NFC Notes: Cardinals, 49ers, Rams, Seahawks

“I played football, baseball, basketball growing up my whole life. I miss basketball — I didn’t get to play as much as I may have wanted to. But I miss baseball, for sure, just being in the box, being out there with the guys competing,” Murray said in an interview with CBS Sports. “But I know I’m where supposed to be at. If I had chosen baseball, I’d be missing football a lot more. For me, I wish I could do both. I definitely feel like I could. I never say never, but as of right now, I’m having fun doing what I love.”

49ers

Regarding recent questions about 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo‘s future with the team, HC Kyle Shanahan said that he expects Garoppolo to be their starting quarterback next season and that they can still compete for a playoff spot. 

“I expect Jimmy to be our starter next year,” Shanahan said, via Matt Barrows of The Athletic. “I mean, I expect him to come and play with us this year. We have six games left. We are not out of the playoffs yet. I’ve been on a team that was 3-6 going into the bye week that ended up winning their division.”

Although Shanahan reiterated that the 49ers must make the playoffs, he said that they have not made any decisions about Garoppolo’s future. 

“We’ve got to (make the playoffs) one game at a time and I hope Jimmy can be a part of that, but to think that we’ve made any decisions on anybody going into the future isn’t the case,” Shanahan said. “Jimmy has won a lot of games for us … It’s a lot harder to win games when he’s not here. Just hoping we can get him back” this season.”

• Shanahan said he is hopeful that RB Tevin Coleman, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, WR Deebo Samuel, RB Raheem Mostert, and CB Richard Sherman will all be available to play against the Rams on Nov. 29. (Matt Maiocco)
• Shanahan is also hoping Garoppolo will be able to play later this season and recently stopped using a boot for his high-ankle sprain. (Maiocco)

Rams

The NFL doesn’t have a lot of patience for specialists. Before 2019, K Greg Zuerlein was one of the most reliable and effective kickers in the league, especially for Rams HC Sean McVay‘s first three seasons. But Zuerlein, impacted by a groin injury, struggled in 2019 with just 72 percent accuracy on kicks. The Rams elected to move on to go younger and cheaper, but they didn’t find better. Zuerlein has been great for the Cowboys and Los Angeles is on its third kicker of the season. 

“Sometimes you don’t realize how good you have it until you don’t anymore, and I think that’s the honest answer,” McVay said via SI.com’s Eric Williams. “I think it’s been a struggle. It’s been something that I know we’re working on and guys are certainly trying to get it figured out.”

Seahawks

Turnovers have been a major problem for Seahawks QB Russell Wilson in recent weeks as Seattle has slipped to 6-3 after starting the season 5-0 before the bye week. Wilson has turned the ball over 10 times in the Seahawks’ three losses including fumbles and he already has 10 interceptions on the season. He acknowledged the need to protect the ball better but also said he’s not going to dial back his aggressiveness. 

“You may slip and fall a little bit,” Wilson said via ESPN’s Brady Henderson. “You’ve got to just keep climbing. I think Vince Lombardi said something about that one time. I think he talked about the man who’s on top of the mountain didn’t just get there. It’s so true. I think that as a team, there’s always challenges . . . The guys that can keep getting up and keep swinging, those are the players and those are the teams that keep overcoming. What I do know about myself is I’m an overcomer. I’ve been doubted before. One thing about me is I’m going to keep swinging.”

• Seahawks HC Pete Carroll told reporters on Wednesday that RB Chris Carson will be a game-time decision, but Carlos Hyde is likely to play and start. (Michael-Shawn Dugar)