Head Coach Kyle Shanahan Press Conference

Head Coach Kyle Shanahan

Press Conference – September 19, 2025

San Francisco 49ers

Opening comments:

“Injury report for the week. [WR] Jordan Watkins will be out. [OL] Spencer Burford, out. [OL] Connor Colby, questionable. [WR] Jauan Jennings, questionable. [QB] Brock Purdy, questionable. Go ahead.”

What’s Colby’s injury?

“Groin.”

Did Jordan Watkins hurt himself in practice yesterday?

“Yeah, he had a calf.”

Might it be a couple weeks?

“Yes, definitely. Yeah. You never know with calves, but guess around three to four.”

Did you see Brock Purdy make progress this week?

“Yeah, a lot of progress. I thought he had a good week. Hopefully we can get him up for the game.”

What will go into that decision?

“We’ll see how he does tomorrow. Just talking to him, I think it’s highly unlikely that he’ll start. But, just trying to see where he is at to see if he could be a two or an emergency three.”

Is it the kind of injury that he could make worse if he were to play?

“That’s what we want to make sure not of. Yeah, I mean if certain parts haven’t got there fully, then you can, so that’s what we’re trying to base off of. Which we probably won’t know for sure until Sunday on that, but that’s why I think it’s highly unlikely he’d be out there as a starter.”

Who’s next man up behind Colby?

“It will be a surprise for everyone. But, it could be [OL] Drew Moss, it could be [OL Nick] Zakelj, could have been Spencer, but he went down. There are some more guys I could probably mention, but most likely one of those two.”

What’s the distinction between Brock not starting, but if he’s a backup, he could play. So, I guess what’s the distinction that you’re making between those roles?

“Just things that he would be limited in. So, I think there’s certain things that he could do, maybe certain things he couldn’t. So, we’re trying to decide if he could do that. When you won’t know that until Sunday, you don’t get to practice in any other area, don’t want to force it on Sunday, but don’t mind finding out if you have to.”

Have you learned from previous times when he might go and might play that he’s been pretty honest with you about going or not going?

“Yeah, Brock pushes himself to go as hard as anyone I’ve been around, but he is very levelheaded in terms of being realistic and he doesn’t just talk with his heart. He works with his heart, but he talks with his mind and lets us really know what the chances are of it and if he can’t do it he’ll let us know.”

Even the Seattle night with the rib in the Thursday night game?

“Yeah. He really thought he was going to be able to go and he was struggling so much in pre-game warmups there that that’s why that game was so crazy that he didn’t think he could go after pre-game warmups. I was changing the openers, but our backup quarterback at the time had only been here for like four days because we got him off another team and then I was doing that and he came right in and goes, ‘no, I’m good now.’ So, it changed. Brock will be honest all the way up to kickoff.”

With LB Fred Warner, obviously the production has been what it’s been for pretty much his whole career, but how do you see his impact whenever you put another linebacker next to him, no matter who it is that seems to always have success? How much of that do you attribute to Fred?

“I mean, I never want to take away from anyone else. [Denver Broncos LB] Dre Greenlaw is such a great player and [LB] Dee Winters is a very good player who’s got the chance to become like that. But, Fred just makes everyone better around him. How decisive he is with how he communicates, how quick he can pick things up. I mean, when they change the formations, do all these motions, it’s very hard to get Fred confused. So, I think he makes everyone out there play a little bit faster. When he’s not there, I think everyone hesitates a little bit more.”

Unless my eyes were deceiving me, it’s hard to tell with those jerseys, CB Eli Apple was wearing one of the players of the week for scout team jerseys. What does that say to you when a 10-year veteran of 80-something starts is getting that kind of distinction?

“I think it says a lot because Eli is a good player. I’ve gone against him number of times in this League and he has been awesome since we’ve had him here. He was good in training camp, just got hurt after the first week and he has been great since he’s came back. He rehabbed away from here really well. I think he’s been awesome in these three weeks now on our practice squad, plays DB at a high level, but he got the special teams scout team player of the week which shows he is doing everything. He’s a really awesome example for a guy who started in this League, played at a high level, but awesome example for all the young guys just that it really doesn’t matter. You’ve got to work no matter where you’re at and when you do it like that it’s a matter of time where I think he’ll help us on Sundays too.”

Have you gotten any more clarity on Spencer’s knee injury?

“Not more clarity. I just know it didn’t go as well as we wanted it to this week, which is why he is out. We’ll see probably after this weekend whether we’ve got to make a longer-term decision with it.”

Are you thinking surgery might be necessary?

“It could be possible.”

Do you expect Brock in uniform Sunday either as the two or the three?

“That’s what we’re not sure of yet. We’re still waiting to decide on that.”

Will you decide that by Saturday given the practice squad deadline?

“It will be decided by one o’clock based off of some other things. To make him the emergency, then I believe [QB Adrian] Martinez can’t be a flex. He’s got to be on the active roster, so that’s why a lot more things go into it also. Then we got some of the O-Line stuff that changed yesterday, so that’s why there’s like six layers connected to that. But, you guys will always make me explain (laughter).”

Is Watkins a candidate then for IR too?

“It could be. I think it’s injuries like that. Anytime you have a calf, it’s definitely long enough. We’re allowed eight of them. I think if we did that, that’d be already six already. So, a lot of things we’ve got weigh on that decision.”

Did Colby get hurt yesterday?

“Yes.”

What type of a luxury is it to have a guy like QB Mac Jones, especially with how well he played last week? Just having confidence in him whenever he needs to go.

“It’s great. I mean, to be a legit backup quarterback in this League, a number two quarterback, I believe you’ve got to be able to play like a one. And Mac has definitely done that a high level when he is a one, when he has been a one. He showed that on Sunday. He’s shown our guys that since he’s been here, so I think it didn’t surprise the guys, but Mac’s a real good player and feel fortunate to have him.”

What evolution have you seen in Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray’s game over the years? I mean, he’s historic in terms of a passer and a runner.

“I think it changed a lot with the scheme difference, with [Washington Commanders offensive coordinator] Kliff [Kingsbury] earlier on and then going to his new group now. I think he’s been more under center and stuff. He’s balanced it out a little bit more. I’ve seen him develop a lot in his footwork, a lot just in the quarterback position. But, just as a threat from a thrower, from a runner, regardless of what system he’s in, he’s always been a huge threat from both.”