San Francisco 49Ers

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed confidence in his team's ability to bounce back from their agonising fourth-quarter collapse in Super Bowl LIV in the wake of the 31-20 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs.

However, history is very much against them. Only eight teams have ever immediately returned to the Super Bowl a year after losing on the grandest stage.

Just three of those teams lifted the Lombardi Trophy the following year.

However, the 49ers have one of the best rosters in the NFL and, after trading defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts for the 13th overall pick, have two first-round choices in this year's NFL Draft.

What do they need to do in the draft to give themselves the best chance of a successful season in 2020? Here we assess the steps the Niners must take to avoid the Super Bowl hangover.

 

Draft a stud wide receiver

The departure of Emmanuel Sanders, who played a critical role in the 49ers' run to Super Bowl LIV following a mid-season trade from the Denver Broncos, has left San Francisco light of reliable options at wide receiver beyond Deebo Samuel and Kendrick Bourne.

Samuel emerged as a versatile and dynamic weapon in his rookie year and Bourne has developed into a dependable target on third down and in red-zone situations.

However, the Niners' cast of receivers is otherwise filled with players who have been beset by injuries or lack the experience to have the trust of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

The 49ers need to lift some of the pass-catching burden off Samuel and star tight end George Kittle.

After acquiring pick No. 13, they are in an ideal position to do that by selecting one of CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy or Henry Ruggs - the consensus top three wide receivers in the draft class.

Lamb is a contested-catch specialist who excels at picking up extra yardage in the open field. Jeudy is seen as the draft's premier route-runner while his Alabama team-mate Ruggs has drawn comparisons to Chiefs star Tyreek Hill because of his frightening speed.

All have the ability to take the Niners' passing game to new heights. Regardless of how they do it, in what is considered a historically deep wide receiver draft, the 49ers must find a way to add a top-tier talent at the position who can make Garoppolo's life much easier.

 

Shore up the O-line

San Francisco built a 10-point lead in Super Bowl LIV largely because they dominated the trenches.

The switch was flipped as the Chiefs mounted their fourth-quarter comeback, with the Niners' vulnerability on the interior of the offensive line laid bare.

Mike Person, the starter at right guard, has since been released, meaning the Niners need to find a long-term answer at that position. Yet whether they can do that in a draft regarded as light on interior O-line options is debatable.

Offensive tackle should also be an area of focus for the Niners, with veteran Joe Staley reported as being 50-50 to continue playing in 2020.

Staley's retirement would leave a huge hole on the O-line and the 49ers need to be making contingency plans for his departure.

The 49ers cannot afford to get worse on the O-line if they are to remain as contenders in 2020. To that end, expect tackle and guard to on their radar in the draft.

 

Add competition at corner

The strong performance of the secondary was an aspect of the 49ers' Super Bowl run that surprised many.

Though their defensive backfield impressed throughout 2019, the cornerback position is one likely to be high on the 49ers' list of needs.

All-Pro Richard Sherman is entering the final year of his contract, and this is a draft where potential long-term replacements in Florida's C.J. Henderson and LSU's Kristian Fulton should be within the reach of the 49ers.

Even if the Niners decide against picking a potential successor for Sherman, competition for the other starting spot is a necessity.

Emmanuel Moseley made it his own during the playoffs but there is little in the way of depth below him and Sherman, with former third-round pick Ahkello Witherspoon having largely struggled over the past two seasons.

It would only take a couple of injuries for the 49ers' corners to look extremely vulnerable. That is a dangerous prospect for a defense that dominated almost every opponent last season.

 

Build on the D-line depth

San Francisco's superiority in 2019 was built largely on the performance of a tremendous defensive line filled with former first-round picks.

Losing Buckner, whose innate ability to create pressure on the quarterback from the interior was pivotal to that group's success, presents the Niners with a significant challenge.

Replacing his production will not be easy. However, the 49ers have depth beyond star pass rushers Nick Bosa, Dee Ford and Arik Armstead.

If they can supplement that depth with a couple of talented rookies from a class not short on versatile and disruptive defensive linemen, then the D-line can again be the foundation on which the 49ers build a championship challenge.

Warner was placed on the list, which is for players who have either tested positive for the virus or have come into contact with a person who has contracted COVID-19, on August 31.

His activation means Warner should be available to play in the 49ers' season opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

A third-round pick in 2018, Warner was a crucial part of the 49ers' second-ranked defense last season.

