A daily compilation of 49ers news from around the net. Thursday, December 20th, 2018 edition.
Good morning folks, we’ve reached the part of the season where the NCAA Bowl Games have died down for the season, and the NFL is trickling their Thursday night games onto the temporarily vacated Saturday. As a result, no TNF tonight – which, honestly, not a major loss. Thursday night games tend to be extremely hit or miss (mostly miss), anyway.
As is the usual, Wednesday is injury report day (for Sunday games, of course), so we’ve got some fresh info hot off the presses. Despite having an injured reverse class of 12 current players, the 49ers’ active roster is actually the healthiest it’s been in months – there’s currently only one player, Mark Nzeocha (groin), who was held out on Wednesday’s practice. The list of players who were limited in practice holds no surprises, each appearance is a continuation of a previous injury.
Although I’ve included them in the readings, there are a few articles you might want to skip over if you don’t particularly wish to have your day ruined. The articles about Khalil Mack are depressing, sure, but ultimately the decision was never in the court of the 49ers’ brass. However, the one about Vic Fangio may annihilate you, especially if you’re one of the increasingly rare types who still holds fond memories of the Jim Harbaugh years. Sure, that warning probably makes you want to read it more, so allow me to provide you with a snippet:
The results with Chicago indicate Mack’s addition to the 49ers would have been a massive boon for the franchise. San Francisco is in danger of setting a new record for fewest interceptions in a season with just two. The previous mark, three by the Houston Oilers in 1982, came during a strike-shortened season that was just nine games long.
The Bears increased their interceptions from eight to 26 this season, the most in the NFL (the Miami Dolphins are second with 20). No team has had that many picks since the Seattle Seahawks recorded 28 in 2013, the season they won the Super Bowl.
So, meanwhile, our defense is not only having another subpar year, but they’re on pace to rewrite a 40 year old record for ineptitude. Then, we look over at one of our old heroes, who was thrown out with the bathwater, and he’s built a bully that could conceivably carry a marginally above-average offense deep into the playoffs, again. Pardon me, I’m getting emotional. Have a great day.
Can Nick Mullens challenge to start in 2019? | Ostler, SF Chronicle
Jeff Wilson Jr.’s critical carry | Maiocco, NBC Sports Bay Area
49ers-Bears injury report | Maiocco, NBC Sports Bay Area | Madson, Ninerswire
High expectations for Dante Pettis in 2019 | Chan, NBC Sports Bay Area
Shanahan on the push for Khalil Mack | Maiocco, NBC Sports Bay Area | Almquist, KNBR
Vic Fangio builds a bully, again | Biderman, Sac Bee
Tarvarius Moore relying on Richard Sherman’s advice | Chan, NBC Sports Bay Area
49ers notes | Almquist, KNBR | Biderman, Sac Bee
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