of blowing up plays with hustle and a limitless vertical leap. 

These days, Payton, 32, is a step slower and cannot quite soar the way he could three years ago. But that does not stop him from making an impact in smaller bursts. 

In 16 minutes off the bench, Payton made all five of his shots and harassed any ballhandler he was assigned to. 

He had a vintage moment in the late third, when he finished a layup between four defenders, and then threw a pass to Will Richrd for a fastbreak layup on the next possession. 

Is Shanahan sideline spat the beginning of the end for Jennings and the 49ers?

One of the 49ers’ best stories is headed sideways. Will the 49ers’ season be next?

Jauan Jennings and the 49ers are one and the same — injured and fighting the odds even with a 4-2 record after a 30-19 road loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday.

Jennings probably surprised everyone by suiting up to face Tampa Bay. He is dealing with rib, ankle and shoulder injuries and has been leaking oil for weeks.

But all the desire in the world didn’t help as Jennings struggled to be some semblance of himself in the loss, with some of the frustration spilling over in a sideline interaction with coach Kyle Shanahan late in the first half.

With the 49ers facing a 20-16 deficit, Demarcus Robinson dropped a pass in front of Shanahan. Then, as Robinson came up with an atoning 31-yard catch, Shanahan went down the sideline to confront Jennings. The two went back and forth for an instant before the sideline staff intervened, including a member of the club’s security detail.

In the end, Jennings was targeted only three times in a game where Mac Jones passed 39 times, completing 27 for 347 yards. He had more penalties (two) than receptions (one). To start the second half, Jennings immediately committed a false start.

Shanahan brushed off the sideline spat.

“Just an intense, competitive conversation between two people at the end of the second quarter, but we’re good,” Shanahan said at the postgame podium.

Jennings said even less.

“Oh, man, you’ll have to ask him,” Jennings told reporters after the game.

A second query brought the same response.

A lot of this is justifiable frustration from Jennings, who stepped up with a career year last season with 77 receptions for 975 yards and six touchdowns, expanding his role from “third-and-Jauan” to No. 1 receiver with Brandon Aiyuk out with a torn ACL.

A contract adjustment came late in the game and Jennings, battling a calf issue, missed a lot of training camp practices. He’s had only two full practices since the regular season began. Jennings’ contract will expire after the season, and his value will be diminished considerably in free agency if it continues down this road in what could be his last grab at a mega deal at age 28.

“He had a bad ankle, some issues to his ribs. Hasn’t had some full-speed practices,” Shanahan said of Jennings’ injuries. “I was pumped that he was able to go. But now he’s struggling to go every week now.”

Jennings made it sound as if there is more going on than what Shanahan suggested, which isn’t unusual. Coaches don’t go out of their way to make targets of their injured player to defenders.

“Playing with injuries is something that’s part of it, you know?” Jennings said. “You’re going to have your ankle sprains. Your shoulder is 20 percent. You’ve got five broken ribs. It is what it is. You keep playing. Nobody cares. Keep playing. We do what we do.”

Five broken ribs?

“Yeah, I’ve got five broken ribs,” Jennings said. “It’s football. I love pain. I wouldn’t be playing this sport if I didn’t. You’ve got to enjoy every little thing that comes with it. Pain is one of those.”

Which is one way to look at it. The question is, as banged up as Jennings is, whether he can be salvaged. His condition compromises his warrior mentality and his free-agent market will suffer.

Jennings has already missed three of six games. Ricky Pearsall Jr. (knee) may be back next week against Atlanta. The 49ers are hopeful a return by Aiyuk looms in the future. Kendrick Bourne had some route errors but has 15 receptions for 284 yards in the last two games.

Related Articles Kurtenbach: Fred Warner’s season-ending injury is a breaking point for the 49ers’ season What the 49ers are saying after losing to the Buccaneers Studs and Duds: 49ers had too many duds to overcome Fred Warner’s injury, Baker Mayfield Bucs 30, 49ers 19: Warner’s cart-off injury, Jones’ interceptions doom Niners Fred Warner suffers dislocated, broken ankle in 49ers’ loss to Buccaneers

Jennings promises to do his part. Fred Warner’s dislocated ankle, Jennings said, left him in need of nausea medicine.

