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49ers vs. Titans: The Standard’s 5 fast predictions (paywall)
“Kawakami: 49ers 30, Titans 13. They’re rested, they’ve got most of their main offensive stars back, they’re facing one of the worst teams in the league — this should fall into 49ers-pick-a-score territory unless there’s a major letdown. I don’t think there’ll be a letdown.“
Eric Kendricks’ journey back leads him to 49ers — maybe where he was meant to be (paywall)
“Every now and then, the phone would ring. It was his fellow captain from his UCLA days, San Francisco 49ers center Jake Brendel. The 9-4 Niners are down to their third middle linebacker after losing Fred Warner and Tatum Bethune to injuries.
“I was like, hey man, you still keeping in shape?” Brendel said. “We might have a ‘Mike’ job open. Curtis (Robinson) has been doing a great job, but we need someone after him.
“Eric’s been a battler his whole career, and he’s an intrinsic leader.”
49ers rule out two defensive starters for Sunday’s Week 15 game vs. Titans
“Bethune, who is tied for the second-most tackles on the 49ers, will sit out his third game in a row. Bethune has 64 tackles on the season.
Okuayinonu will be out for his second game. He started nine of the 49ers’ first 12 games and has two sacks on the season.“
Kyle Shanahan shares final updates ahead of 49ers-Titans Week 15 matchup
“I only talk to people when they’re not getting the ball when I know how much you guys are hounding them for not getting the ball. Those are the things that I don’t need to tell a guy that, if I go up to a guy and say, ‘hey, don’t worry, I still have confidence in you,’ if someone comes and says that to me, I’d be like, ‘I wasn’t worried you didn’t, what the hell happened?’ I hope my wife never tells me that for no reason. I think she genuinely likes me. So no, I don’t do that at all. But, I do feel for guys, big time, in this day and age and just how that stuff goes, that they’ve got to answer to a lot of stuff and all about stats and everything, and this is a different sport. There’s 22 people on the field and stats get a lot of people attention in a good way and they also give people the attention in a bad way. But, when it comes to our world, the football world, and what we do in these rooms and watching film, there’s no need for me to explain anything. [Ricky] understands it.”
Five 49ers to keep an eye on in post-bye matchup vs. Titans in Week 15
“The recipe for Tennessee will likely consist of repeated handoffs to Pollard, who rushed for 161 yards and two touchdowns against the Cleveland Browns. The 49ers must avoid missed tackles. Most of Pollard’s yards came on two plays: touchdown runs of 65 and 32 yards.
Winters cannot allow Pollard to turn the corner and get upfield at full speed. He takes on a lot more responsibility with the injuries to the 49ers’ top two middle linebackers, Fred Warner and Tatum Bethune.“
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