49ers get out of Dallas game not only unbeaten, but healthy as well
The final score of 42-10 belied the physicality of the opponent in the 49ers’ blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys.
But the 49ers these days are all about good news, and that was the case Monday in the aftermath of the club’s fifth 5-0 start in franchise history.
The 49ers take to the road in Week 6 to face Cleveland (2-2), which is coming off a bye.
The big concern was initially reported as a right biceps injury for guard Aaron Banks, who along with tackle Trent Williams has comprised one of the formidable left sides in the NFL.
Upon further review, Banks didn’t have a biceps injury — the most severe of which could mean a long absence.
“Banks ended up being a shoulder, a mild strain, he’ll be day to day,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said in a conference call with local media. “Any time it’s a biceps you’re obviously nervous about it, and it’s still an injury but not as bad as it could have been.”
Running back Christian McCaffrey, meanwhile, apparently made it through the Dallas game unscathed. McCaffrey gained 51 yards on 19 carries and paid for every yard he got against a Cowboys defense that had him in its sights. He also caught two passes for 19 yards.
McCaffrey took two penalties that had a major wince factor — a facemask on his first carry which jerked his head around and a helmet-to-helmet hit while on a pass route.
“I was talking to him after the game and he was all right and had no reports from the training staff today,” Shanahan said. “But yeah, they were bringing it. They were ready for that game and they hit hard. They didn’t shy away from anything . . . and Christian doesn’t shy away from anything either.”
Shanahan was willing to absolve Dallas and anyone else of malicious intent regarding McCaffrey simply because he understands what they’re up against in defending him.
“I don’t think teams are trying to hit him in the helmet or facemask him,” Shanahan said. “I think people are desperate on how to bring him down . . . when you’ve got a really great player such as Christian, who is fearless, guys are doing everything they can to try and stop him and sometimes when they do that they get penalties for it.”
McCaffrey lost a fumble at the goal line, but also scored on a 2-yard run, his 14th consecutive game with a touchdown counting last season’s playoffs. It wasn’t a statistical night on par with the first four games, but Shanahan had no complaints.
“I thought Christian ran so hard in that game, and he tried to bring it on them every chance he got and had some real good tough runs,” Shanahan said. “There was one I thought we were going to lose three yards and he got five. There was a third-and-2 I thought was blocked for one and he got two-and-a-half. He did some really hard running.”
With Jordan Mason gaining 69 yards on 10 carries capped by a 26-yard touchdown run, Deebo Samuel getting 30 on five attempts and Ty Davis-Price getting 21 yards on six carries, the 49ers rushed 41 times for 170 yards.
And more good news could be on the way. Elijah Mitchell, who has missed the last two games with a knee injury, is day to day and could be available this week. Also available will be newly acquired defensive end Randy Gregory, who arrived by trade from Denver last Friday.
The 5-0 start
A look at the four previous times the 49ers had a 5-0 start and how the season played out:
2019: Won first eight games before a 27-24 overtime home loss to Seattle. Finished 13-3, won NFC Championship, lost Super Bowl LIV 31-20 to Kansas City in Miami.
1990: Opened the season 10-0 before 28-17 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Finished 14-2, Lost 15-13 in NFC Championship Game to the New York Giants while seeking third straight Super Bowl title.
1984: Started the season 6-0 before a 20-7 home loss to Pittsburgh, their only defeat in a 15-1 regular season. Won Super Bowl XIX 38-16 over the Miami Dolphins at Stanford Stadium.
1952: After a 5-0 start, the Buck Shaw-coached 49ers lost 20-17 to the Chicago Bears at Kezar Stadium. It started a downward spiral during which the 49ers stumbled to a 7-5 finish and out of the playoffs.
More to come on this breaking story . . .