He finished the regular season with 118 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception returned for a touchdown as the 49ers topped the NFC with a 13-3 record.

San Francisco progressed to Super Bowl LIV, where Warner intercepted Patrick Mahomes in the 49ers' 31-20 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in February.

According to multiple reports, Hargave has come to terms on a four-year, $84million deal that includes $40m guaranteed at signing.

Hargrave was viewed as the top defender on the market after a stellar season with the Philadelphia Eagles in which he helped them reach Super Bowl LVII.

He finished the regular season with a career-high 11 sacks and, according to Stats Perform data, had a pass rush win rate of 43.79 per cent, well above the league average of 29.16 for interior defensive linemen.

Hargrave's addition fills a need for a San Francisco defense that allowed 300.6 yards per game, the fewest in the NFL.

The 49ers have long since won on defense through their depth on the defensive line.

However, though edge rusher Nick Bosa won Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 for an 18.5-sack season, the middle of the D-line was a patchwork operation for much of the year, with former first-round picks Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw both missing time through injury.

Even with both Armstead and Kinlaw available, the interior of the D-line was comfortably second-best in the 49ers' NFC Championship Game defeat to the Eagles, with Philadelphia's offensive line dominating that matchup.

Having lost that contest 31-7 in a game that saw the Niners run out of healthy quarterbacks, San Francisco may now switch focus to the offensive line, having seen starting right tackle Mike McGlinchey depart for the Denver Broncos on a five-year, $87.5m deal.

San Francisco went into the Week 18 clash knowing a win would see them reach the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. A loss would allow the New Orleans Saints, who cruised past the Atlanta Falcons, to sneak in and claim the final Wild Card berth.

The latter outcome looked the more likely when the Rams surged to a 17-0 lead and, even though the Niners got a field goal before half-time, San Francisco still faced an uphill battle.

However, Deebo Samuel scored a touchdown on the ground and then threw another to Jauan Jennings on a trick play to tie things up.

A juggling interception of Jimmy Garoppolo by Jalen Ramsey in the endzone followed by a Matthew Stafford strike to Cooper Kupp put the Rams in a seemingly commanding position at 24-17.

However, Garoppolo - playing with a torn ligament in his right thumb - led a five-play, 88-yard drive that finished with him connecting with Jennings, forced overtime at SoFi Stadium.

The 49ers won the coin toss and a 12-play, 69-yard drive on which Jennings featured heavily set up a Robbie Gould field goal to give San Francisco the lead for the first time.

And it was an advantage they held as Stafford's deep shot for Odell Beckham Jr. was plucked out of the air by rookie cornerback Thomas to set up a mouth-watering Wild Card matchup with the Niners' historic rivals the Dallas Cowboys.

For Los Angeles, it is a sixth successive defeat to the 49ers, though they still won the NFC West after the Seattle Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals, whom the Rams will host in the opening round of the playoffs.

Of course, that draft pick would become completely inconsequential if for some reason a catastrophic disaster were to wipe out the human race, which is what 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan alluded to during a press conference on Monday.

When asked if quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will be on the roster by the end of the weekend after the draft concludes, Shanahan avoided the usual coach speak and took a bleaker approach in his response.

"I can't guarantee that anybody in the world will be alive Sunday, so I can't guarantee who will be on our roster on Sunday,” he said. "So that goes for all of us."

Garoppolo's days as the starting quarterback for the 49ers appear to be numbered after the team traded two first-round picks to move up from 12 to 3, but hopefully for his sake he still has plenty of days left on Earth.

As far as who the Niners plan to grab with their pick is still a mystery. And Shanahan was not about to tip his hand.

"So, do we know exactly who we want?" he asked rhetorically. "Maybe. Probably. But maybe not."

Garoppolo led San Francisco to the Super Bowl following the 2019 season but injuries limited him to just six games in 2020 as the Niners stumbled to a 6-10 record.

Though he dodged every question about who the 49ers might draft, Shanahan has been up front about injuries being a major factor in the team ready to move on from Garoppolo.

"The biggest thing with Jimmy is his injuries," Shanahan said. "It's been very tough for us when he's been hurt and that's happened two of these three years. That's where it starts and Jimmy knows that."

Shanahan did admit that having a rookie quarterback as well as a proven winner like Garoppolo together would be advantageous.

"But I feel very fortunate, taking a rookie quarterback, that we do have a guy like Jimmy," he said. "We have a guy that every time he's been a starter he's played at a high level.

