NFC Notes: 49ers, Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks

49ers

49ers LT Trent Williams said he feels wary about playing at MetLife Stadium in Week 3 against the Giants following their string of injuries in Week 2 versus the Jets. 

“I’d be lying to tell you we’re not going to be thinking about it or it’s not going to go across our minds,” Williams said, via Jennifer Lee Chen of NBC Sports. “But when you’ve got 300-pound linemen in front of you that’s trying to put you on your back, I think the surface falls on the back burner.” 

49ers LB Fred Warner said he is not focusing on the MetLife Stadium playing surface. 

“I’m a big believer of controlling the controllables, doing what I can,” Warner said. “With the playing surface that we’re going to be playing on on Sunday, I have no control over that. I’m letting everyone else handle that in the building and outside.”

Williams reiterated that he is a “little nervous” about Week 3’s game, but intends on playing at a high level. 

“Obviously with seeing people go down, and feeling that turf knowing where it’s at as a playing surface, you do get a little nervous, but I just pray before the game and take it in,” Williams said. “I’m going to go out there and give it my all and whatever happens, happens I guess.” 

• 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said he’s optimistic that WR Deebo Samuel will be back next week and added that he “looks real good” running around and working on the side this week. (Nick Wagoner)
• OUT for Week 3: RB Tevin Coleman (knee), DE Dee Ford (back), QB Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle), LB Dre Greenlaw (quadricep), TE George Kittle (knee), RB Raheem Mostert (knee)
• QUESTIONABLE for Week 3: CB Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring)

Cardinals

Cardinals’ DC Vance Joseph is excited about the team’s current defensive unit and believes that is especially deep.

“This team, it feels special,” Joseph said, via Howard Balzer of SI. “You’ve got great leaders, you’ve got guys that are so unselfish, especially on our side of the ball. We’ve got a lot of guys who can be starters. We have (outside linebacker) Haason Reddick, we have DK (outside linebacker Devon Kennard), we have (inside linebacker) Isaiah Simmons, we’ve got DC (inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell), we’ve got Jordan Phillips up front, (defensive tackle) Angelo Blackson and we have a lot of guys who could be starters. (Outside linebacker) Kylie Fitts had a great camp; he could be a starter for us, but everyone can’t start and it’s been nice to see guys play five snaps, play 50, play 20 and not complain, but just be a star in their role and support their teammates. Every game is different. Some games are going to be passing games, some games are running games, but we have a lot of guys who can play for us. We have great depth right now in our defense and our front seven especially. It’s been nice to see guys take their role and not complain about it. Play five, play 15, play 20 snaps, play three maybe, but just be a star in your role. And all of us, from coaches to players, just play agenda-free football. And that works in this league. If we can continue to do that, it’s going to be a fun season for us whatever happens at the end.”

• OUT for Week 3: C Mason Cole (hamstring), WR Christian Kirk (groin)
• QUESTIONABLE for Week 3: CB Dre Kirkpatrick (neck), DT Jordan Phillips (ankle)

Rams

• Rams’ HC Sean McVay says RB Cam Akers isn’t recovering from his rib injury as quickly as it was originally thought he would. (Lindsey Thiry)
• Rams’ S John Johnson mentioned that the Rams defense is: “Acceptable but not where we want to be.” (Thiry)
• McVay said that rookie DE Terrell Lewis is still progressing well and is expected to return before DT A’Shawn Robinson who will be out until at least midseason. (Rodrigue)
• OUT for Week 3: RB Cam Akers (ribs)
• QUESTIONABLE for Week 3: CB Darious Williams (ankle)

Seahawks

• Tom Pelissero reports that the Seahawks recently gave new titles to Scott Fitterer (Vice President of Football Operations) and Trent Kirchner (Vice President of Player Personnel). 
• Seahawks’ S Jamal Adams is going into the game against the Cowboys with “Just a little edge, a little chip on my shoulder to go out there and continue doing what I’m doing.” (Jon Machota)
• Seahawks’ CB Shaquill Griffin is excited to go against Dallas because his poor outing in the playoffs against them two years ago still haunts him: “It’s a lot of plays I’m expecting to see coming back from 2018, so I’m excited to face them again. I was dealing with a couple injuries then, but I’ll definitely be ready now, so I’m excited about that. But I’m not going to do anything extra … I’m going to play my game.” (Brady Henderson)
• OUT for Week 3: DE Rasheem Green (neck)
• QUESTIONABLE for Week 3: CB Quinton Dunbar (knee), DE Benson Mayowa (groin), T Cedric Ogbuehi (pectoral), CB Neiko Thorpe (hip)