In less than a week, the 49ers will host the NFC Championship, where they've now appeared for three-straight seasons.
Here's the latest from Santa Clara, where the 49ers held their first practice of the week Wednesday.
The latest on Deebo, and a roster move
As it stands, Deebo Samuel's status is vague. Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Samuel's status would become clearer by Wednesday.
Well, it's Wednesday, and he's not divulging much. Samuel didn't practice with a shoulder injury, but was present on the side field doing sprints. Shanahan's answers were hilariously terse.
"Feeling better," Shanahan said of Samuel.
How much more optimistic does that make Shanahan?
"It makes me feel better," Shanahan said.
And, uh, what, specifically, is this shoulder injury?
"His shoulder hurts," Shanahan said.
Got it. The 49ers are keeping information, understandably, under lock and key. Samuel's status might not become clear until Sunday, or until someone tells Adam Schefter.
Samuel wasn't the only practice absence, though (Nick Bosa and Trent Williams had rest days), nor was he the only injury news. The 49ers opened defensive tackle Kalia Davis' 21-day injured reserve practice window Wednesday, giving him a chance to return this week or for the Super Bowl.
While Samuel was the only injury that affected his presence at practice, the Lions had a litany:
Did not practice: G Jonah Jackson (knee) TE Sam LaPorta (knee) C Frank Ragnow (ankle, toe, knee, back) WR Kalif Raymond (knee)
Limited: LB Alex Anzalone (shoulder, ribs) WR Josh Reynolds (ribs)
Buttering up Jared Goff (except Bosa)
If there's one thing Fred Warner excels at besides playing the position of middle linebacker, it's buttering up opposing teams. He loves to shower them with praise, much like Tom Brady would compliment pass rushers so they'd (hopefully) take it easier on him.
Warner, like just everyone else, was asked about how Jared Goff on the Lions compares to Goff on the Rams. He said he's substantially better now than in Los Angeles.
"A lot better," Warner said. "Not to say that he wasn't good when we played him back when he was with the Rams, but I think he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now with the way that he's playing. I think he finished top three in passing yards this season and I think just his delivery of the football, his decisiveness. Obviously with the amount of playmakers that he has on that side, I think he's the one the one that's leading that group and he's the reason why they're at where they're at right now."
Kyle Shanahan also heaped plenty of praise Goff's way. His answer was something of a bridge between Warner's and Bosa's.
He pointed to the fact that Goff is as good as anyone when he's comfortable in the pocket.
"I think he's shown some of the stuff that he did in LA," Shanahan said. "I mean, Jared, for a number of years, especially, I think 17-18, really 18, he played at an MVP-type level. When they give him a good scheme, when he's got good people around him, Jared is going to always find the spot.
"He's as accurate as any quarterback I've seen. He can play at a very top level. If you sit and make things easy for him, he will gash you. I've seen it over and over, whether it's with the Rams, whether it's with Detroit, that's why he challenges you. You better be on your stuff, or he can embarrass you fast."
Bosa, meanwhile, was a bit more straightforward, finishing Shanahan's thought about "if you sit and make things easy for him." He intimated Goff has vulnerabilities that show up increasingly as he's pressured.
"He is the same guy," Bosa said. "Not saying -- he's played great in Detroit and he's played great in LA. The key is obviously getting pressure on him. He's got a really good O-line, so it makes it tough, but you cover up his first couple reads and you get after him, hit him a few times, it changes things a little bit."
In other words, the 49ers' defensive math is, make Goff's like hard = make your life easy.
High praise for Jauan Jennings and Deommodore Lenoir
The 49ers have multiple tiers of talent. They've got their 1A superstars (Bosa, Williams, Warner, Kittle, etc.), and their 1B stars (Hargrave, Ward, Hufanga, Juszczyk, etc.), but there are two guys who might fit into their own mold.
Those two guys are Jauan Jennings and Deommodore Lenoir. Both are tough, gritty players who came up huge for the 49ers against Green Bay.
Jennings' blocking impact is well documented, as is his capacity for clutch, third-down catches like the leaping one he had between three defenders Saturday night.
He also blocked a defender into the Packers' bench, where their Gatorade cooler was, before getting turned around (which Brandon Aiyuk said he made fun of Jennings for).
Lenoir, meanwhile, played maybe the game of his life. He was everywhere in coverage and as a tackler, frequently showing up for energy-sparking plays.
On Jennings, Kyle Shanahan said that he's probably the most intense run-blocking receiver he has ever coached. He said he had to calm down his defense because they were getting upset with Jennings' blocking in practice.
"What he did taking that guy into the Gatorade, it's what he does every play out at practice," Shanahan said. "Our defense tried to fight him all last year because they thought he was going above and beyond. The next day in the meeting, I had to show them what he does every single play and say, 'It's not personal, this is just how he blocks.'"
Warner said that he hasn't seen Jennings "dump anybody in the Gatorade" during 49ers practice, but agreed with Shanahan's sentiment.
"But that's exactly who he is through and through," Warner said. "He plays the game exactly the way that you want it to be played, especially at that position. I mean, I've said it before: I think he's one of the best football players on our team.
"He doesn't get all the attention or the limelight but you know he's going to be there in the clutch situations when you need him. He's steady eddy as it comes, obviously with the run game stuff and also the pass game. Just a very complete player and really happy is on our side."
The praise was similar for Lenoir. Aiyuk said he was a sparkplug Saturday and that he saw a distinct change in Lenoir that players could feel over the last couple years.
"He was turning me up," Aiyuk said. "He had our whole entire team turnt up on Saturday. We just need him to stay on it."
Kyle Shanahan said he saw Lenoir's toughness and intensity right from the jump... even though a clip he posted to social media cost Shanahan.
"He's the one in rookie camp who got me fined for jamming someone too hard and putting it on the internet," Shanahan said. "So it took me a little time to get over that, but he's always had that mentality.
"I think as all rookies do, you go through some ups and downs early in the year, so I think at times he lost that a little bit. That's more just trying to figure out the mental part, the scheme part of the game. DMo's always been a bulldog. That's why he plays at such a high level."