The Indianapolis Colts are actively seeking to trade defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, according to Jordan Schultz, following the recent trade of guard Quenton Nelson to Seattle. Buckner, a 32‑year‑old former 49ers first‑round pick (2016), is on a two‑year, $46 million extension after an earlier four‑year, $84 million deal. In 2026 he has logged 31 tackles, four sacks, a fumble recovery and three passes defended in seven games. San Francisco, which originally drafted him, is listed as a top candidate for a reunion.
Kyle Shanahan addresses the 49ers' costly Week 7 turnovers, saying no extensive discussion is needed when a ‘dumb mistake’ occurs. He emphasized ball security at halftime after four turnovers—including two critical interceptions by Brock Purdy and a jump‑offsides penalty—hurt the team's win probability, which dropped 41%. While praising the defense for forcing a fourth‑down stop, Shanahan stressed that protecting the ball is non‑negotiable and that the team must avoid such errors to stay competitive.
Perfect records don't last forever, and even the 49ers had to drop a game eventually. As it turns out, they weren't exactly the only team to lose a game unexpectedly this week.
The latest NFL Week 8 power rankings from Blogging The Boys show the Dallas Cowboys climbing to #20 after their Monday night victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite the Eagles’ struggles, the win nudges the Cowboys up from last week’s #24 spot. The rankings still favor the Buffalo Bills (#1) and San Francisco 49ers (#2), with the Detroit Lions surprising at #3. Notable moves include the Chicago Bears at #4, Jacksonville Jaguars #5, and a dip for the Kansas City Chiefs to #12. The list rounds out with the Los Angeles Chargers as the only winless team at #32.
The 49ers suffered their first loss to the Falcons. See where San Francisco ranks in NFL power rankings and which outlets still rank the 6-1 team No. 1.
The 49ers snap their unbeaten run with a 29-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 25, dropping to 6-1 as they head into a bye week. Penalties and four turnovers, plus injuries—including Christian McCaffrey’s calf—sparked a slide in the Week 8 power rankings. ESPN and Yahoo keep San Francisco at No. 1, but Fox Sports drops them to No. 5, CBS to No. 3, and the consensus still ranks them in the top five. The article details each outlet’s rankings and highlights the team’s need to heal key players before returning.
Week 8 fantasy quarterback rankings highlight Josh Allen as the clear top pick, returning after a Bills bye with 1,504 passing yards, nine TDs and 240 rushing yards in six games. Drake Mayen (NE) and Joe Burrow (CIN) also offer strong upside against Miami and Tennessee, respectively. Bye weeks for the Texans, Saints, Giants and 49ers remove several options, while Brock Purdy and C.J. Stroud sit out, prompting managers to consider sleepers like Jacoby Brissett (ARI) – who throws 40+ passes a game – and Kyler Murray (MIN), whose rushing upside could swing his value. The article breaks down each QB’s recent performance and matchup before the critical stretch of the fantasy season.
Kyle Shanahan says the 49ers are optimistic Christian McCaffrey’s mild hamstring strain will heal over the bye. Plus, more injury updates.
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jack Jones struggled on Sunday versus Atlanta and the fact that he got benched does not bode well for his future.
Windy City Gridiron's Week 8 NFL Power Rankings spotlight quarterback play after Week 7. Josh Allen (Buffalo) leads an unbeaten 5-1 Bills, while Brock Purdy (San Francisco) remains an MVP contender despite recent wobbliness. Minnesota’s Kyler Murray earns a C‑ rating despite the Vikings’ perfect record, and Patrick Mahmares (Kansas City) impresses on his ACL comeback. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville) and Jared Goff (Detroit) receive A‑grade marks, with Goff’s 14‑0 TD‑to‑INT ratio highlighted as MVP‑worthy. Caleb Williams (Chicago) also earns an A as the Bears sit 5‑2. The rankings set the stage for the upcoming trade deadline and shifting playoff picture.
The Vikings improve to 6-0 after a 16-10 win over the Colts, thanks to a league‑best defense that allows just 12.3 points per game. Offense remains a concern, averaging only 20.8 points and needing to hit the mid‑20s or higher against a tough upcoming stretch: road games vs. high‑scoring Lions (30.7 ppg) and Bills (32.8 ppg), then the Packers, and a 49ers showdown in Mexico City. Key defensive highlights include a record 85% blitz rate on Colts QB Daniel Jones, four sacks, and Harrison Smith’s 40th career interception. Linebacker Blake Cashman shines with 12 tackles, two sacks, and All‑Pro vibes, while quarterback Kyler Murray shows flashes but must sharpen accuracy to keep the unbeaten run alive.
Entering their Week 8 bye at 6‑1, the San Francisco 49ers sit second in the NFC but still have a key roster gap. While injuries have thinned their receiver corps, the article argues the priority isn’t another wideout but a defensive upgrade. With Nick Bosa still nursing a calf strain and the line struggling to generate pressure, the piece recommends trading for former Niner defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts. Buckner’s interior presence could unlock the 49ers’ defense ahead of tough matchups against the Vikings, Chiefs, Cowboys and Raiders, and help sustain their Lombardi‑trophy push.
Atlanta forced four turnovers to end San Francisco’s unbeaten run.
Week 7 spotlights Indiana alumni across the NFL, highlighted by Kaelon Black’s first career touchdown for the San Francisco 49ers (12 carries for 63 yards, 1 TD). Other standouts include Raiders’ backup QB Fernando Mendoza (6‑of‑8, 48 yards), Giants LB Micah McFadden (10 tackles, 2 TFL), Jets rookie WR Omar Cooper Jr. (5 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TD) and Chiefs tackle Kahlil Benson (53 offensive snaps, starter at left tackle). Several former Hoosiers were inactive or on IR, while practice‑squad players saw limited special‑teams action. The roundup provides snap counts and season totals for each IU alumnus.
