Head Coach Kyle Shanahan Press Conference

Head Coach Kyle Shanahan

Press Conference – September 12, 2025

San Francisco 49ers

Opening comments:

“Injuries for the game: [QB] Brock Purdy will be out, [T] Trent Williams, questionable, [WR] Jauan Jennings, questionable. Go ahead.”

Where’s Trent at right now? I saw him running on the side. Did he progress throughout the course of the week?

“Yeah, he was out there today. Got a practice with us. That was good. Yeah.”

Trent, he got limited practice time?

“No, he was out there for everything. That says limited, but we went half speed, so he was able to get through it.”

So, are you confident that both the questionable guys will be available?

“Questionable.”

Does playing surface factor into Trent at all?

“No.”

Is the plan at quarterback to bring QB Adrian Martinez up on Saturday?

“Yes.”

How much can he do? How comfortable are you with him if he had to come into the game?

“I mean, he has been good these two weeks learning both these game plans. Today, I mean this week, he got the most reps that he has got, at least with the scout team. We’re working on everything with him after practice, but we’d have to see him in the game. I’m comfortable with him going in and executing. I’ve really liked him here these first two weeks. If it comes to that, we’ll be ready to go though.”

Do you feel like you have to modify the game plan at all?

“Yeah, you’ve got to change a little bit if he’d have to go in. I mean, he’s prepared for it all, but I’ll have an idea of the stuff he likes more than others. We don’t tell him. I mean, he’s been here two weeks, so he learns the game plan for the week like everyone else. But you don’t tell a guy, ‘hey, just take these 10 plays.’ You try to tell him to learn the whole game plan. But, I always want to know what he is most comfortable with and hopefully we can stick with that if the game allows us to.”

In your mind, is WR Ricky Pearsall at a point where he can have the same kind of impact no matter who’s at quarterback, whether it’s Brock or QB Mac Jones?

“I mean, Ricky’s our starting receiver. Ricky’s going to win his routes and do his thing and hopefully the plays and the protection and the coverages take him there. But you know, how a receiver plays and stuff I don’t think really depends on the quarterback. Some quarterbacks have an easier time getting the plays to the right spots and things like that, but Ricky’s in a good spot with whoever’s playing.”

You’ve had a lot of injuries the past few seasons. Do you start to feel like sometimes maybe you’re snake bit?

“I don’t know. I think in ‘23 we were the healthiest team in football from what stats and people have told me. Last year we weren’t. This year it hasn’t been good so far, but we’ll see how it ends up.”

K Eddy Piñeiro was taking punt snaps. Was that just an emergency thing or is there something wrong with P Thomas Morstead?

“I didn’t notice. You’ve got a good eye, so I’ll have to ask when I go in.”

It seemed like a blocking drill for the snapper.

“I’m sure they had something to work on.”

How would you assess Mac’s week of practice and his preparation for this week heading into the game?

“It’s been awesome. The same this week as he has been all camp. Our team really believes in him, our team really enjoys him and he did a hell of a job this week in practice.”

His teammates have spoken to Mac’s humor, that part of his personality. How would you describe him and his personality?

“I think Mac’s really cool. I think he is funny. I think he’s himself. My wife said, ‘he must be really funny and have a sense of humor’ because she saw his suit that he wore last week to the game. I said, ‘I don’t think he is trying to be funny. He’s just got swag.’ So that’s just him. But no, Mac’s himself, makes guys laugh. He’s got a lot of energy and I think our guys have really enjoyed him so far.”

Do you think that helps with team cohesion?

“Guys play hard for guys that they like, that’s for sure. Cohesion is great, but it all comes down with guys in the long run just to how you play too. But, guys definitely enjoy playing for a guy that they like more.”

How well has WR Kendrick Bourne picked up the playbook in his second go around this week?

“I mean, it’s been a challenge with him just getting here, like it would be for anybody who’s new. Him Monday compared to today, he’s getting there and he’s got another day and a half to get there and I think it’ll be good on Sunday.”

It’s an interesting case study his last year in 2020. How much have things changed since then for him?

“I think a good amount. I mean, the basis of our style of how our verbiage works and stuff is the same. But just words and everything that we’ve added, different types of motions, everything. I mean, it’s expanded a lot in the last five years, like everyone does. And regardless, when you go into another offense for that long, it still takes a lot of time for it to come back.”

How good do you feel about OL Spencer Burford’s progress as a left tackle if he would be needed in this game?

“I feel good. I think Spence has done a hell of a job for us, whether it’s at guard or tackle. Making that change fully, he has always been an emergency tackle since he’s been here. But, getting all the reps there throughout OTAs and training camp, I think he’s gotten better at it each day and I think he’s made to play that position. He can really play all of them. If he’s got to go, he will be ready.”

Did you guys want to sign free agent QB Mike White this week but just couldn’t because of numbers?

“Yeah, we definitely had to be prepared for it. You’d love to have some more guys up. You’d love to have three guys on the roster so you could have an emergency guy like that. But, we couldn’t do that just with our 53 and stuff, so we’re just doing our due diligence and making sure people are ready. He’s got some history with people in our building and some similar offenses and he was out there and available.”

I have a what if question for you. Before the Draft, was there a scenario in your mind where the Saints take DL Mykel Williams and you guys end up with New Orleans Saints OL Kelvin Banks Jr.?

“I don’t like to get into who we would’ve taken, but we definitely liked him a lot. He was an awesome Longhorn so got a soft spot for that. It could’ve gone any way, but he was definitely a guy that we liked a lot.”