On Sunday, six days after Bears’ just-acquired defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons had a transformative impact on Chicago’s defense, San Francisco 49ers just-acquired defensive tackle DeForest Buckner will make his debut against the Raiders at Levi’s Stadium.
To be clear, Buckner is not in Simmons’ class. That’s reflected in the compensation their new teams gave up to get them. The 49ers dealt a fourth-round pick for Buckner, 32. The Bears traded two first-round selections for Simmons, 29.
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But after Simmons was a 60-minute menace in a 34-17 win at Seattle, Buckner will be part of a defensive line that will welcome back All-Pro pass rusher Nick Bosa, who has missed the past five games with a calf injury.
That is, could Buckner and Bosa, a duo with eight Pro Bowl selections between them, combine to have a Simmons-esque effect on the 49ers’ defense?
Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is eager to find out.
“To see these guys … for the first time this year,” Morris said. “I think it’d be a lot of fun.”
Nick Bosa (97) and DeForest Buckner (99) celebrate Buckner’s sack of quarterback Kirk Cousins in the fourth quarter as the San Francisco 49ers played the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC divisional round on Jan. 11, 2020, at Levi’s Stadium. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle)
Before last week’s bye, the 49ers defensive front face-planted in a 29-20 loss at Atlanta on Oct. 25. After collecting nine sacks in their previous two games, the 49ers managed just three QB pressures, their fewest since Dec. 22, 2024.
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All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner said he was excited to play behind a line that will now include Buckner, Bosa and Osa Odighizuwa, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Dallas.
“It helps when you have really talented players on the defensive line,” Warner said. “It makes my job easier.”
The new-look line will face a challenge. Raiders QB Kirk Cousins isn’t mobile, but the 15-year veteran’s quick release is a major reason why Las Vegas has allowed 11 sacks, matching the fourth fewest in the NFL.
Cousins cooking: At 38, surrounded by a less than stellar supporting cast, Cousins is continuing to show why Kyle Shanahan was eager to reunite with him when he became the 49ers head coach in 2017.
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Cousins ranks second in the NFL with 19 passing touchdowns, putting him on pace for a career-best 40. Cousins is third in passing yards (2,124) and seventh in passer rating (101.4).
Morris isn’t surprised by Cousins’ late-career success. Morris spent the past two seasons as the Falcons head coach when Cousins made 22 starts for Atlanta.
“Shortly after (Cousins) leaves, (tight end) Kyle Pitts signs a big contract, (wideout) Drake London signs a big contract, (running back) Bijan signs a big contract,” Morris said. “Those guys are great players, but you can’t do that without the help of your quarterback.”
Shanahan was Washington’s offensive coordinator and his dad, Mike, was the head coach when Washington selected Cousins with a fourth-round pick in 2012 despite using the No. 2 pick on QB Robert Griffin III.
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After spending two seasons with Cousins, Shanahan anticipated signing Cousins in 2018 when he became a free agent. However, the 49ers pivoted when then-Patriots head coach Bill Belichick contacted them about trading for Jimmy Garoppolo, whom they acquired for a second-round pick.
“We made the (Garoppolo) trade, but then there were some days when Kyle Shanahan was, like, in mourning,” general manager John Lynch said in March 2018. “Because I think everybody knows his master plan was to have Kirk Cousins come in eventually.”
San Francisco vs. Oakland: It’s been almost seven years since the Raiders last played a game in Oakland. There’s still animosity between the franchise that now resides in Las Vegas and the lone team remaining in the Bay.
“It’s exciting for me because I know it’s exciting for the fans,” Warner said. “I’ve had several people on the outside tell me, ‘Y’all better beat the Raiders.’ It means a lot even though they aren’t in Oakland anymore.
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“They’re the Oakland Raiders this week.”
The rivalry hasn’t come without its faults. The NFL stopped scheduling the annual preseason game between the two franchises after two men were shot in the parking lot of Candlestick Park on Aug. 20, 2011. There was a 10-year hiatus before the Niners and Raiders played another preseason matchup in 2021. The last regular-season matchup came in 2023 in Las Vegas, a 37-34 overtime win for the Niners.
Seven players remain from the 49ers’ 2019 team. One is linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Does he know anything about the storied rivalry?
“A little bit,” he said. “Just coming in early on, you can definitely feel the rivalry and the sense of urgency it was to beat Oakland. But I mean, we still got that now. Nothing’s changed.”
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Another new WR1:
The laundry list of injuries at the wideout position continues to shuffle. This week there was one addition and one subtraction.
Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel remain out for Week 9, and both seem likely to miss at least a few more weeks with respective Achilles and hamstring injuries. Meanwhile, recently healthy veteran Christian Kirk hurt his meniscus this week, according to Shanahan, suggesting his short-lived stint with San Francisco could be over.
As Kirk heads off, another body likely returns: Demarcus Robinson. The 32-year-old veteran who has been on injured reserve since Week 3 with a high ankle sprain is questionable for Sunday after logging three limited practices.
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At the start of the season, Robinson was supposed to be Purdy’s No. 4 wideout behind Evans, Samuel and rookie De’Zhaun Stribling. If he plays Sunday, Robinson will be Purdy’s No. 1 receiver.
It’s only Week 9.
The 49ers hope to survive with Robinson, Jordan Watkins, Brandin Cooks, Jacob Cowing and KhaDarel Hodge as their group of pass catchers this week. Robinson caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from Purdy during Week 1 in Australia, then caught three passes for 34 yards before going down in the second quarter in Week 2.
“He’s just a good juice guy,” tight end George Kittle said of Robinson. “Brings the vibes. I love him. He’s gonna make a lot of plays for us.”
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This article originally published at Could 49ers duo of DeForest Buckner and Nick Bosa unleash a Jeffery Simmons-like effect?.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