“Just made me sick,” Jennings said. “We’ve still got to drive the boat, captains have got to lead the way. Everybody else has to step up.”

And there’s little chance Jennings will lose the support of his teammates.

“He didn’t have to play in this game and he chose to,” Jones said. “He fought through some stuff, and he’s a fighter and that’s the DNA of our team — his personality. Really love him. He did a good job. We missed on a few things but it wasn’t our day and hopefully we have a lot of good days ahead.”

Kurtenbach: Fred Warner’s season-ending injury is a breaking point for the 49ers’ season

Even the toughest, most resilient teams have a breaking point.

The 49ers likely reached theirs Sunday in the Niners’ 30-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

San Francisco spent the first five weeks of this season not just weathering a storm of injuries, and not just surviving, but even thriving without the contributions of George Kittle (out since the first half of Week 1), Brock Purdy (has played two games), Brandon Aiyuk (out since Week 7 of 2024), and Nick Bosa (season-ending injury in Week 3).

For a roster that was built on the stars-and-scrubs model, having nearly a quarter of your team’s salary-cap spending on the sidelines is a big problem, and yet San Francisco went to Tampa Bay with a 4-1 record and a chance to take first place in the NFC standings Sunday. It was a testament to their players’ toughness, their coaches’ brilliance, and the overall program’s character.

Amid everything this team had survived, it was impossible to put a limit on this team’s potential for this season. After all, many of those missing star players would be returning in the weeks to come.

But that line of optimism snapped alongside Fred Warner’s ankle.

The Niners showed they could survive almost anything.

But how can this team push forward without its heart and soul?

You know the mantra by now — it’s been repeated so often around Santa Clara that it’s become a complete cliché: next man up.

And that applies to almost everyone in the league.

It does not apply to Warner.

Sure, the Niners will still have 11 men on the field when they play defense (though that didn’t happen once Sunday), and Tatum Bethune, Warner’s understudy, is a decent enough player. But no one in the league can replace the future Hall of Fame linebacker. He’s peerless — a demigod of the gridiron. The very idea that the Niners can operate business as usual without him is an insult to the game.

And while I don’t think Warner’s excellence was ever taken for granted, his absence will highlight just how important he has been for San Francisco for the last eight years.

Warner had missed one game as a professional. Sunday was his 121st start in 122 games — each year, he had 118 tackles or (many) more. He was elite against the run and the best coverage linebacker in the game against the pass. Last year, he served as the team’s not-so-secret defensive coordinator while playing on an ankle with a hairline fracture. He still earned first-team All-Pro honors.

There is no coming back from this injury, though. Not this season, anyway. His right ankle was both dislocated and fractured, the brutal byproduct of Niners safety Ji’Ayir Brown trying to make a tackle on Tampa Bay’s third offensive possession and rolling up into the back of Warner’s legs.

“It looked pretty bad,” Mac Jones said. “Fred’s our team captain and has been the leader of this team for a really long time. … I’m disappointed that I didn’t play better for him.”

“It’s just heartbreaking,” Christian McCaffrey said. “It’s such a weird game when you have to see somebody like that [go down to injury] … and then just have to continue to play. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever played with. One of the best leaders I’ve ever played with.”

The injury was so sickening that the CBS broadcast only replayed it once, lest anyone with a weak stomach lose their lunch.

The defense’s performance that followed for the Niners was every bit as unsettling.

TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after being injured during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Without Warner, the guy who makes sure the unit is aligned and who cleans up errors before they are exploited, the Niners’ rookie-filled defense was gashed for 352 yards and four touchdowns. Baker Mayfield’s Buccaneers made moving the ball look easy, even with their third-stringers playing wide receiver and backups at running back and key offensive line spots.

It probably was easy.

With no Bosa to speed up quarterbacks and force running backs the other way, and no Warner to make them pay for mistakes, the Niners’ defensive margin for error is now zero for the remainder of the season.

