SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Few teams have the star power of the San Francisco 49ers, who feature several of the top players in the game, including Trent Williams, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Christian McCaffrey.
San Francisco's hopes for a major turnaround following an injury-plagued six-win season might depend on a bunch of untested players on the defensive line.
The Niners used three of their top five picks on defensive linemen and will need major contributions from those rookies if they want to get back to the postseason. The early results show signs of promise, but the 49ers know that counting on rookies to make an immediate impact can be a dicey proposition.
“We may not know who they are until the midway point of the season. They’re rookies,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. “As soon as we hit Week 1, it’s going to start all over. They’re going to be leaning on new bodies, new blocking schemes, and they’ve got to learn week to week what they’re putting on tape and understand that part of the game that’s happening in there. Right now, you just want to see those guys play as hard as they can, as violent as they can and you trust that as they get more reps, they’ll learn how to play the game a little bit better and get better every day.”
The results from the new-look defensive line were mixed in the preseason opener against Denver, but the group gets another chance this week with a joint practice against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday and an exhibition game Saturday.
Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek has been pleased with the progress so far from rookies Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, C.J. West and Sebastian Valdez but knows there's a lot more work to do.
“It’s a learning curve, especially coming from the way colleges are kind of constructed and offenses that they see in college compared to jumping into the NFL,” Kocurek said. “It’s even a stronger learning curve than probably it was seven, eight, nine years ago when colleges ran the ball more. Now it’s a lot of the pass game, RPO, up-tempo stuff. So for D-lineman coming from college to the NFL, there’s a learning curve that’s involved in there and it’s getting steeper it seems like every year.”
The 49ers are counting most on Williams, who was drafted 11th overall. He has shown flashes in practice of being the run-stopping defensive end they need but also has dealt with a series of minor injuries, including a hyperextended knee that will prevent him from playing until at least the preseason finale next week.
Collins, the second-round pick, missed the offseason program while recovering from a calf injury and is still getting up to speed.
“He was way far behind the eight ball, and I felt like this past weekend, especially in the game, he took a really, really good step in terms of strain and power at the point of attack,” Saleh said. “I think the next step for him is to get off blocks, play with great pad level, go make some plays.”
The less-heralded players have fared better.
West, picked in the fourth round, has flashed repeatedly in practice with his strong hands, and Valdez, an undrafted rookie out of Washington, has been able to get consistent penetration and is making a serious bid for the roster.
West's power showed up at times against the Broncos, but he also got pushed around on other plays.
“At this level, offensive linemen are smarter, they’re faster, and they know different ways to bend the rules just a little to give themselves an advantage,” he said. "(It) was definitely humbling, going up against the starting offensive line and this other team. There’s a lot to learn in order to get better.”
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San Francisco 49ers defensive end Mykel Williams waits for his turn to run a drill during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Thursday, July 31, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Eagles need a new offensive coordinator.
Ask most fans, commentators — and, privately, some players — and the change from Kevin Patullo was inevitable long before Philadelphia actually made the move this week in the wake of a playoff loss.
There's a “help wanted” sign for the new boss of an offense — one loaded with elite talent such as Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith — that fell way short as the Eagles failed in their bid to win consecutive Super Bowl titles.
Coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman were vague on details Thursday about why they waited until the end of the season to make the move — the Eagles ranked 24th in yards per game (311) and 19th in points per game (19.3) — and less clear on what they wanted out of a new coordinator.
“You’re looking to continue to evolve as an offense, and I’m looking to bring in the guy that’s going to best help us do that,” Sirianni said. “I think that there are many different ways to be successful on offense and everybody has different styles, everybody has different players, and there’s many different ways to be successful.”
The Eagles have plenty of credible candidates to choose from — everyone from Josh McCown and Cam Turner to former NFL coaches Brian Daboll, Mike McDaniel and Kliff Kingsbury. The new OC could have complete autonomy to run the offense, though collaboration has been key under Sirianni.
No matter the coordinator, the Eagles expect to be contenders again after playing in two of the last four Super Bowls. Just winning an NFC East title doesn't cut it these days in Philly.
“If it doesn’t end with confetti falling on our heads, I don’t feel like it’s good enough,” Roseman said. “I know that we’re not going to win the Super Bowl every year. I think I know that from a broad perspective, but I believe we can. I go into every offseason thinking we’re going to do whatever it takes to win a Super Bowl.”
Two-time All-Pro offensive tackle Lane Johnson has built a Hall of Fame-level career and won two Super Bowls since the Eagles made him a 2013 first-round pick.
Retirement talk was a hot topic for most of the season.
Johnson turns 36 in May and did not play after Week 11 because of a foot injury. He did not talk to the media this week when the Eagles cleaned out their lockers.
Roseman kept private his conversation with Johnson about retirement. Johnson reworked his contract last May and is signed through 2027.
“You're talking about a Hall of Fame player who’s been a huge, huge part of any of our success that we’ve had, and when you watch him play, he’s still playing at an elite level,” Roseman said.
Brown is likely staying put.
While he isn't shy about airing his grievances, the wide receiver is often worth the distractions because of his production.
Just not this season.
Brown had 78 receptions (down from 106 in 2023) for 1,003 yards (he had 1,496 in 2022) and only five 100-yard games. Of course, some of that dip in production resulted from how he was used in Patullo's offense. The changes ahead are one reason why the Eagles are in no rush to give up on the 28-year star — along with the $43 million dead salary cap hit they'd take if Brown wasn't on the roster.
“It is hard to find great players in the NFL and A.J.’s a great player,” Roseman said. “I think from my perspective, that’s what we’re going out and looking for when we go out here in free agency and in the draft is trying to find great players who love football, and he’s that guy. I think that would be my answer.”
Special teams coach Michael Clay had a virtual interview Thursday for the same job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Sirianni also hasn't ruled out Patullo staying on the staff in a different role.
“I know Kevin’s going to have other opportunities, and obviously always want what’s best for Kevin and for his family, so we’ll see how that plays out,” Sirianni said.
Patullo could want a fresh start after his house was egged earlier this season and one area indoor golf establishment let fans hit golf balls into a photo of his face after the playoff loss.
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Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Eagles executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman, left, looks over as head coach Nick Sirianni, right, speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, right, and executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman, left, speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
