49ers vs. Seahawks Week 4 Live Blog
SANTA CLARA -- This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers' Week 4 game against the Seattle Seahawks. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.
10:45 George Kittle will play through a calf injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Kittle first injured his calf Week 1, which explains why the 49ers weren't getting him the ball much the first two weeks of the season -- they were managing his calf injury.
Week 3, the 49ers needed a big performance for Kittle to beat the Packers, and he delivered, particularly on the 49ers' final drive with a long catch to set up a touchdown. But he reinjured his calf during that long catch, and missed both Wednesday and Thursday practices. So he's far from 100 percent.
Kittle is playing because he's a competitor and a captain and because the 49ers need him. They can't afford to lose a second game in a row with a difficult Arizona Cardinals team waiting next week.
But don't expect the 49ers to make Kittle sprint downfield often. Expect him to block, catch a few passes in the flat and break a few tackles. If they use him too much, he could seriously injure his calf, and the 49ers could lose him for much longer.
10:52 Running back Elijah Mitchell will not play, according to Schefter. Which means the 49ers have the same group of running backs they had last week -- Trey Sermon, Kerryon Johnson, Jacques Patrick and Trenton Cannon. Hopefully, someone other than Sermon will get to carry the ball in this game, unlike last week.
11:38 Here are the 49ers' inactives:
Cornerback K'Waun Williams
Cornerback Josh Norman
Running back Elijah Mitchell
Guard Aaron Banks
Defensive tackle Zach Kerr
11:40 Here are the Seahawks' inactives:
Wide receiver Dee Eskridge
Linebacker Benson Mayowa
Tackle Brandon Shell
Defensive end L.J. Collier
Tackle Jamarco Jones
Cornerback John Reid
12:07 The 49ers need to actually use their running backs in this game. How much end arounds can they call for Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk before they get injured?
12:35 Based on pregame warmups, it appears Dre Kirkpatrick will start opposite Emmanuel Moseley at cornerback.
1:03 The 49ers win the toss and defer. The Seahawks will receive the opening kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
1:07 On 3rd and 4 from the Seahaks 31, the 49ers blitz and Russell Wilson throws an errant pass intended for D.K. Metcalf, and the Seahwks go three and out. The 49ers tip the punt, and Brandon Aiyuk returns it 10 yards to the 49ers 29.
1:14 On 2nd and 4 from the Seahawks 21, Jimmy Garoppolo throws a play-action touchdown pass to Ross Dwelley. Beautiful throw. Even better catch. Great start to the game for the 49ers. Easy drive for them. Their receivers were wide open, and the man coverage against Dwelley was horrible.
Mitch Wishnowsky makes the extra point. Robbie Gould has a groin injury and is questionable to return.
49ers 7, Seahawks 0.
1:20 On 3rd and 7 from the Seahawks 39, Dee Ford beats the Seahawks right tackle and sacks Russell Wilson, and the Seahawks go three and out again. They haven't picked up a first down yet.
1:26 On 3rd and 4 from the 49ers 35, Garoppolo forces a pass over the middle to George Kittle and gets intercepted by Seahawks free safety Quandre Diggs. Seahawks ball at the 49ers' 38. Horrible throw. Garoppolo never saw him.
1:28 On 3rd and 7 from the 49ers 35, Nick Bosa sacks Wilson for an eight-yard loss, and knocks the Seahawks out of field goal range. The 49ers defense bails out Garoppolo once again. The 49ers have given up just three points of his past three turnovers.
1:31 Mohamed Sanu makes a fair catch at the 49ers' 9.
SECOND QUARTER
1:40 On 2nd and 8 from the 49ers 23, Laken Tomlinson gives up a sack to a blitzing linebacker. Two plays later, Wishnowsky misses a 41-yard field goal. It was worth a shot, I guess.
1:45 On 3rd and 15 from the Seahawks 26, Dee Ford sacks Wilson again. The Seahawks still have zero first downs, and they have negative 8 net yards.