"So to have that with Jimmy while adding a rookie quarterback gives us a lot of leeway. We're not going to set anything in stone, but I know that’s a situation that would be hard to get rid of."

The decision on who the 49ers draft will ultimately fall on Shanahan, according to general manager John Lynch.

"We have a head coach who's also our offensive play caller. I will always defer to him," Lynch said. "You know, what's cool about that is that Kyle I think respects my opinion enough.

"He always wants it. Ultimately, we arrive at decisions. We will and come Thursday we'll have a pick that hopefully makes everyone proud, but that will judged in years to come. We've done our best to make sure it's a great decision for this franchise."

49ers head coach Shanahan said Bosa "most likely" suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in Sunday's 31-13 NFL win over the New York Jets, while quarterback Garoppolo sustained a high-ankle sprain.

Defensive end Bosa was carted off the field in the first quarter for last season's Super Bowl participants and Shanahan told reporters: "Some key players with some bad injuries, which makes it always a little bit harder.

"I thought it was a real good game by the team. But you've got a little bit of mixed emotions when you lose some guys like that.

"I don't know why it happened. As far as the feeling that was on the sidelines, I know that's as many knee injuries and ankle stuff and people getting caught on the turf as I have ever been a part of.

"From what I saw, the other team did, too. I know our players talked about it the entire game, just how sticky the turf was... It was something our guys were concerned about right away and the results definitely made that a lot stronger. Unfortunately this is a place we've got to go back to next week."

49ers defensive linesman Arik Armstead, whose team host the New York Giants in Week 3, added: "[It brings] a lot of anxiety. We see guys you love go down and get hurt and we've got to come back here and play again on the same surface, and that's anxiety-provoking, to see that happen and know you have to do it again."

On Garoppolo, who finished the half and went for 14-of-16 for 131 yards and two touchdowns before sitting out the game, Shanahan said: "We'll see how that heals.

"You've got to get on a plane tonight, he'll wake up tomorrow [Monday], it will probably feel much worse, but that's something you really won't be able to tell whether he has a chance or not probably until the end of the week."

Shanahan side-stepped questions about the team's quarterback situation after the 49ers fell 30-18 to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday for their fourth consecutive NFL defeat. 

Garoppolo struggled in a game played in a miserable downpour, completing 16 of 27 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown with two fourth-quarter interceptions. 

The veteran started San Francisco's first four games before sitting out a Week 5 loss to the Arizona Cardinals with a calf injury. 

Lance got his first NFL start in that game and suffered a sprained knee that kept him off the field through San Francisco's bye week and against the Colts. 

Asked if he plans to start Garoppolo again in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears, Shanahan said "I would guess so." 

He added: "I'm going to watch this tape and see if guys are healthy, first of all, and know where our guys are at. It was good for Jimmy to be able to get healthy enough to play in this game today."

The team originally had hoped Lance would be able to return after missing two weeks, but his timeline remains unclear after he missed practice all last week. 

If the rookie is healthy enough to face Chicago, Shanahan could be forced into a difficult decision after remaining steadfast in his support of Garoppolo throughout the offseason.

"I've got a lot of things to figure out," Shanahan said as he concluded his remarks. 

Garoppolo has been sidelined since suffering a high ankle sprain in the 49ers' loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8 on November 1.

The former New England Patriots quarterback, who led the 49ers to last season's Super Bowl, has completed 94 of 140 passes for 1,096 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions in six games this season.

Garoppolo is continuing to rehabilitate and is not likely to return to practice this week as Shanahan provided an update on the 29-year-old.

"We've had a number of high-ankle sprains on our team this year, but Jimmy's was definitely the worst," Shanahan told reporters on Monday.

"That's why we thought he was going to need surgery for a little bit, but he didn't. That's why he needs longer rest than most of the people. But Jimmy won't be back this week for practice.

"We'll see about Jimmy if he's ready for some practice the following week."

The 49ers have lost back-to-back games to sit bottom of the NFC West with a 5-8 record, adrift of the Los Angeles Rams (9-4), Seahawks (9-4) and Arizona Cardinals (7-6).

"I wouldn't say I'm confident [of Garoppolo returning in 2020]. I think it's up in the air," Shanahan said. "I'm waiting to hear from the doctors. When you have the high-ankle sprain that he had, that was worse than everyone else and it was so close to surgery, the only way we're going to put him out is if he's completely healed.

