Denver's 68-sack defense is next for Brock Purdy, who has not been sacked
Kickoff is 1:25 p.m. Pacific at Levi's Stadium on CBS. Mike Evans is a game-time decision with a rib injury, Nick Bosa is out again, and Matthew Judon is up from the practice squad and in line for his first game as a 49er.
San Francisco plays Denver at Levi's Stadium on Sunday at 1:25 p.m. Pacific, on CBS, with the radio call on KSAN 107.7 FM and KNBR 104.5 FM and 680 AM. The 49ers are 3-0, and this is the last of three straight home games. The Broncos are 2-1. They lost 31-10 at Kansas City, beat Jacksonville 20-13 and beat the Rams 30-26 last Sunday.
Brock Purdy has played three games and has not been sacked in any of them. Denver had 68 sacks last season, 11 more than any other club, per ESPN's team statistics. The Broncos have eight this year. Four came last week against the Rams, who threw 55 passes.
The protection#
Klay Kubiak, the offensive coordinator, did not hand the zero to his line on Thursday. "There's been a little bit of luck involved," he said, per the club's transcript. "Brock's made some great plays of making people miss. So, it's really a team stat."
Vance Joseph runs the Denver defense. Kyle Shanahan told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area on Friday what the offense has to avoid, per Marc Adams of 49ers Webzone: "If we get one-dimensional versus [this] type of pass rush, I don't care who your line is, I don't care what the deal is, they're going to get after your quarterback."
Zach Allen has three of the eight sacks. Talanoa Hufanga, the former 49ers safety, got one off the edge against the Rams. "He knows when to take his risks and it's very calculated," Kubiak said. Purdy's plan for him: "I just got to have my antenna up, I think, the whole game of knowing where he's at."
The other quarterback#
Shanahan was asked Friday how much it matters to keep Bo Nix in the pocket. "Extremely important," he said. "They do it as much as anyone in the league and I can see why." Arizona's Jacoby Brissett ran keepers on the 49ers a week ago, in short yardage and near the goal line. Raheem Morris, the defensive coordinator: "We got to be better."
Nix has completed 56 of 93 passes for 605 yards, with four touchdowns and three interceptions, one in each game, per ESPN. He has been sacked five times, four of them at Kansas City.
San Francisco's line is short again. Nick Bosa (knee, calf) and James Thompson Jr. (ankle) are out. Mykel Williams is out too and cannot come off the physically unable to perform list before Week 5 at Seattle. The club's active table lists 11 defensive linemen after Saturday's moves. Nine of them are available, and one of the nine is questionable. The defense played 87 snaps against Arizona, per the game book.
Denver#
Six Broncos were on the week's injury report and one carries a game status: linebacker Dondrea Tillman (hamstring), who is out. Allen, J.K. Dobbins, Marvin Mims Jr., Jaylen Waddle and D.J. Jones all practiced in full Friday. Waddle caught eight passes for 138 yards against Jacksonville. Morris on a Sean Payton offense: "Execution, multi-personnel groupings, a furious first 15."
Ten to watch#
- Mike Evans, receiver. Questionable with a rib injury and a game-time decision, per Shanahan, who broke his own ribs two months ago: "I would not be questionable. I would be out without a doubt." Evans has 12 catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
- Brandin Cooks, receiver. Promoted to the 53 on Thursday and in line for his first game as a 49er. Shanahan: "He's had a good two weeks."
- Jordan Watkins, receiver. Two catches for 60 yards on 15 snaps in his season debut against Arizona.
- Trent Williams, left tackle. Left the Arizona game with a neck stinger after 32 of the 54 offensive snaps. He practiced in full Friday and has no designation.
- Matthew Judon, defensive line. Elevated Saturday, five days after signing to the practice squad. He is 34, with 72 sacks in 145 games, per Maiocco, and none in 14 games last season, per 49ers Webzone. He played for Morris in Atlanta.
- Romello Height, defensive line. The rookie missed one game after hand surgery and has no designation. He has one sack, against Miami.
- Keion White, defensive line. Questionable with a hamstring injury. He has two sacks and is the only 49er with more than one.
- Sebastian Valdez, defensive line. Promoted to the 53 on Saturday. He played 32 snaps and made three tackles against Arizona in his NFL debut.
- Dre Greenlaw, linebacker. Questionable with a quadriceps injury after 62 snaps against Arizona. Denver released him after one season, per Maiocco. Rookie Jaden Dugger, who played 33 snaps last week, is questionable too, with a shoulder injury from Thursday's practice.
- Gracen Halton, defensive line. The rookie played 30 snaps against Arizona and left late in the third quarter with cramps.
The club elevated a sixth receiver, Malik Turner, on Saturday. Maiocco reads that as cover in case Evans cannot go, since the 49ers generally dress five. The inactive list is due 90 minutes before kickoff, at 11:55 a.m.
Sources: 49ers.com schedule, injury report, roster, transactions and broadcast guide; ESPN schedules, box scores and 2025 team statistics; the official NFL game book for Arizona at San Francisco, Week 3; Kyle Shanahan, Klay Kubiak, Raheem Morris and Brock Purdy transcripts of Oct. 1 and Oct. 2, via 49ers Webzone; Matt Maiocco, NBC Sports Bay Area, Oct. 2 and Oct. 3; Marc Adams and David Bonilla, 49ers Webzone, Oct. 2 and Oct. 3.
