SF Quotes & Audio
Head Coach Kyle Shanahan
Audio: Here
Opening Statement…
Ok, guys, injuries: (Nick) Bosa, knee, out. Soloman Thomas, knee, out. (Jimmy) Garoppolo, ankle, out. (Raheem) Mostert, knee, out. Tevin Coleman, knee, out.
On the injuries…
Yeah, (for) Jimmy, a high ankle sprain is what we have now. Bosa is most likely an ACL. We have to confirm that tomorrow, but most likely. Soloman from what I’m told is a little bit in the same boat as Bosa, but he a better chance of it not being that from what I’m told, but we’ll wait to see. Moster, I don’t think it was that. He has some knee issues from the game on that turf.
On how the injuries impact the team…
They impact you a lot. It was a number of players with some bad injuries, some key players with bad injuries, which always makes it a little bit harder. I think the guys are real pumped about the win. It was huge to get that. I think we played our asses off. I thought it was a real good game by the team, but you have some mixed emotions when you lose guys like that. We have a good team. We had a good team last year, we have a good team this year. I just told the guys we do have a good team, but there are also so many guys in our place that can get a lot better, coaches and players. When you lose some guys like we did, and it will probably be for a while, we need guys to get better. There are a number of guys who can improve on our team, so that’s what we have to focus on doing.
On how much the turf today played a role in the injuries…
Yeah, who knows. I don’t know exactly why it happened. As far as the feeling on the sideline, I know that’s as many knee injuries and ankle stuff and people getting caught on the turf that I’ve ever been a part of. From what I saw, the other team did too. I know our players talked about it the entire game, just how sticky the turf was. I think that was the first time people played on it. That was something our guys were concerned about right away and the result definitely made that a lot stronger. Unfortunately, it’s a place we have to go back next week.
On Garoppolo’s performance in the first half and Nick Mullens the second half…
I thought Jimmy made some good plays. We had a long drive that would not have happened if he didn’t scramble. He had a hell of a play on that to keep the drive going or it would have been three-and-out, and it led to a touchdown. I thought that was huge. He hurt his ankle pretty early and tried to battle through it. He couldn’t go anymore at halftime. I thought Nick came in and made a couple of big plays. For the most part, we were running the ball and he didn’t have to do a ton. I know he messed up (on the interception). That ball was a little high from what I saw. I think he’ll be a lot more ready next week with the preparation.
On if they will need to start looking into personnel moves…
Possibly. We were looking into that anyways, so we’ll see how everything plays out these next couple of days. We have guys on our practice squad that we have a lot of confidence in. We’ll see who’s out there. However we can help our team, I know John (Lynch) and his group will bring those guys in. We’ll also have some guys here that can step up and help us too.
On the feel inside the locker room and Jordan Reed’s performance today…
Guys were excited. You cool down a little bit because it was over for a while in the fourth. Then, they get an idea of the injuries. Guys aren’t totally aware of that during the game. I think guys did have a bit of mixed emotions, especially seeing Nick. But, I know our guys were also excited with the win. I know our guys feel for the guys that got hurt, but I also know our guys have a lot of confidence in the other people here who can help. We feel there are a lot of ways our team can win and our players feels that also. We’re going to get on a plane together, enjoy it a little bit tonight, get out to West Virginia and work on how we can keep improving. On your second part about Jordan Reed – that was great for Jordan. We knew he had a chance to have a big game today. I don’t know what he finished with, but he was the same guy he’s always been. He beat man coverage. His hands were great. He did a good job in the run game and really helped us today.
On how the defensive line stepped up today…
From what I saw, they did a hell of a job. They kept them out of the end zone until that last drive. I know we had some guys who had to play out of position a little bit, especially when (Solomon) went out also. We didn’t have as many guys up. Those guys had to battle throughout the whole game. The players and coaches just rotating those guys and trying to keep them going as much as they could. It happened early and those guys had to strap it on the rest of the game. They did a hell of a job doing that.
On being optimistic that George Kittle will play next week…
I’m always optimistic about George when he’s hurt because he always has a chance. I know he has a tough injury. I was optimistic he might have a chance last week, so that doesn’t change. It’s still a tough deal and I’ll be impressed if he gets back. I’m always hoping for that, but we’ll take all that into account when we discuss it with him over the next week or so.