1:54 On 3rd and 5 from the 49ers 41, Jimmy Garoppolo throws an incomplete pass intended for Aiyuk, and the 49ers punt. Kittle took a shot to his right knee during that drive and missed a couple plays, but returned.
1:59 On 3rd and 9 from the 8, Emmanuel Moseley breaks up a short pass intended for Metcalf, and the Seahawks go three and out again. They still have no first downs.
2:04 On 3rd and 6 from the 49ers 46, Garoppolo throws an incomplete pass intended for Kittle that gets batted down. The Seahawks were not fooled. The 49ers go three and out. Brandon Aiyuk took a big hit on the punt return and did not play during that series.
2:16 On 2nd and 6 from the 49ers 11, Wilson throws a touchdown pass to Metcalf, who runs over Jimmie Ward on the way to the end zone. The 49ers offense wasted a great first half by the 49ers defense, and now Wilson is in rhythm and the 49ers have no kicker. They need a touchdown drive here. They have 1:54 and 2 timeouts to pull it off.
2:22 On 4th and 2 from the 49ers 46, the 49ers punt. The Seahawks fumble the punt but recover it at their 6 yard line with 38 seconds and two timeouts remaining. Alex Mack injured his right hand or wrist during that series.
Now would be a great time to bench Garoppolo.
THIRD QUARTER
2:40 Trey Lance is in at quarterback. The 49ers say Garoppolo has a calf injury. His return is questionable. On 3rd and 4 from the 49ers 36, Shanahan calls a zone read, Lance keeps the ball and runs for just one yard. Shanahan calle zero passes during that series. The 49ers punt.
2:41 Alex Mack has a hand injury and his return is questionable.
2:46 On 3rd and 10 from the Seahawks 28, Metcalf drops a beautiful deep pass up the right sideline. Emmanuel Moseley was in coverage. The Seahawks punt and down at it at the 49ers 25. Let's see if the 49ers let Lance throw during this series.
2:54 On 3rd and 3 from the 49ers 32, Trey Lance throws an incomplete pass intended for Deebo Samuel. Lance's first two throws of the game were ugly. That's probably why the 49ers should have played him more the first three weeks. Hard to ask him to save you now.
3:02 On 2nd and 8 from the 49ers 16, Arik Armstead gives up a 16-yard touchdown scramble to Russell Wilson. Javon Kinlaw injures himself chasing Wilson to the end zone.
49ers 7, Seahawks 14.
3:06 Trenton Cannon fumbles the kickoff return twice, and the Seahawks recover the second fumble at the 49ers 9. You've got to be kidding me.
3:08 On 2nd and 9 from the 13, Wilson spins away from a sack and throws a touchdown pass to Freddie Swain, who beat Azeez Al-Shaair. This one feels over.
49ers 7, Seahawks 21.
3:14 On 1st and 10 from the 49ers 24, Lance throws a 76-yard touchdown pass to Deebo Samuel, who was wide open. But Wishnowsky misses a 38-yard extra point wide left.
49ers 13, Seahawks 21.
3:21 Trent Williams has cramps and is questionable to return.
3:28 On 2nd and 6 from the 49ers 14, Alex Collins weaves his way through a demoralized 49ers defense and scores.
49ers 13, Seahawks 28.
3:34 On 3rd and 7 from the 49ers 18, Lance gets sacked. He had George Kittle open in the flat. The 49ers go three and out.
3:38 On 3rd and 10 from midfield, Wilson throws an incomplete pass and the Seahawks punt. The 49ers will start from their 20.
3:50 On 4th and 2 from the 48, Lance hands off to Deebo Samuel who gains just 1 yard. Pitiful playcall.
3:50 Trent Williams has an elbow injury and his return is questionable.
3:52 The Seahawks call three straight runs and go three and out. The 49ers will get the ball back with roughly 4:30 left.
4:10 Trey Lance throws a touchdown pass to Samuel on 1st and goal from the 8, then runs into the end zone to pick up the 2-point conversion. One-score game with 1:20 left.
49ers 21, Seahawks 28.
49ers lose. Stay tuned for their grades.
