Kyren Williams anchored the night for the Rams with a versatile, dual-threat performance, while Christian McCaffrey and Puka Nacua supplied the top fantasy fire for SF and LA. Kendrick Bourne flashed a breakout line (10-for-142) and signaled a renewed connection with Mac Jones, amplified by Kyle Shanahan’s scheming. Brock Purdy stayed efficient under pressure, and SF’s receiving corps looked healthier with Jauan Jennings and George Kittle looming as weekly ceiling raisers.

Thursday night’s Rams-49ers showdown centers on injury updates, QB uncertainty, and the ripple effects on both sides’ offenses. Stafford must navigate SF’s front without overcommitting, while McCaffrey and the Rams’ dynamic receiving trio test a banged-up secondary. Puka Nacua’s versatility and Davante Adams’ presence give Los Angeles dangerous options in the short-to-intermediate game. San Francisco counters with run-first rhythm, Brock Purdy or M. Jones at the helm, and a defense missing Nick Bosa, seeking to turn the tide with pressure and scheme.

Front-seven battles and special-teams swing potential fuel the storyline. The Rams’ pass rush, led by Verse and Byron Young, aims to disrupt the SF attack, while the 49ers try to rekindle their hallmark run game and leverage play-action. The outcome hinges on execution in the trenches, clock management, and which team can capitalize on the opponent’s injuries in a primetime setting.

Brock Purdy is back at practice and appears on track to start for the 49ers against Arizona, with the team stressing health over urgency as turf-toe concerns linger. San Francisco’s frontline trio of rookies and veterans is growing more solid, while the defense leans on a rising run-stop front to slow down the Cardinals’ ground game.

The offense is dialing in the McCaffrey era as a true wideback, and young disruptors on the defensive line are giving opponents fits late in games. San Francisco’s depth at tackle, including Williams and Collins, is unlocking a steadier run and pass defense, setting the stage for a tougher Week 3 challenge in a pivotal NFC West clash.