While our Hawks were busy snagging a hard-fought W against the New England Patriots, chalking up a 13-10 final score, the San Francisco 49ers dropped their first inactive list of the season, and it’s all about going veteran. Six players on rookie deals are out for their game against the Rams: QB Kurtis Rourke, CB Ephesians Prysock, RB Jordan James, WR Jordan Watkins, LB Tatum Bethune, and OT Enrique Cruz. This isn’t just a list of names, folks; it tells you exactly how Kyle Shanahan plans to roll, and it’s gonna mean big things for some of their top guys.
Deebo Samuel Is About To Be Unleashed
With only two running backs active, the writing is on the wall: Deebo Samuel is about to have a pivotal role out of that backfield. We all know Deebo is a beast, an absolute nightmare to tackle, and the 49ers clearly trust him to take on a heavier workload against the Rams. He’ll still be a monster in the passing game, don’t get it twisted, but expect to see him lined up more as a running back. This also signals the team is ready to give Kaelon Black touches, which is smart. Shanahan himself said this past offseason he regretted not involving more running backs last season, even if it means taking Christian McCaffrey off the field for a bit. The goal’s clear: keep McCaffrey fresh for the grind of the season’s final stretch.
The Wideout Shake-Up and Special Teams Surprise
With Jordan Watkins inactive, the wide receiver corps for the 49ers will feature Mike Evans, De’Zhaun Stribling, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, and KhaDarel Hodge. If Deebo is doing more damage underneath, that could open the door for Cowing to step up and be the guy who stretches the field for Brock Purdy. And hey, don’t be surprised if Purdy spreads the ball around a ton. While we haven’t heard much from Robinson recently with Stribling’s rise, Shanahan’s history tells us he leans on veterans in Week 1, and Robinson fits that bill. On the defensive side, it’s a mild upset that Tatum Bethune is inactive. Apparently, Brant Boyer was looking for a specific body type on special teams units that Bethune didn’t provide. But let’s be real, seeing rookies inactive isn’t shocking; these guys weren’t drafted to be immediate contributors in 2026 anyway.
So, while our Seahawks are kicking off their season with a hard-fought victory, it’ll be interesting to see how the 49ers’ veteran-heavy approach plays out against the Rams. Keep an eye on Deebo Samuel; he’s about to carry a massive load. For us? We’ll be riding that 13-10 high and looking forward to what our Hawks do next!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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