NFC West Notes: Cardinals, 49ers, Rams, Seahawks

49ers

The 49ers have invested significant capital in the front seven of their defense in recent years. That includes multiple top-ten draft picks like Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, Solomon Thomas and Nick Bosa, as well as a trade for former first-round DE Dee Ford and signing LB Kwon Alexander to a massive deal in free agency. That’s paid major dividends to San Francisco’s unbeaten start to the 2019 season. 

“When we got here our goal was to build a defense, build a defensive line,” 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “Lots of teams have won the Super Bowl with a dominant defense and not a very good offense. But it’s rare the other way around. I know how hard it is to go up against a really good d-line. I know they invested in the years before we got there. I know John and I, we’re looking to do it almost every year. It’s helped us out, especially getting Bosa this year, it makes a huge difference. … That was definitely our first goal when we got here, to get to where we had a top-five defense.”

Cardinals

• Per Darren Urban of the team website, Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury says the team is excited to add CB Patrick Peterson back into the mix following his six-game suspension: “We want to put him back in and get him rolling.”

Rams

After dropping their third game in a row in a 20-7 loss to the 49ers on Sunday, the Rams now sit at 3-3 on the season with plenty of questions. The offense led by HC Sean McVay and QB Jared Goff has looked more like the unit that was shut down in the Super Bowl than the one that became the standard the rest of the NFL aspired to reach. The offensive line has taken a step back, RB Todd Gurley‘s role was declining even before he was hurt and the defense hasn’t always been able to cover up for the faults on the other side of the ball. Still, the Rams aren’t panicking — yet. 

“It’s a gut check. Are you who you say you are? I know this team is — I know these players are — I know these coaches are,” Goff said via Pro Football Talk. “We’ve got so much faith and belief in Sean and everyone else. We’re going to get right back on track, we’re going to do it, and, again, it takes a few plays here and there. We’ve seen it, we’ve done it, we’ve watched it on film, we know what we’re doing. We just need to be consistent with it and — play-in and play-out — stay focused and don’t let the little things slide.”

• Ian Rapoport reports that there is a chance Gurley (quad) is able to return in Week 7. 

Seahawks

• Per John Boyle, the Seahawks anticipate having OT Duane Brown return to the field either this week or next. 
• The NFL officially lifted DT Jarran Reed’s suspension on Monday. Seattle received a roster exemption for Reed.
• Regarding Reed, Carroll said: “We’re expecting that he’ll be able to help us this week. We don’t know how much.” (Brady Henderson)