"I'm not going to risk him having to get surgery on it. I don't want to put him out there for a last game or last two games for a chance of re-injuring and have to have surgery in the offseason.

"Until the doctors tell me that there's no chance of that, and that has to do with Jimmy pushing himself like he has been doing - having no soreness and things like that, that's what we'll do it. That's why it is a week-to-week thing right now. We've gotten over the hump, but it's a risk and we're not going to do it if there's a risk."

Meanwhile, 49ers star George Kittle is a chance to re-join the team at practice for the first time in since sustaining a fracture in his foot in Week 8.

The 49ers are 2-1 to start the NFL season, going down 30-28 to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday after wins over the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions.

Lance, who was selected at pick three in the 2021 NFL Draft, has been used sparingly, attending seven snaps in two games, including running a one-yard touchdown against the Packers.

The 49ers' offensive display against the Packers, having been held scoreless until Lance's touchdown on half-time, fuelled the calls for the 21-year-old to get more opportunities ahead of Garoppolo – who made 25 of 40 passes for 257 yards, two TDs and an interception against Green Bay.

"There's not a quarterback battle right now," Shanahan said on Wednesday heading into the Week 4 clash with the Seattle Seahawks. "We're going with our starting quarterback who I think is playing very well.

"I'm happy that he is, so Trey is not thrown into any situations he has to do too early. If he ever is thrown into that, then I know Trey will deal with that and he'll get better as it goes, but we have a luxury where we don't have to do that yet to Trey or to our team."

Garoppolo has a completion rate of 67.37 per cent this season, collecting 760 yards with four touchdowns in three games this season.

The 29-year-old has completed 64 of 95 attempts, run for a score, thrown an interception and lost a pair of fumbles.

"Trey's our backup quarterback," Shanahan said. "This isn't the preseason. We're not just going back and forth all the time."

He added: "We have put him [Lance] on the field. We do it in situations.

"You can go with whatever you want what I say in training camp and you can expand on that or not. But I think I was asked coming off the field of our third [preseason] game if we'd see this in the regular season, I said, 'probably not.'

"I've been pretty consistent with what I've said."

The 49ers' last seven games dating back to last year have all been decided by eight points or fewer, tied for the longest streak in franchise history (also in 1988).

San Francisco have had 11 different players score a touchdown this season – tied with the 1964 Oilers, 1987 Chicago Bears and 2002 New England Patriots for the most in NFL history over the first three games of a season.

Bosa, 22, was hurt during the 49ers' costly 31-13 win over the New York Jets in the NFL on Sunday.

While the 49ers were initially waiting for scans for Bosa, the team later confirmed the 2019 Pro Bowl had torn his ACL.

"An MRI confirmed Nick Bosa suffered a torn ACL in yesterday's game," they wrote on Twitter.

"We're all wishing @nbsmallerbear a speedy recovery."

Bosa, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and running back Raheem Mostert were the key players hurt in the 49ers' win.

In his rookie year in the NFL, Bosa had 47 tackles, nine sacks and an interception as the 49ers reached the Super Bowl before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Bosa was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The 49ers are 1-1 to begin the 2020 season and face the New York Giants on Sunday.

The 49ers won the contest convincingly 38-10 as the Cardinals were without starting quarterback Kyler Murray, missing his second consecutive game through injury.

Despite the Cardinals' struggles, Hopkins managed a productive outing, catching nine passes for 91 yards from his 12 targets. Since his return from a six-week suspension for traces of performance enhancing drugs in his system, Hopkins leads the NFL in both targets and catches.

However, speaking to the 49ers' radio broadcast after the win, Ward took the opportunity to trash the five-time All-Pro, calling him "steroid boy".

"D-Hop, he think he a tough guy," he said. "He think he still one of the best receivers in the league, and he really not.

"He was getting locked up. He was doing some dirty things. He tried to clip me, he grabbed me by the throat. He grabbed my facemask on one play, so I don’t respect his game. That’s steroid boy."

Ward, who arrived as a key free agent signing in the offseason from the Kansas City Chiefs, led the 49ers in total tackles in the game, tying his season-high with 10.

It was the third consecutive week the 49ers' defense have not allowed a single point in the second half, leading to three wins on the trot to climb atop the NFC West with a 6-4 record.

The San Jose Police Department confirmed the arrest after an incident on Monday where officers were called after a woman reported her boyfriend, Omenihu, pushed her to the ground during an argument.