Sure, a week of preparation will, theoretically, clean up some of the communication issues on that side of the ball, but not having two elite players at vital positions — the defense’s only elite players, we should note — means that the ceiling for this unit is only so high. If they’re just league-average the rest of the way, that’ll be a miracle of coaching for coordinator Robert Saleh.

This team will now only go as far as its offense can carry them. Even with Kittle and Purdy and perhaps Aiyuk returning, what’s the upside for a team that averages the fewest yards per carry in the NFL and had the stone-footed Jones be sacked six times Sunday?

The Niners aren’t just a one-dimensional offense right now; with Warner out, they’re a one-dimensional team.

Related Articles Is Shanahan sideline spat the beginning of the end for Jennings and the 49ers? What the 49ers are saying after losing to the Buccaneers Studs and Duds: 49ers had too many duds to overcome Fred Warner’s injury, Baker Mayfield Bucs 30, 49ers 19: Warner’s cart-off injury, Jones’ interceptions doom Niners Fred Warner suffers dislocated, broken ankle in 49ers’ loss to Buccaneers

Maybe that’s enough to win six of their next 11 games and sneak into the playoffs. That’s likely going to be this season’s great accomplishment. But to expect anything beyond that — something that seemed entirely reasonable just a day ago — now feels downright naive.

You don’t replace Fred Warner. You don’t adjust to life without him, either. You move on, yes, but without Warner, the 49ers’ season has a clear point of delineation.

With Warner, the Niners were going somewhere.

Without him, it’s going to take everything San Francisco has to simply survive the season.

TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers fumbles after being hit by Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Eddy Pineiro #18 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after kicking a field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) runs past Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jacob Parrish during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrates after scoring against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers passes the ball while being hit by Anthony Nelson #98 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (18) kicks a field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) runs against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Green (0) during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea (50) during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner, right, is carted off the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)Show Caption1 of 10TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers fumbles after being hit by Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)Expand

What the 49ers are saying after losing to the Buccaneers

The 49ers couldn’t overcome their season-long injury issues Sunday as they fell in Tampa to the Buccaneers 30-19.

Fred Warner went down with a gruesome ankle injury in the first quarter, leaving the defense without its vocal leader in the middle.

The offense settled for a quartet of field goals from Eddy Piñeiro alongside Christian McCaffrey’s first rushing touchdown of the season. The Bucs had two rushing scores and Baker Mayfield passed for two more, going 17-of-23 for 256 yards.

Mac Jones, starting again for Brock Purdy, did not match Mayfield, the ultimate top pick-turned-backup-turned starter again, a course Jones is seeking to chart as the 49ers’ second-stringer. He completed 27 of 39 passes for 347 yards but had no touchdowns and two interceptions, being sacked six times and fumbling once.

Jauan Jennings returned to the lineup but only had one catch for seven yards, while Kendrick Bourne led the Niners with 142 yards on five receptions. McCaffrey topped 100 yards, with 54 on the ground and 57 receiving.

Here’s what the 49ers’ leaders said postgame:

Kyle Shanahan

On Warner’s injury:

Dislocated, I think it broke, too. So he’ll end up having surgery.

On the impact of losing Warner:

It’s big. Anytime you lose one of your best players, also a huge leader, it’s obviously a huge blow. I feel bad for Fred right now. He was in good spirits, though. He’s got a good foundation. I’ve got a lot of faith in Tatum (Bethune) and he’s the next man up. He’s going to have to do it throughout the year.

On his animated discussion with Jennings:

Just intense, competitive conversation between two people at the end of the second quarter, but we were all good.

On moving past an injury in-game:

It’s an NFL game. You got to move on. So I’m sure they’re crushed for him and everyone — not just the linebackers but everyone on our team feels for Fred. But that’s football. You saw how emotional everyone was when they saw him down, on both sides. But once that’s over, everyone’s got a job to do.

