The San Francisco 49ers may find a cure for their ailing running game when they meet the New York Giants on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.
The 49ers (5-3) rank last in the NFL with 3.4 yards per carry this season, while the Giants (2-6) are giving up a league-high 5.7 yards per carry. San Francisco has scored only three rushing touchdowns; New York has allowed 10.
As 49ers star Christian McCaffrey was being held to a season-low 25 yards on the ground in last weekend’s 26-15 loss at Houston, the Giants were getting run over by Saquon Barkley (150 rushing yards) and backup Tank Bigsby (104 rushing yards) in a 38-20 loss at Philadelphia.
The Giants know exactly what McCaffrey can do as a two-time NFL leader in scrimmage yards (2019, 2023).
“He’s one of the better players in the league in his position. He’s a mismatch in the passing game, a mismatch in the running game,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said. “They run a wide variety of run schemes. He can run them all. They put him on a wide variety of routes, receiver routes that receivers would run. He can do pretty much everything. He’s a very valuable piece for their offense. He’s extremely good.”
Defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches said the Giants are focusing on doing “the simple things better.”
“That’s what it comes down to,” he said. “The fundamentals, the filling our gaps, getting off blocks — the simple things. And once you do those things, you can take care and eliminate those big runs or those explosive runs and things of that nature.”
New York’s own running game took a devastating blow in the loss to the Eagles, with rookie Cam Skattebo knocked out for the season with a dislocated ankle, fractured fibula and ruptured deltoid ligament.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., who gained 1,123 yards from scrimmage as a rookie last season and began this year as the starter, will resume RB1 duties against the 49ers.
Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart is 2-0 at home since taking over as the starter for the Giants, with wins against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4 and the Eagles in Week 6.
As for San Francisco’s QB situation, Brock Purdy has not played since Week 4 with a toe injury that he originally sustained in the season opener. On Friday, he was deemed questionable for Sunday’s game but coach Kyle Shanahan said Mac Jones will make his seventh start of the season either way.
“He got more reps this week, but we weren’t going to commit to (giving him all of the starter reps in practice), like we did last time,” Shanahan said. “I think it’s easing him back more than last time.”
Jones is 4-2 as the starter in Purdy’s absence. Jones is 0-5 in his career against NFC East opponents.
San Francisco receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) will miss his fifth straight game. Others who will sit out against the Giants are center Jake Brendel (hamstring) and defensive ends Yetur Gross-Matos (knee/hamstring) and Bryce Huff (hamstring).
In addition, five other 49ers join Purdy as questionable. They are guard Ben Bartch (ankle), offensive tackle Spencer Burford (knee), defensive tackles Jordan Elliott (ankle) and Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) and linebacker Dee Winters (knee).
The Giants ruled out a trio of cornerbacks: Paulson Adebo (knee), Cor’Dale Flott (concussion) and Art Green (hamstring). A fourth corner, Rico Payton (groin), is questionable along with safety Jevon Holland (knee).
New York will also be without defensive lineman Chauncey Golston (neck), while tight end Daniel Bellinger (neck) and tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (pectoral) are doubtful.
–Field Level Media
