The Rams are back on the road in Week 5, taking on the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Kickoff on Monday, October 3 is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Pacific Time on ESPN.
Before the competition, here’s your first look at the Rams 49ers:
Notable additions to the 49ers
- New contract with RB Jeff Wilson in March for 1 year: While not a New Additionally, Wilson’s return continued to be a key offseason transaction, particularly after starter Elijah Mitchell ended up on injured reserve on September 13 due to a week 1 knee injury.
- Seventh-round QB pick (262nd overall) Brock Purdy in this year’s NFL Draft: Mr. Irrelevant this spring is very relevant now this fall. After Jimmy Garoppolo replaced Trey Lance as the starter following Lance’s season-ending ankle injury in Week 2, Purdy is the 49ers’ new backup quarterback.
Top performers in week 4
Garoppolo completed 18 of 29 pass attempts for 211 yards with a touchdown, an interception and a lost fumble in San Francisco’s 11-10 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football.
Wilson led the 49ers backfield with a team-high 12 carries for 75 yards.
Although WR Deebo Samuel had five catches for 73 yards as a team-high, it was WR Brandon Aiyuk (three catches for 39 yards) who took Garoppolo’s only touchdown pass.
LB Dre Greenlaw led the San Francisco defense with a total of 10 tackles.
Early storylines to watch and what they mean for the Rams
Given the course of the offseason, in which the 49ers settled on Lance as a starter and reportedly attempted to trade Garoppolo throughout the season before restructuring his contract and keeping him, the Rams likely didn’t anticipate a scenario in which they would find themselves prepared to face Garoppolo instead Lance in week 4.
But here we are because of Lance’s unfortunate injury.
The Los Angeles defense will be gearing up for another San Francisco offense — Garoppolo and Lance’s abilities are different, and it’s obvious how San Francisco’s offense has been led with each under center — but it’s still one , which you’re probably familiar with, based on last season’s . It will also be gearing up for an offense in San Francisco where Trent Williams, who sustained a high ankle sprain against Denver, won’t be in the starting XI and will miss “some time,” according to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
These two developments bring the focus to two areas: the Rams’ linebackers and their pass rush.
The Broncos capitalized on Williams’ absence on the sidelines when fullback Randy Gregory came home for a sack. The Denver defense had four hits total plus another six QB hits.
Meanwhile, games like this — based on how the 49ers played offense last season — are why a linebacker like Bobby Wagner is used — to make the passes down the middle that lead to catch-and-run Opportunities resulted in eliminating or at least minimizing the 49ers wide receiver.
Together, those two things will be important for the Rams to secure a primetime win and go 2-0 in the NFC West.