On injuries to the stars:

Everyone knows it’s difficult, when you lose your better players, your leaders. It’s huge with Nick, obviously huge with Fred. Hopefully we get Kittle back here and some of the other guys, But I mean, that’s going to give opportunities to other guys and these are moments guys got to step it up.

On Jauan Jennings:

Bad ankles, some issues with his ribs. Hasn’t had some full-speed practices. I was pumped that he was able to go today, but he’s struggling to go every week now.

On Kameron Johnson’s touchdown:

We had a bust on the motion. Someone dropped him and that’s why he was all alone.

On Tez Johnson’s touchdown:

Down the middle, single safety. Baker looked him off and threw a post. Shouldn’t be able to give up a post in single safety, and our middle-third guy got out of position. Baker made a hell of a play.

Mac Jones

On his oblique and knee injuries:

I feel good. … Nothing serious. Everyone’s dealing with stuff, and I just really want to get back out there at practice and see what I can do better.

On Warner’s injury:

He’s been the leader of this team for a long time, so really all you can do is just pray for him and know that we have his back. I was disappointed that I didn’t play better for him today.

On the early interception targeting Kendrick Bourne:

It’s a heavy pressure team so we have to just be more keyed in together. KB and I, we have a great connection and we just weren’t on the same page on that one.

On moving past the loss:

It’s early in the year. We’re not a bad football team. We just need to flip the switch and get ready for next week and get some guys back and be positive about it, honestly.

On Jennings playing through injury:

He didn’t have to play in this game and he chose to. He fought through some stuff, and he’s a fighter and that’s the DNA of our team — his personality. Really love him. He did a good job. We missed on a few things but it wasn’t our day and hopefully we have a lot of good days ahead.

On facing the Buccaneers defense:

I’ve gone against Todd Bowles a few times and whether it’s preseason or a really big game, he’s going to bring a different play on every play. So they did a good job. They had our number today.

Christian McCaffrey

On Warner’s injury:

It’s just heartbreaking. It’s such a weird game when you have to see somebody like that, what happened with Bosa earlier this year and then just have to continue to play. It’s kind of a weird deal but it’s heartbreaking. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever played with and one of the best leaders I’ve ever played with.

On his game:

We’ll have to look at that tape. I’m always my biggest critic, so we’ll see if it was a successful game or not. But I think there was probably some plays that I maybe want back.

On looking ahead to some offensive players returning from injury:

Just having more depth and having some guys come back with fresh energy, that’s a big deal.

JAUAN JENNINGS

On Warner’s postgame talk:

“Fred came and talked to us after the game. Lifted us up. Next-man mentality, trying to have his back. I was personally nauseous. I had to take some nauseous medicine. It just made me sick to my stomach. We’ve got to still drive the boat. Captain’s gonna lead the way and everybody else is going to step up.”

On Shanahan sideline spat:

“Oh man, you have to ask him. You had to ask him.

On his health

Playing with injuries is part of it. You’ve got high, low ankle sprains. You’ve got shoulder 20 percent. You’ve got five broken ribs. You keep playing. Nobody cares. You keep playing.

It’s football. I love pain. I wouldn’t be playing this sport if I didn’t.

On Warner:

He’s one of guys who led this team year in year out. His words of encouragement before every game. To know how much that guy loves the game, it’s very sad and it makes me sick to my stomach.

TRENT WILLIAMS

On offensive reinforcements

We have some really good players that we look to get back. That can only help, if we get more weapons in the fold.

On Warner’s exit

It’s heartbreaking. I mean, Fred is not only one of the best linebackers to ever play this game, he’s the heart and soul of this team, not just the heart and soul of this defense.

It’s one thing to see somebody go down and go to the blue tent and nobody really knows what’s going on. When you see a guy injured like that, it really is a gut punch and it’s truly really hard to continue the intensity and playing that game like that never happened.

You never get used to that. You see one of your really good friends and someone you have genuine love for, and you see him having to get carted off, it’s an emotional experience.

On postgame talk

Fred will never let you see him down. Even in the midst of what he’s going through, he wanted to address the team. He’s that type of guy. I’ll continue to play for him and hope he has a speedy recovery.

