NFC Notes: 49ers, Rams, Seahawks

49ers

49ers’ QB Jimmy Garoppolo says that his ankle is feeling well and that he is ready to reclaim his job from backup QB Nick Mullens.

“Ankle is feeling really good right now,” Garoppolo said, via Pro Football Talk. “Got the last couple of weeks off to get it right. The training staff, I tip my hat to those guys, they did a great job with me, just preparing me and everything. But as far as getting out there, I mean, we’ve had the whole week to work on it. So it’s feeling pretty good right now. I’ve had normal ankle sprains, never had a high ankle sprain. So this was a first and I kind of just thought it was going to be like a normal ankle sprain that I could come back and just trying to get myself mentally prepared each week. So I was kind of talking to myself, telling myself, ‘Hey, I could play this week. I’ll be all right.’ And just, it took a little time, but I’m glad to be back out there with the guys. It feels great.”

Rams

Rams’ DC Brandon Staley is excited about the return of S Jordan Fuller from injury and said that Fuller is exactly the type of safety that Los Angeles covets.

“The way we play, our defense, we are looking for safeties who can play in the deep part of the field,” Staley said, via Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic. “We are not looking for strong safeties, because we view those guys as linebackers. We want guys who can operate in the deep part of the field. … (Fuller is) an ideal scheme fit for us.”

Even though Staley likes the way Fuller fits the Rams’ defensive scheme, he still has an appreciation for veteran S John Johnson III.

“I know I’ve been telling you guys, but I love talking to John Johnson on that headset,” Staley added. “It gives me so much confidence knowing that he’s on the other end of that line and he’s so steady, he’s so calm. He’s such a competitor, can take the game plan — and the way you say it to the guys matters, too. Sometimes — it’s coming into the headset, you guys could probably imagine Sean McVay, how he sounds sometimes and me sometimes — so sometimes it’s translating that with the right spirit, the right emotion, and being able to say things the right way and give that last extra reminder to the guys. He’s just been awesome.”

Rams’ OC Kevin O’Connell addressed the fact that QB Jared Goff has not made many deep throws so far this season.

“I think Jared has been really, really good about being smart about putting the ball in play, throwing completions,” O’Connell said. “He’s been really accurate. As the season progresses, I’m sure those plays will present themselves. But it’s never anything you want to press or try to force because normally when you do that, the defenses in this league can take advantage of that and bad things can happen.”

• Rodrigue believes that with the injuries to their linebackers, S Taylor Rapp may play more snaps even when Fuller returns from injury and reclaims his starting spot.
• The Rams’ linebacker group has performed surprisingly well, and Rodrigue is becoming less concerned with their lack of depth due to Staley’s use of hybrid safeties.
• While she believes that rookie WR Van Jefferson has a lot of potential and will eventually be the Rams’ No. 3 receiver this season, Rodrigue notes that the team is likely going with veteran WR Josh Reynolds because he has been performing well.
• Jourdan Rodrigue notes that the Rams likely want to re-sign DT Eric Banks to their practice squad after cutting him loose from the active roster on Saturday. 
• McVay mentioned that he would be surprised if CB Troy Hill didn’t play, despite being listed as questionable.

Seahawks

Seahawks’ DC Ken Norton Jr. had good things to say about DB Ryan Neal, who has two interceptions this season and has done quite well as a replacement for S Jamal Adams.

“Ryan is the type of kid who sucks up all the information,” Norton Jr. said, via Jen Mueller of Seahawks.com. “Once it’s his time to play, you can see all the information. He’s able to use it and put himself in a position to be very impactful.”

• Seahawks’ HC Pete Carroll says that Iupati will be “fine” and adds that Dunbar is likely to play in Sunday’s game.
• Carroll thinks that Adams will be ready after the Seahawks’ bye week, meaning that he will miss two games: “I recognize that only as a strength and a positive, so we’ve worked our way through it. It’s why I made the declaration for him early (that he wouldn’t play Sunday) so that we’re not hanging with it during the week. We want to make sure and get him right.” (Brady Henderson)