Week 7 churned out seven key NFL storylines: Deshaun Watson led the Browns to a 27-24 win over Tennessee with 308 passing yards and a rushing TD; Giants rookie Cam Skattebo broke out with 124 rushing yards in an overtime victory; Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy shone with 252 yards against the Texans, igniting trade‑talk; the 49ers’ loss to Atlanta highlighted the impact of missing Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel; Joe Burrow’s second‑half surge gave Cincinnati a win but exposed a weak run game; Caleb Williams posted 308 yards and two TDs as the Bears finally found offensive rhythm despite Cole Kmet’s season‑ending injury; and the Titans’ defensive woes forced Daniel Jones into early trouble. These takeaways frame the league’s emerging contenders and looming questions heading into the second half of the season.
Former Seahawks and Browns quarterback Seneca Wallace sits down with Dawgs By Nature to recount his winding NFL journey. Drafted by Mike Holmgren in the 2003 fourth round, Wallace filled multiple roles in Seattle, highlighted by a key 34‑yard catch in the 2005 NFC Championship. After a brief, injury‑marred stint with the Browns—including a high‑ankle sprain that limited him to seven starts—he bounced around the Saints, 49ers, and Packers before transitioning to coaching, most recently as the QB coach for the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks. Wallace also reflects on his standout high‑school and Iowa State career, Hall‑of‑Fame honors, and the challenges of playing quarterback at 5‑11″.
Gridiron Experts highlights the top Week 8 waiver‑wire pickups as the season’s injury bounce‑backs reshape lineups. Quarterback Geno Smith (Jets) returns as a solid Superflex/2QB streaming option after a 3‑TD, 287‑yard effort versus Miami, while Miami’s Malik Willis offers upside with his rushing floor despite a tough New England matchup. Running backs Bam Knight (Cardinals) and Jonah Coleman (Broncos) earn flex and RB3 value respectively, with Knight poised for a favorable Dallas clash and Coleman emerging as Denver’s primary back. San Francisco’s Kaelon Black is a cheap handcuff stash behind McCaffrey, and rookie WR Omar Cooper Jr. (Jets) is the must‑add WR3 after two 100‑yard, touchdown weeks. These picks provide low‑risk upgrades as bye weeks mount.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz says the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers are targeting the same defensive talent as the Oct. 10 deadline approaches. Both NFC contenders have expressed interest in Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat (who wants out and carries a $17 M non‑guaranteed salary), Chargers veteran Khalil Mack (35, three sacks, final year), and Colts DT DeForest Buckner (also in his contract’s last year). Sources note the Bears have called about Mack, while the 49ers have historic ties to Buckner. With the Bears at 5‑2 and the 49ers 6‑1, a flurry of 12‑20 trades is expected before the Nov. 10 deadline.
Former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly navigates his expanding broadcasting duties without slipping into bias. While still serving as the team's radio analyst, he now leads Netflix's NFL game coverage and calls regional CBS games, carefully avoiding saying “we” on national platforms. Kuechly cites a fortunate schedule—no Panthers matchups on Netflix or CBS—contrasting his experience with Jason Kelce’s on‑air slip. The ex‑defensive star, a seven‑time Pro Bowler and 2013 Defensive Player of the Year, debuted on Netflix with Noah Eagle for a 49ers‑Rams game in Melbourne and will appear on upcoming Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Week 18 games.
The 49ers have plenty of reasons to part ways with these five underwhelming players at some point over the bye week.
The Falcons edged the 49ers in Week 7, highlighted by a tight‑end‑centric offense that produced two touchdowns for Nick Muse and Kyle Pitts, plus catches from Charlie Woerner and Austin Hooper. Michael Penix Jr. and the offensive line each logged 67 snaps, while Bijan Robinson and Khalil Herbert split the backfield, with Herbert seeing 11 snaps and contributing on kick returns. Defensively, ILB Kendal Daniels led the unit with 66 snaps despite a recent injury, and rookie OLB Charles Snowden recorded two pressures in his debut. Special‑teams snaps were spread across the roster, with Muse logging 20. The article notes potential roster moves for Herbert and James Pearce Jr., and discusses evolving nickel‑package roles for Sydney Brown and A.J. Terrell.
The 49ers have five key issues to address during their bye week, from injuries and turnovers to kicking woes, pass rush concerns, and potential trade targets.
Bye weeks are back, with the 49ers, Giants, Saints, and Texans off in Week 8. If you are looking for […]
Week 7 of the NFL sees the Cowboys rout the Eagles 38-21, while former Purdue Boilermakers shine. Tyrone Tracy Jr. scores a rushing TD for the Giants in a 27-21 win over the Texans, adding a reception and 53 kickoff return yards. Derrick Barnes records six tackles in Detroit’s 20-17 victory over Green Bay, and George Karlaftis notches a tackle‑for‑loss and two QB hits as the Chiefs fall 20-3 to Seattle. Baker Mayfield returns for Tampa Bay, which dominates Carolina 43-13, though Payne Durham remains unused. The 49ers lose 29-20 to Atlanta despite Jalen Graham’s solo tackle, and the Raiders are beaten 35-21 by the Rams.
The Texans, Saints, Giants, and 49ers have a bye this week, giving fantasy managers plenty of hurdles to clear to […]