On penalty after interception in fourth quareter

Just talking trash. Frustrated. Just mixing it up.

 

Studs and Duds: 49ers had too many duds to overcome Fred Warner’s injury, Baker Mayfield

The final score says 30-19.

Close enough game, right?

Wrong.

The 49ers turned in their worst performance of the season on Sunday in Tampa Bay to post their second loss of the season.

Sure, the offense racked up yardage, but the Niners were fooled on critical plays on offense and were gashed on defense.

So while the scoreline looked close for most of the game, it never really felt close between these two teams. In a battle for NFC supremacy, Tampa Bay exerted its dominance while the Niners’ season — which looked so promising last Thursday — appears to be in total flux following the likely season-ending injury to Fred Warner and San Francisco’s floundering performance.

STUDS San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (18) kicks a field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)Eddy Piñeiro – K

We really wasted a lot of time with Jake Moody, huh? Piñeiro has been fantastic since arriving in Week 2.

Kendrick Bourne – WR

Five catches for 142 yards, Bourne was the team’s offensive engine on Sunday. What a sentence that is.

Mac Jones – QB

Hardly perfect — one pick was on him — but the under-siege Jones gave the Niners a chance in this game with 347 passing yards.

Jake Tonges – TE

We have to fill out this category. Tonges had 58 receiving yards.

DUDS San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea (50) during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)Related Articles Is Shanahan sideline spat the beginning of the end for Jennings and the 49ers? Kurtenbach: Fred Warner’s season-ending injury is a breaking point for the 49ers’ season What the 49ers are saying after losing to the Buccaneers Bucs 30, 49ers 19: Warner’s cart-off injury, Jones’ interceptions doom Niners Fred Warner suffers dislocated, broken ankle in 49ers’ loss to Buccaneers Jordan Elliott – DT

He might still be in backwards motion from that opening touchdown run by the Buccaneers. Any competent center has exposed Elliott this season. I’m to the point where it’s not even worth including him on these lists anymore.

Kendrick Bourne – WR

Yes, again. You have to go for 142 yards to make up for all the airheaded stuff Bourne does. He doesn’t know the plays, he doesn’t read the defense on choice routes, and he misses blocks — he’s a liability until the ball is in his hands.

Christian McCaffrey – RB

I don’t see the burst. Do you see it? Sure, he had 111 yards from scrimmage, but the 49ers’ offensive line actually did some decent run blocking in this game, particularly early. McCaffrey went for 3.2 yards per rush.

Jauan Jennings – WR

Fighting with the head coach and offensive play caller on the sideline as the Niners try to drive down the field at the end of the first half? Read the room, dude. No, Jennings had not been targeted to that point, but it’s not as if the Niners’ offense wasn’t moving the ball. Shouldn’t that be the goal?

(Jennings followed up his tantrum with a false start on the first play of the second half and an offensive pass interference flag later on the drive.)

Austen Pleasants – OT

Didn’t take a snap outside of special teams, but he did step on Piñeiro’s foot after the kicker’s 42-yard field goal at the end of the first half. Not great!

Deommodore Lenoir – CB

He had a cool suplex of Cade Otton, but don’t let that distract you. Not only was Lenoir attacked repeatedly in coverage, but he also did not step up into the vacancy left by Warner’s injury.

He’s the supposed star of this defense now, and he has to take a more vocal role in communicating on the back end. Yet he ended up in busted coverage again and again. It wasn’t simply his mistakes that made passing so easy against the Niners on Sunday, but why is he making the same mistakes as the Niners’ rookies?

Dom Puni and Connor Colby – OG

Run over again and again on Sunday. I know both are dealing with injuries, and facing Vita Vea is downright cruel, but the 49ers are the worst in the NFL at rushing the ball, and Sunday might have been their worst run game yet.

Puni’s false start on a fourth-and-a-half-yard with 5:52 to play in the fourth quarter was a backbreaker.

