The 49ers’ offense is as healthy as it has been all season.
The defense is a different story, of course. So that places more emphasis on San Francisco’s offense to score points and win games.
And if they want to stay in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs, the 49ers’ game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday is a good place to start.
The 49ers averaged 22.0 points per game in their first 10 games, and that is something that must improve over the final seven games of the season with Brock Purdy back in the starting lineup.
Purdy will return to action, along with wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. Purdy (toe) and Pearsall (knee) were sidelined the past six games with injuries.
While receiver Brandon Aiyuk remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list, the rest of the offense appears to be in good shape for the stretch drive.
Here are five 49ers who must come through for the 49ers to rebound from last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams:
RG Dominick Puni
Right guard Dominick Puni was an All-Rookie selection last year after the 49ers selected him in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He has been a little more up-and-down this season.
On Sunday, he will face one of his toughest assignments of the season, as he goes up against 18-year NFL veteran Calais Campbell, who is showing no signs of slowing down at age 39.
Campbell has five sacks to match his total of last season while with the Miami Dolphins. The six-time Pro Bowl performer will appear in his 271st career game on Sunday.
DE Sam Okuayinonu
The 49ers need a lot more from their pass rush. Now that Bryce Huff is back, he will likely attract the most attention. Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu has turned into a valuable performer on the defensive line.
Okuayinonu is not just an edge rusher. He is continuing to improve as a run defender, too. He had a career-high seven tackles in the 49ers’ Week 3 game against the Cardinals.
Okuayinonu is second on the 49ers (behind Huff) with two sacks. He has an opportunity to make a huge impact in the second half of the season.
WR Ricky Pearsall
Pearsall was one of the top receivers in the NFL when he exited the lineup after four games due to an injury to the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
“He was playing like a true No. 1 receiver in this league,” coach Kyle Shanahan said on 49ers Game Plan. “He was playing like the guy that we wanted to draft. He had an unbelievable offseason, an unbelievable start to this season.”
In four games, Pearsall has 20 receptions for 327 yards. Pearsall provides the 49ers good route-running skills to consistently beat man coverage.
S Malik Mustapha
The 49ers face a major challenge against Cardinals tight end Trey McBride. He’s Arizona’s top offensive threat, and quarterback Jacoby Brissett will look to feed the ball to him as much as possible.
Mustapha will see plenty of McBride as he comes down from his safety position. McBride leads the Cardinals with 61 catches for 603 yards and six touchdowns.
Mustapha must play a key role for the 49ers’ defense whether he is attacking the line of scrimmage to stop the run or playing coverage in the middle of the field against McBride.
QB Brock Purdy
The 49ers’ starting quarterback will be back on the field after being sidelined for eight of the team’s first 10 games with what he described as a variation of “turf toe.”
Purdy said he feels good and is excited about the final seven games of the season, as the 49ers are in the thick of the race for a spot in the NFC playoffs.
The 49ers made Purdy their franchise quarterback in the offseason with a five-year, $265 million contract extension. Now, they need him to play at a high level and earn that money.
The 49ers’ offense will probably need to score more points in order to cover up some of the deficiencies on a defense that no longer has Fred Warner and Nick Bosa to lead the way.