Omenihu was booked at the Santa Clara County jail and served with a restraining order. The 25-year-old was released after posting bail.

"Officers did not observe any visible physical injuries to the survivor, she did, however, have a complaint of pain to her arm," investigators said.

Omenihu, who played 15 snaps in Sunday's 19-12 Divisional Round Game win over the Dallas Cowboys, has been a key part of the 49ers' defensive unit in 2022, with 4.5 sacks this season – the third-most on the team.

"We are aware of the matter involving Charles Omenihu and are in the process of gathering further information," the 49ers said in a statement.

Protests have taken place across the USA after the death of George Floyd on Monday.

Floyd – an African-American man – died in Minneapolis after a police officer was filmed kneeling on his neck during an arrest, sparking arrests across the country.

York said the 49ers would be offering their support to bodies who are ensuring change in the USA.

"People throughout our country are hurting. Emotions are raw, and rightfully so," he said, via a statement posted on Twitter on Saturday.

"Heinous acts have been committed in recent weeks. Before we are able to realise impactful change, we must first have the courage and compassion as human beings to come together and acknowledge the problem: black men, women, children and other oppressed minorities continue to be systematically discriminated against.

"The 49ers organisation is committing to support the legislative priorities of the players coalition and to donating $1million to local and national organisations who are creating change."

San Francisco had their bye in Week 9, having got to 4-4 in emphatic fashion a week earlier, routing the Los Angeles Rams 31-14 at SoFi Stadium.

They return home to Levi's Stadium to face the Chargers in primetime and, while they have beaten the Rams eight times in a row in the regular season, they have not had such fortune against the other Los Angeles team in the NFL.

Indeed, the Chargers are looking to win their sixth straight game against the 49ers, which would make them the first team to do so since the Seattle Seahawks (who nine games from 2014 to 2018).

However, the two teams have not met since Los Angeles' home win in Week 4 of the 2018 season.

The 49ers, who have once again battled the injury bug in a recurring theme of head coach Kyle Shanahan's tenure, are set to get eight players back from absences.

Versatile star wide receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring), Jauan Jennings (hamstring), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (finger) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (calf) are all set to return after missing the win over the Rams.

Running back Elijah Mitchell, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, backup tackle Colton McKivitz and defensive end Jordan Willis will also make their comebacks from injuries that saw them placed on the injured reserve list.

Mitchell has not played since injuring his knee in Week 1, and it is his and Samuel's infusion back into the lineup that will be most intriguing to watch from an offensive standpoint for San Francisco.

Neither Samuel nor Mitchell has had the chance to play with 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, whom San Francisco acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Panthers last month.

In his second game against the Rams, McCaffrey threw for, rushed for and caught a touchdown. He was the first player to do so in the same game since the Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson completed the feat in Week 6 of the 2005 season and only the fourth since the 1970 merger.

Adding Samuel, whose ability to excel as a receiver and a running back propelled the Niners to the NFC Championship Game last season, and 2021 leading rusher Mitchell into the mix alongside another dual running and receiving threat in McCaffrey opens an array of options for Shanahan, especially against a Charger run defense allowing the most yards play (5.7) on the ground in the NFL.

In contrast to the 49ers' improving injury report, the Chargers will again be without top wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, while right tackle Trey Pipkins is out with a knee injury. Practice squad lineman Foster Sarell could get the nod in his stead ahead of much-maligned backup Storm Norton.

Despite losing left tackle Rashawn Slater to a torn ACL earlier in the season, the Chargers' offensive line has held up well. Quarterback Justin Herbert was not sacked in the win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9, and the Chargers have allowed the fewest sacks in the league this season (10). They have not given up 10 or fewer sacks through eight games since the 2008 season (also 10).

That could change against a fearsome 49ers defensive front. The Niners are third in the NFL with a sack rate of 8.9 per cent, though they are once again missing their best interior pass rusher, Arik Armstead, with a foot injury.

The lack of receiving weapons and injuries up front would appear to put Herbert and the 5-3 Chargers in a tough spot. However, the 49ers will be wary of Herbert's ability to overcome adversity, as he has continued to thrive even as the Chargers have failed to deliver since he entered the league in 2020.

Through 40 career starts, Herbert has accounted for 90 touchdowns (82 passing, 8 rushing). Only Patrick Mahomes (107), Dan Marino (95) and Kurt Warner (91) accounted for more scores in their first 40 starts.