Luke Farrell – TE

What is it he does here? The blocking tight end couldn’t stop a secondary player heads up off the edge, resulting in a strip fumble of Jones on the Niners’ fourth possession of the game. Luckily, he was so disengaged that he was able to pick the ball up. George Kittle can’t come back soon enough.

Bucs 30, 49ers 19: Warner’s cart-off injury, Jones’ interceptions doom Niners

TAMPA, Fla. — Fred Warner spoke from the middle of the 49ers’ locker room. Tears did not stream from his eyes. Instead, encouraging words flowed over a deeply meaningful minute.

His crestfallen teammates needed one more pep talk from their All-Pro linebacker and consummate captain, who had disclocated and fractured his right ankle in the first quarter of an eventual 30-19 defeat against the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“It’s heartbreaking,” left tackle Trent Williams said. “I mean, Fred is not only one of the best linebackers to ever play this game, he’s the heart and soul of this team, not just the heart and soul of this defense.”

With Warner carted off midway through the first quarter, his teammates valiantly battled on and tried to win. They did so in Seattle in Week 1 after George Kittle’s first-quarter hamstring pull. They did so in their home opener against Arizona after Nick Bosa’s season-ending knee injury.

The 49ers (4-2) would not complete a comeback this time.

“Obviously, a huge blow. I feel bad for Fred. He’s in good spirits, though, and has a good foundation,” coach Kyle Shanahan said.

San Francisco’s offense sputtered with Mac Jones starting a fourth game because of Brock Purdy’s Week 1 toe injury. Serving as bookends were Jones’ interceptions on the 49ers’ first series and again with just under six minutes remaining.

Jones threw for 347 yards but got sacked six times. The offense stalled out so much that Eddy Piñeiro was summoned to make four field goals. No wonder the 49ers couldn’t keep pace with the NFC South-leading Bucs and MVP candidate Baker Mayfield (256 yards, two touchdowns).

“It was on everyone collectively. Made too many mistakes offensively, defensively,” Shanahan said of the 49ers’ second loss in three games.

Adding to the chaos was a sideline spat between Shanahan and wide receiver Jauan Jennings just before halftime while Shanahan was calling plays amid a two-minute drill that led to a field goal.

Shanahan termed them “intense, competitive conversations,” and Jennings would not reveal their nature, though it’s worth noting he had no targets to that point and said he’s playing with five broken ribs, two ankle sprains and a shoulder issue. He finished with only a 7-yard reception on three targets.

Jennings did share how devastated he and the 49ers were to Warner’s stunning exit, saying: “I was personally nauseous. I had to take some nauseous medicine. It just made me sick to my stomach.”

Warner implored teammates afterward to summon a next-man-up mentality and have his back.

His right ankle got trapped and twisted under safety Ji’Ayir Brown, who was tackling Rachaad White on a 10-yard run near midfield. Warner had fought off a Tristan Wirfs block and turned to join the tackle when his ankle became collateral damage.

It was no coincidence White broke through the right side of the 49ers’ front because only 10 defenders were on the field. Rookie Mykel Williams said afterward there was a substitution error. He rushed in to play right defensive end on the ensuing snap, and helped end that fateful series with his first career sack on a third-down pursuit.

Warner has missed only one game in his eight-year career. He even made it through all 17 games last season despite a Week 4 ankle injury that involved a slight fracture to that same ankle.

The toothless defense extended its NFL record drought to 13 straight games without an interception.

Instead, Mayfield livened up the home crowd with a 15-yard scramble on third-and-14 with four-and-a-half minutes left in the third. Then, two snaps later, Mayfield connected on a 45-yard touchdown pass to Tez Johnson, who raced past Renardo Green and got behind rookie safety Marques Sigle for a 27-19 lead.

The Bucs had taken a 20-13 lead into halftime once Mayfield delivered a 34-yard touchdown pass against blown coverage, perhaps by Dee Winters.

Christian McCaffrey remains without a 100-yard rushing game, but he did put the 49ers ahead 10 minutes before halftime with his — and the team’s — first rushing touchdown of the season. That one-yard, third-and-goal run had him follow the blocks of Williams, Luke Farrell, Jake Tonges and Kyle Juszczyk for the 10-7 lead.

TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers passes the ball while being hit by Anthony Nelson #98 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones, right, dives in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Logan Hall (90) during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) runs against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Green (0) during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea (50) during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after being injured during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Eddy Pineiro #18 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after kicking a field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) runs past Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jacob Parrish during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrates after scoring against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (18) kicks a field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)Show Caption1 of 11TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers passes the ball while being hit by Anthony Nelson #98 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)Expand

McCaffrey got stopped on the previous snap but an offside penalty gave him a mulligan. Igniting that scoring drive was Kendrick Bourne’s 56-yard catch-and-run to open the second quarter. Bourne finished with 142 yards on five catches.

Related Articles Is Shanahan sideline spat the beginning of the end for Jennings and the 49ers? Kurtenbach: Fred Warner’s season-ending injury is a breaking point for the 49ers’ season What the 49ers are saying after losing to the Buccaneers Studs and Duds: 49ers had too many duds to overcome Fred Warner’s injury, Baker Mayfield Fred Warner suffers dislocated, broken ankle in 49ers’ loss to Buccaneers

The Bucs answered McCaffrey’s touchdown with their own touchdown drive, capped by a nine-yard scoring run from Sean Tucker to retake a 14-10 lead five minutes before halftime.

On Jones’ first series, his third-down throw was intercepted by Kindle Vildor, who had a clear path for a pick-six but fell three times. Jones appeared to target Bourne, who spun the opposite way of Jones’ throw.

Two Rachaad White runs later and the Bucs owned a 7-0 lead over the 49ers.

Jones went back to Bourne to open the 49ers’ second series, and that resulted in a 41-yard completion to the Bucs’ 29. But another third-down miscue came when Jones held the ball too long and was sacked, leading to a 52-yard field goal, the first of Piñeiro’s four (52, 54, 42 and 29 yards).

Two plays later was Warner’s ankle fracture, changing the tone of the game and the 49ers’ season.

The 49ers’ first test without him will be next Sunday night, when they host the Atlanta Falcons.

Fred Warner suffers dislocated, broken ankle in 49ers’ loss to Buccaneers

Fred Warner was carted off the field in the first quarter of the 49ers’ 30-19 loss Sunday in Tampa Bay to the Buccaneers with a serious ankle injury.

Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed after the game that Warner had fractured and dislocated his right ankle and will need surgery, likely ending his season.

“Everyone on our team feels for Fred,” Shanahan said of the team’s mood. “But that’s football. You saw how emotional everyone was when they saw him down, on both sides.”

Christian McCaffrey repeatedly called Warner’s injury “heartbreaking” during the 49ers’ postgame news conference.

Warner was in the 49ers’ locker room and spoke to the team after the game.

The injury came with 7:48 left on a 10-yard run by Rachaad White. Warner was twisted awkwardly to the degree that the CBS broadcast showed the injury just once because of its gruesome nature. He left with an air cast on a cart and was officially ruled out of the game. Tatum Bethune came on to take Warner’s place as he was carted to the locker room.

Warner had already made his presence felt early, blowing up a screen pass for a 2-yard loss on Tampa Bay’s initial possession.

The 49ers trailed 7-3 at the time, with the Bucs converting an early Mac Jones interception into a short-field score by White on a 2-yard run.

Warner has been one of the 49ers’ most durable players, playing in 16 or 17 games in each of his first seven seasons. He played 13 games last season with a chip fracture in his ankle and was playing at an elite level this season.

Related Articles Is Shanahan sideline spat the beginning of the end for Jennings and the 49ers? Kurtenbach: Fred Warner’s season-ending injury is a breaking point for the 49ers’ season What the 49ers are saying after losing to the Buccaneers Studs and Duds: 49ers had too many duds to overcome Fred Warner’s injury, Baker Mayfield Bucs 30, 49ers 19: Warner’s cart-off injury, Jones’ interceptions doom Niners

A serious injury leaves the 49ers without Warner and Nick Bosa, out for the season with a torn ACL.

