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Previewing the game between 49ers and Falcons
The “Sunday Night Football” showdown between the Falcons and 49ers should be a great game, as Atlanta looks to build off a win against Buffalo, and Mike Florio and Chris Simms like them to keep things rolling vs. San Fran.
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With starter Brock Purdy out, San Francisco plugged in quarterback Mac Jones to great success. He has thrown for six touchdowns against three interceptions and an NFL-best 313 yards per game as an understudy. From passer rating to completion percentage, Jones’ statistics have been better than Purdy’s. There is no quarterback competition, however, once Purdy returns from injury, general manager John Lynch said last week.
Share49ers activate TE George Kittle, DL Kevin Givens from IR
Help is on the way for the 49ers.
The team announced it has activated tight end George Kittle and defensive lineman Kevin Givens from injured reserve back to the active roster. Both will be available against the Falcons on “Sunday Night Football.”
Kittle tore his right hamstring in the second quarter of the Sept. 7 season opener. He made four catches for 25 yards and a touchdown before leaving.
Givens has not played this season after injuring a pectoral muscle in August.
ShareFalcons send Ray-Ray McCloud home
Wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud will not be playing for the Falcons this weekend and it’s unclear if he’s going to be playing for them at any point in the future.
McCloud was a healthy scratch for last Monday’s win over the Bills and he did not practice at all this week. The Falcons cited a non-injury reason for his absence and head coach Raheem Morris said on Monday that McCloud was excused as the team tries to work through some issues with him.
ShareMichael Penix turning the corner?
Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick in 2024, did not have a seamless start to his career, with a 2-4 record with four touchdowns and five interceptions in his first six games, dating to last season.
In his last two, however, he has thrown three touchdowns against one interception, and his completion percentage has risen by 11 percentage points. That includes a win over Buffalo, a preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl, in which he threw for 250 yards without a turnover.
“This team is really legit,” Penix said after the win.
ShareFalcons should be ‘small favorites’ against 49ers
With “a lot of positives” for a rising Falcons’ offense against a 49ers defense without several key players, Drew Dinsick and Jay Croucher think there’s plenty of reason to bet on Atlanta.
ShareInjury toll continues in San Francisco
Fred Warner’s season-ending dislocated ankle last week would have been a devastating injury to San Francisco all by itself; Warner has been named a first-team All-Pro linebacker four of the past five seasons.
“Devastating,” receiver Jauan Jennings said.
Unfortunately for the 49ers, Warner’s was just the latest in a string of injuries dating to last season that have derailed their Super Bowl ambitions.
QB Brock Purdy (shoulder, missed four of six games)WR Brandon Aiyuk (knee, yet to play)WR Ricky Pearsall (knee, missed last two games)TE George Kittle (hamstring, missed five games)DL Nick Bosa (ACL, season-ending)