Contract talks between the 49ers and their top wide receiver have stalled in recent weeks.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns have all been credited with an interest in Aiyuk, who had 1,342 receiving yards last season, a career-high.

And San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan has now confirmed Aiyuk has been allowed to open talks with other teams.

He said: "You're always disappointed when you can’t keep hold of all your players and it’s not going exactly right.

"I don't like losing anybody, so that’s why I am hoping it does work out here. But right now, we don't have that solved.

"You want everybody out there. You truly understand the business side of our league and what these guys do and what they have to go through in these deals.

"Whether it’s a hold-in or a holdout, this stuff is pretty common and you've just got to be patient with it as a coach."

Asked about signing a replacement if Aiyuk were to leave, Shanahan added: "Brandon's a great player, so it's really hard to be better when you lose a great player.

Selected by the franchise in the first round of the 2015 draft, Armstead has appeared in 62 games - 43 of them as a starter - in his NFL career with San Francisco.

The defensive lineman enjoyed an outstanding 2019 season too, registering 54 tackles, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles as the 49ers reached the Super Bowl, albeit they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Miami.

His new deal runs through the 2024 season and while details were not officially disclosed, it is reportedly worth $85million.

"We are very pleased to have come together with Arik and his representatives to complete this contract extension prior to free agency," said 49ers general manager John Lynch.

"Arik's physical tools and versatility have allowed him to be highly productive in our style of defense, and we look forward to watching him take his game to an even higher level as he grows within our scheme.

"Arik has been an impact player on the field and a difference-maker in our community, and we are excited for what the future holds for him."

Buckner, however, is said to be on the move from San Francisco, with NFL insiders on social media reporting the defensive lineman is to be traded to the Indianapolis Colts.

The 49ers get the 13th pick in this year's draft in return for a player who made the Pro Bowl in 2018, while Buckner will net a lucrative contract extension from his new employers.

Kittle is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of 2020 season and is seeking to reset the market at the tight end position.

The 2017 fifth-round pick has done more than enough to earn a lucrative extension. A 2019 first-team All-Pro, Kittle has posted successive 1,000-yard campaigns, setting the record for receiving yards in a single season by a tight end in 2018 with 1,377.

An agreement between the NFL and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) saw the salary cap floor for 2021 set at $175million – around $40m lower than what had been expected prior to the pandemic – as the league prepares for the financial hit it will likely take as a result of teams having to play games without fans.

Lynch acknowledged that change had made Kittle's extension more difficult, telling KNBR: "That's a big adjustment. But we were waiting for some of that [information] to guide us in how we structure a deal.

"Now we have the information. It continues to come in. So we've traded ideas and we're really hopeful.

"I knew it might be tricky because of the position he plays and things of that nature, finding the right number.

"I think people should be encouraged. We have had tremendous talks — I don't want to say progress — but talks with [Kittle's agent, Jack Bechta]. And we work real well together.

"We've traded ideas and things and we're really hopeful. We're going to work extremely hard. George is such a great fit for what we do. He’s a tremendous player.

"I'm sitting here looking at the vision statement for what we want in a player, and George checks every box.

"He's tremendous. He's what we want to be. I think it would be silly not to figure that out. And we're going to do just that."

Kyle Shanahan felt the San Francisco 49ers had opportunities to overcome their swathe of defensive injuries and avoid defeat to the Atlanta Falcons.

The 49ers were favoured to move 4-2 with victory in Atlanta, but instead fell to a 28-14 defeat at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Starting cornerback Charvarius Ward suffered a groin injury in the loss, a week on from fellow starter Emmanuel Moseley sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the blowout win over the Carolina Panthers.

On defense, the Niners entered the game without star pass rusher Nick Bosa (groin), Javon Kinlaw (knee), and Arik Armstead (foot), as well as linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) and safety Jimmie Ward (hand). Edge rusher Samson Ebukam battled injury throughout the game.

The Falcons took advantage of the 49ers' plethora of absentees, quarterback Marcus Mariota completing 13 of his 14 pass attempts and accounting for three touchdowns.

Mariota is the third player in NFL history to record at least two touchdown passes, one rushing touchdown and a completion percentage of 90-or-higher (minimum 10 attempts) in a single game, joining Ryan Fitzpatrick (September 24, 2020) and Frank Ryan (December 12, 1964).

The 49ers entered the game allowing just three yards a carry but gave up 168 yards rushing against the Falcons.