On Kerry Hyder and Fred Warner…
Kerry has been a stud for us. I thought he was one of our training camp MVPs and he’s carried it over into these two games. He’s stepped it up for us and done a hell of a job on the edge. He can play anywhere for us and he’s done a great job of that, especially not having Ronald Blair in there to start the season. It’s been great. From what I saw, Fred played a hell of a game. I’ll see on the plane when I get to the tape. We knew we were going to let them bend a little bit, but our defense never broke. Not until the end, not until the fourth quarter, when they let them in the end zone. I was happy with the defense as a whole.
On if Garoppolo will miss at least one game and if there is any fear that Dee Ford has a serious neck injury?
Anytime you are talking about the neck, you do have concerns about that. That’s why were pretty cautious with it this week. It is kind of a day-to-day thing because you have to see how it reacts. Jimmy, I’m not really sure about. With it being the high ankle sprain, I know he couldn’t go in the second half. We’ll see how that heals. We have to get on a plane tonight. You wake up tomorrow and it will probably feel much worse. That’s something you really wont be able to tell whether he has a chance or not until the end of the week.
On Brandon Aiyuk…
I was happy for Brandon. Anytime you are a rookie and get to go in your first game, there is always a lot of pressure on you, especially with the fact that he hasn’t been out of practice much missing those three weeks. He got thrown into the fire this week in practice. I thought he only did better in the game. He made a couple of plays, broke a couple tackles. (He made) a couple of rookie mistakes too that we’ll keep harping on, but that is little expected. It was nice to see the game wasn’t too big for him. He caught the ball, I thought he had a good off-schedule play. I always love watching guys break tackles.
QB Nick Mullens
Audio: Here
On how he felt he performed in place of QB Jimmy Garoppolo…
I thought I did a decent job of operating the game. You come in with a what, three-possession lead? So, your job was just to manage the game, move the chains and create a rhythm. Obviously, we got into some second-and-long, third-and-long situations. Great run by Jet (Jerick McKinnon) to save that drive, but overall, just lead the offense and stay on schedule, move the chains and preserve the victory.
On how he would describe the mood in the locker room given the team’s injuries in today’s game…
It was different. It’s very hard to win in this league. It’s very hard to win in the NFL. So, you appreciate, and you’re fired up for every win, but at the same time, we know what took place with some of the injuries today to some of the key leaders of our team. So, it’s definitely mixed emotions.
On the turf at MetLife Stadium…
Regular turf I guess you could say. That’s all I can really say about it. I didn’t notice it was any different. That’s about all I’ve got to say about that.
On Brandon Aiyuk in his NFL debut…
It was awesome for Brandon. We’re super excited for him. He was smooth. Just focused. Ever since he’s been here, he’s had that focused mindset. I think I saw that today. I know he didn’t have a ton of catches, but when he had the ball in his hands, he got good yards after catch. We’re excited and that’s a step going forward.
On whether the offense knocked off some rust showed in Week One…
Yeah, I think so. I mean, if you look at when Jimmy was playing, he was super-efficient, and when Jimmy’s efficient, the whole offense moves like a machine. So, everybody was doing their role. The unfortunate circumstances, it set me up with a nice lead. So, yeah, definitely, the offense was looking sharp and it was a lot of fun to watch. Also, it was great to see Jordan Reed out there making plays. Just with everything that he’s been through, that was big time, and I know he’s pumped.
On how his game has changed…
You could say when I first started, it was not a surprise to myself, but it was my first time doing it. Now, I just have a higher expectation for myself. That’s what kind of carries me and pushes me. It’s my fourth year, there’s really no excuses as to why I shouldn’t perform. That’s kind of what has been pushing me. Execution wise, there’s so many little details, I know I only played a half, but when you get into the game, when you focus, operationally, and things like that, it’s a little bit different. So, it was fun to experience that, as well.
On whether the team leans into its experience last year of overcoming injuries…
Definitely, Coach Shanahan says it at the start of the season and pretty much every week. Everybody has a role on this football team. All 53 of us can help the team get better in one way or another. That’s more true now than it has been. So, we’ve just got to stick together, rally, believe in each other and just keep executing at a high level.
DL Arik Armstead
Audio: Here
LB Fred Warner
Audio: Here
RB Jerick McKinnon
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T Trent Williams
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WR Brandon Aiyuk
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TE Jordan Reed
Audio: Here