Niners Nation
The San Francisco 49ers are sitting at 3-1 after a 26-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend, where they were killed by turnovers and missed opportunities offensively in another injury-ridden game.
To make matters tougher, the 49ers have a quick turnaround this week as they face the Los Angeles Rams on the road on Thursday Night Football, with kickoff slated for 5:15 p.m. at SoFi Stadium.
San Francisco could very well be without Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall, and Jauan Jennings, while other rotational pieces also did not practice on Tuesday. Those would be big blows to the team, as the 49ers’ wide receiver core would completely consist of players who joined the team this year.
Now, after winning two divisional games against the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals over the first two weeks of the season, the 49ers are still in a good spot at 3-1 and 2-0 in the division, where they can afford to lose a tough game like Thursday’s.
But, when you put into perspective how the 49ers’ schedule looks over the next few weeks, things start to get dicier.
Following the Rams game, the 49ers have their fifth road game of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6 before returning home to face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7. Then, it’s back-to-back road trips to face the Houston Texans and New York Giants in Weeks 8 and 9 before the NFL trade deadline.
Looking at that group of opponents, there isn’t any game where the 49ers are the clear-cut favorites to win, aside from perhaps the final one. Tampa Bay has started the year 3-1, playing competitively in every game, with its lone loss being to the undefeated Eagles. Atlanta has started 2-2 and has shown improvement on both sides of the ball. The Texans are 1-3, but possess a strong defense and an offense that finally improved in Week 4. And the Giants just beat the 3-0 Los Angeles Chargers in rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart’s first start.
It is very plausible that the 49ers go 2-2 or even 1-3 over that four-game stretch. Assuming they lose to the Rams, that would make them 5-4 or 4-5 at the trade deadline, putting them in a tough spot for the second half of the season as they fight for a playoff spot.
Now, with the amount of young talent on the team, the 49ers may be okay with that outcome, pushing more of their chips into 2026. But, with players getting older and the possibility of a playoff run still there, San Francisco could still look to contend with the top teams in 2025.
If they’re serious about contending, it may be smarter to make a move ahead of the trade deadline to address key needs like a pass-rusher, rather than waiting until the middle of the season. San Francisco hasn’t been able to get pressure on the quarterback without star Nick Bosa, and they don’t have anyone on the roster that seems...