San Francisco fell 14-0 behind but recovered to tie things up at 14-14 through a pair of Brandon Aiyuk touchdowns.

"I think we had our chances to overcome," Shanahan said. "We made it harder on ourselves. I'm not taking anything away from them.

"Yeah, that's a big deal missing those people, but we had every chance to still pull that off."

Tight end George Kittle echoed his coach's sentiments, adding: "You could use [injuries] as an excuse but we're the San Francisco 49ers.

"We have a standard that we play at. We play at a very high level, a lot of energy, 100 percent effort on every single play. I haven't watched the tape yet, but I don't know that we gave that at every single position.

"We had a lot of young guys play. We're missing a lot of guys. We've just got to make sure we're playing at that level every single snap or that's going to happen, especially when you are down guys."

Linebacker Fred Warner said of the Falcons' approach: "We knew exactly what they were going to do. That was the challenge for us on defense was to stop the run and to dictate that.

"But I've got to give them props for dictating the entire game in the run game. We were getting knocked back, me included, and we've just got to be better up front in the front seven.

"It [the injuries] does suck. You wish you have your guys out there, but at the same time, I feel like for me, I put a lot of pressure on myself in the fact that I command the defense.

"I'm the one who should get all 11 lined up at all times regardless of who's out there, and everybody else who's coming into the game, they've got to be ready to go no matter what. It's all about being prepared. Regardless of the circumstance, whoever's out there we've got to make sure we're playing to our standard."

The 49ers have consistently battled injuries during Shahanan's tenure, overcoming them to reach the Super Bowl in the 2019 season and the NFC Championship Game last term. In 2020, the Niners finished 6-10 after a year in which they were decimated by injuries and COVID issues.

"The five years I've been here, this isn't anything new. I've seen it," said Warner. "At some point you've got to adjust and guys have got to be ready to go no matter the situation. We've got to find ways to win regardless of the circumstance."

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed by the 49ers, but Shanahan reportedly signed a new six-year deal that will replace the remaining three years on his original contract – running through the 2025 season.

Shanahan helped engineer the best reversal of fortune in franchise history when he guided the 49ers to a 13-3 regular-season record and two more wins in the NFC playoffs to reach Super Bowl LIV last season.

San Francisco took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter before the Kansas City Chiefs rallied for a 31-20 victory in the showpiece fixture.

With quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo limited to three games by a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the 49ers limped to a 4-12 record in 2018. 

The nine-win improvement is tied for the third largest in a regular season in NFL history, surpassed only by the 1999 Indianapolis Colts and the 2008 Miami Dolphins. Both of those teams won 10 more games than the previous year.  

Shanahan, the son of three-time Super Bowl champion coach Mike Shanahan, is 23-25 in three seasons since being hired as the 49ers' coach in February 2017.

The 40-year-old also led San Francisco to a four-win upgrade over the previous campaign during his first season in charge in 2017.  

Prior to joining the 49ers, Shanahan served as the Atlanta Falcons' offensive co-ordinator and played a key role in the team reaching Super Bowl LI during the 2016 season.

Santa Clara County, home of NFL franchise the 49ers and Levi's Stadium, issued enhanced COVID-19 guidelines for professional, collegiate and youth sports on Saturday.

The stringent new social-distancing measures have left the 49ers in limbo, with Kyle Shanahan's side due to host back-to-back games behind closed doors – the Buffalo Bills on December 7 and Washington Football Team on December 13.

"We are aware of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department's emergency directive," the 49ers said in a statement.

"We are working with the NFL and our partners on operational plans and will share details as they are confirmed."

The Santa Clara County order read: "All recreational activities that involve physical contact or close proximity to persons outside one's household, including all contact sports, will be temporarily prohibited. 

"People can continue to engage in outdoor athletics and recreation where social distancing can be maintained at all times."

The NHL's San Jose Sharks also play home games in Santa Clara County – the start of the 2020-21 season has been delayed until at least January 1.

"[This] will temporarily suspend activities that require direct physical contact or interaction in Santa Clara," Santa Clara County counsel James Williams said.

"So, that means that for those teams, they will not be able to play games or have practices where they have direct contact within the county."

The 49ers – last season's Super Bowl finalists – are bottom of the NFC West with a 4-6 record following three consecutive losses.

San Francisco travel to face NFC West leaders the Los Angeles Rams (7-3) on Sunday.