49ers

• According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, securing new contracts for S Talanoa Hufanga and OLB Dre Greenlaw should be top priorities as they are pivotal to the 49ers’ defense.
• San Francisco HC Kyle Shanahan supported this view, stating: “Those are two of the better players I’ve been around and two of the better players on our team and two of the main reasons we’ve had the success we’ve had. So hopefully we can do everything we can to work out keeping them here because they’re as much of examples of 49ers as anyone I can think of.” (Barrows)
• Shanahan also mentioned rookie WR Jacob Cowing‘s increased opportunities as the season comes to a close: “I want him to keep trying to earn it. I think he’s come a long way here in the last month. I know he had that setback with the (Week 12) concussion, missing that game. But I think he’s getting closer to earning more time out there.” (Barrows)
• Barrows speculates that the 49ers may not re-sign CB Charvarius Ward or G Aaron Banks, given the contract of CB Deommodore Lenoir and the team’s reluctance to invest in interior linemen.

Cardinals

• In Week 15, Cardinals RB James Conner climbed to fifth on the all-time rushing yards list for the franchise. (Darren Urban)

Rams

Seahawks

Seahawks LB Ernest Jones IV expressed his satisfaction with the team experience and lauded the in-game communication with HC Mike Macdonald as remarkable.

“Man, I wish y’all could have a day in the life of being in the headset,” Jones remarked, as reported on the team’s website. “It’s fun, it’s fun. He’s always talking to me. I always say, it’s almost like he’s the first DC I’ve had that’s been in the game with us. He sees it through our lens, and he kind of knows what’s coming next.”

Since his mid-season trade from Tennessee, Jones has become a vital asset in Seattle’s defense and has developed a strong rapport with Macdonald that resonates throughout the entire team.

“I just think we see it the same way, we feel the game the same way,” adds Jones. <em“We feel what teams are trying to do to us—we’re not all the way right, but we seem to be right most of the time. I just think the feel that we have for the game is the same; the way we talk about the game, the love of the game, it just all works out together, and we’re able to communicate well.”

Macdonald reciprocated Jones’ sentiments, expressing his appreciation for their effective communication. “I love the guy,” he stated. “Anytime you’re bringing someone to your team, you’re looking forward to building a relationship with them. I just love the person, love the competitor, tough as nails, loves ball. How do you not love guys like that?”