The 49ers face the Eagles in Philadelphia Sunday in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship Game, and a game which will go a long way to determining playoff seeding.
Brock Purdy returns to Lincoln Financial Field, where he suffered a torn UCL in his throwing arm on the 49ers’ opening drive of that 31-7 loss last January that left the Niners short of a Super Bowl berth.
Here are live updates from the game:
11:41, 3Q – 49ers 21, Eagles 6: San Francisco marched 75 yards in just seven plays to open the second half, with Deebo Samuel taking an end-around 12 yards for a touchdown. The prior play was an off-schedule pass to Christian McCaffrey down the left sideline for 33 yards on third-and-3, and Jauan Jennings also had a key third-down catch on the drive.
0:38, 2Q – 49ers 14, Eagles 6: The Niners make their second long drive of the second quarter, covering 90 yards over 10 plays. Christian McCaffrey capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run as the 49ers never faced a third down on their way down the field. A 25-yard catch-and-bruising-run by George Kittle sparked the drive.
7:10, 2Q – 49ers 7, Eagles 6: The 49ers finally get their offense rolling for an 85-yard, 11-play drive capped by a Brandon Aiyuk touchdown catch from 2 yards out. The Niners converted three third downs, including the scoring play, which came after an Eagles offside penalty gave them a second shot, and Aiyuk made a diving catch that held up after review.
4 straight games with a TD for Brandon Aiyuk
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: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/xvCjbLUIcN pic.twitter.com/NnY3g1xE9S— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2023
2:01, 1Q – Eagles 6, 49ers 0: Another 12-play drive for Philly ends in a field goal. Jake Elliott makes from 39 yards out after Javon Kinlaw’s first sack since 2020 on a Jalen Hurts slip-down forced the Eagles off schedule inside the red zone. Another third-down A.J. Brown catch-and-run kick-started the drive.
9:51, 1Q – Eagles 3, 49ers 0: Philadelphia drives 67 yards in 12 plays to set up a 26-yard field goal by Jake Elliott on its opening possession. A.J. Brown took a short pass on third-and-9 for 38 yards to earn the Eagles’ initial first down, but Charvarius Ward knocked down a third-down pass to Brown in the end zone to force the Eagles into the field goal attempt.
Below are our pregame notes:
PHILADELPHIA — Defensive end Nick Bosa’s toe injury, which surfaced on the 49ers’ injury report Friday, will not keep him out of today’s game against the host Eagles.
A teammate stepped on Bosa’s toe in practice, and he ran multiple sprints to test it out afterward, according to a team source. He showed no hindrance as he warmed up in his usual, Jordan-brand cleats.
It is not a similar injury to what sidelined left guard Aaron Banks for two games last month, as Banks had sustained a hyperextended toe and was rushed back a game earlier than expected to participate in the Thanksgiving Night win at Seattle.
Bosa, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, has a team-leading eight sacks and an NFL-leading 29 quarterback hits. He has five of the 49ers’ 15 sacks in the last three games — wins at Jacksonville, against Tampa Bay and at Seattle.
NEW RETURNER
Return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud (rib) will not suit up for the first time this season, likely thrusting Ronnie Bell into the precarious role of fielding punts and kicks.
McCloud was listed as questionable, as were defensive tackle Arik Armstead (foot) and Jordan Mason (hamstring). Mason and Armstead are active.
McCloud ranks 15th in the NFL with an average of 8.5 yards on 22 punt returns, with a long of 19 yards and nine fair catches. Bell’s only punt return this season went for 8 yards last month at Jacksonville. McCloud has averaged 22.5 yards on 10 kick returns; the 49ers’ only other return was Jordan Mason’s 12-yarder two games ago against Tampa Bay.
OTHER INACTIVES
Rounding out the 49ers’ inactive list are running back Ty Davis-Price, linebacker Jalen Graham, defensive end Robert Beal Jr., tight end Brayden Willis, offensive lineman Ben Bartch and quarterback Brandon Allen.
Allen has not played a snap this season as the emergency quarterback. The 49ers only had two available quarterbacks last visit to Philadelphia as Brock Purdy (elbow) and Josh Johnson (concussion) were injured in that 31-7 loss in the NFC Championship Game.
EAGLES VETS ACTIVE
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (groin) and right tackle Lane Johnson (groin) will suit up for the Eagles. Tight end Dallas Goedert (forearm) headlines their inactive list, which also includes leading tackler Zach Cunningham, running back Rashaad Penny, guard Sua Opeta and emergency quarterback Tanner McKee.
SLICK WEATHER
Morning showers have given way to misty, grey conditions, and while the football surely will be slick, it’s apparently not enough to prompt Brock Purdy to wear a glove on his throwing hand, at least in pregame warmups.
The official kickoff weather: 52 degrees, 98% humidity, 5 mph winds, 6% chance of rain.
INACTIVE LIST
Listed Friday as questionable were defensive tackle Arik Armstead (foot), running back Jordan Mason (hamstring), and return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud (rib).
SATURDAY CALLUPS
Safety Erik Harris, who signed Wednesday to the practice squad, was elevated to the active roster Saturday, along with wide receiver Chris Conley. Harris should help a special teams unit that lost leader George Odum to a biceps injury last game.