Warner played all 17 games for the 49ers last year amid a lost season, including 13 games after fracturing his ankle.

The 49ers have been hit hard by injuries this season, as fellow captains Bosa, Brock Purdy (turf toe, week-to-week) and George Kittle (hamstring, week-to-week) have missed multiple games.

TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers is carted off of the field after being injured during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after being injured during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

49ers-Buccaneers: Malik Mustapha returns to Niners’ active roster

Safety Malik Mustapha, activated from the physically unable to perform list, will make his 2025 debut today against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A promising member of the 49ers’ 2024 rookie class, Mustapha (5-foot-10, 206 pounds) brings some depth and an enforcer’s mentality to a position that has relied almost solely on veteran Jason Pinnock and rookie fifth-round pick Marques Sigle as the last line of defense.

Early indications are that the 49ers are planning on elevating Ji’Ayir Brown as a starter ahead of Pinnock at one safety spot along with Sigle and using Mustapha on a limited snap count.

“I don’t know how the rotation is going to work out, but I’m very eager to play with him,” Sigle said this week. “We’re kind of the same on run fits. We’re shooting our guns. He brings a different IQ, a different mentality. I can’t wait to be out there with him.”

Listed as inactive for the 49ers are quarterback Brock Purdy, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, wide receiver Jordan Watkins, defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos, running back Jordan James and linebacker Nick Martin. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings is active after being questionable (ankle, ribs).

Mustapha played in 16 games with 12 starts as a fourth-round draft pick out of Wake Forest, part of an encouraging draft class. He had 72 tackles, 32 unassisted, with an interception and five passes defensed. His offseason surgery for a torn ACL came as a surprise.

Mustapha is happy to get going under defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who replaced Nick Sorensen in the offseason.

“It’s super exciting, definitely a different identity,” Mustapha said. “The young guys have stepped in. We kind of stepped in and set a standard last year with young guys and now we’re seeing this group contributing early with guys like Marquis, Mykel Williams, Upton Stout, the list goes on. Those guys have bought into the standard and now I’m ready to pick up where I left off.”

Saleh’s first impression now that he has seen Mustapha on the field instead of just in the meeting rooms?

“His tape from last year was pretty impressive for a rookie,” Saleh said. “A violent, fast-trigger football player. And you know, we’ve only had a couple days with him now, but he’s made of the right stuff that’s for damn sure.”

Pinnock and Sigle have never been off the field on defense, each playing 325 snaps. Brown, a third-round pick out of Penn State in 2023, has seen his role diminished and has played 50 snaps as a hybrid linebacker/safety in Saleh’s “big nickel” alignment.

Although the safety positions are interchangeable, Sigle and Mustapha qualify more as in-the-box safeties rather than as a last line of defense, with Brown and Pinnock operating more as traditional free safeties.

Mustapha said his identity as a big hitter was developed at an early age.

“I grew up kind of being undersized, so it was just a thing, where can I separate myself?” Mustapha said. “Having that Mighty Mouse mentality, being a big dog, mentally it’s going to give me the upper hand.”

Related Articles Is Shanahan sideline spat the beginning of the end for Jennings and the 49ers? Kurtenbach: Fred Warner’s season-ending injury is a breaking point for the 49ers’ season What the 49ers are saying after losing to the Buccaneers Studs and Duds: 49ers had too many duds to overcome Fred Warner’s injury, Baker Mayfield Bucs 30, 49ers 19: Warner’s cart-off injury, Jones’ interceptions doom Niners

The 49ers are in the midst of a 12-game streak with no interceptions dating back to last season, a modern NFL record. Tampa Bay will be without explosive wideouts Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula).

However, rookie Emeka Egbuka, a first-round pick out of Ohio State, has emerged as an early contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year and a go-to target for quarterback Baker Mayfield with 25 receptions for 445 yards (17.8 yards per reception) and five touchdowns.

Others declared as inactive for the Bucs are running back Bucky Irving, cornerback Zyon McCollum, cornerback Benjamin Morrison and running back Josh Williams.