SANTA CLARA — Nick Bosa stood at the same spot in front of his locker and talked about Baker Mayfield, only Wednesday’s words came out more endearing than four years ago.
“He’s definitely scrappy, and he’s tougher than he looks in the pocket with escapability and athleticism,” Bosa said.
Sorry, folks, Bosa no longer feels the need to needle Mayfield about a college feud from their days at Ohio State and Oklahoma, respectively.
“I’ve never had anything against him. It was just a joke as a rookie,” Bosa said of his antics in an October 2019 win over Mayfield and the visiting Cleveland Browns. “It was fun. My celebrations as a rookie were pretty good.”
Now, Bosa wouldn’t mind repeating his shoulders-shrug sack dance a few times Sunday, when Mayfield returns to Levi’s Stadium with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) for a cross-country matchup with the 49ers (6-3).
Bosa said he had a nice time meeting Mayfield off the field at this past February’s Phoenix Open golf tournament during Super Bowl week, and, in turn, Mayfield harbors no grudge over Bosa’s rookie-year showcase.
“It’s fun. He’s a good guy, obviously a great competitor and a stud,” Mayfield told reporters in Tampa. “He’s one of those challenges you look forward to going against and competing with.”
Bosa was named NFC Player of the Week on Wednesday for this past Sunday’s 34-3 win at Jacksonville, where he had 1 1/2 sacks, forced a fumble that he recovered, and hit Trevor Lawrence as he threw an interception to Talanoa Hufanga.
Back in 2019, Bosa also was named the NFC Player of the Week for his breakout performance against Mayfield. Bosa was only four games into his NFL career — on his way to a Super Bowl and rookie-of-the-year honors — when he thoroughly enjoyed that 31-3 Monday night win. He had two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery — the first 49ers player in 25 years with such a combination.
After one sack, Bosa celebrated by waving and planting an imaginary flag to mimic and mock Mayfield’s moves after an Oklahoma win at Ohio State two years earlier. At his locker afterward, Bosa noted that he usually doesn’t talk trash, however, “this game he had it coming. But he didn’t say one word back. I was just screaming his name like, ‘Ba-ker! Ba-ker! You good? Come on, pick it up. We want a challenge?’ ”
Admiring that show back at Ohio State was Chase Young, who has been reunited with Bosa after last month’s trade.
“You know, you get to chirping, we just might chirp back. That’s it,” Young said. “… Great quarterback. Played him in college. We have to do everything in our power to pay attention to details and just take care of our job.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan said he has “a lot of respect” for how Mayfield plays. This season, that includes 14 touchdowns, five interceptions, 16 sacks and a 64.6 completion percentage for Mayfield. He was the Browns’ No. 1 overall draft pick in 2018, then he was traded to Carolina last season to unseat Sam Darnold (currently the 49ers’ backup), and Mayfield then joined the Rams to start their final four games last season.
“Guys probably didn’t expect him when he was going to the Bucs to play as great as he’s been playing,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “He’s playing really well, getting the ball to his playmakers.”
The 49ers beat Mayfield last October when he was with Carolina. Bosa left that game in the first half with a groin injury, and without a sack or hit against Mayfield.
“It was a physical game, I’ll say that,” Mayfield said. ” … Playing San Francisco at any time, no matter who you’re with, they’re going to be physical. They’re going to line up and have a really good game plan. They’ve had great players a lot of years. Their front is amazing, but it allows those linebackers to play free, and those are two really smart linebackers. Their recognition of plays is a huge difference, going up against their defense, you have to be on time.”
BEST ATHLETE EVER?
NFL rushing leader Christian McCaffrey has a strong reason why he said it was fun to run behind left tackle Trent Williams.
“He’s obviously, he might be, the best player I’ve ever seen,” McCaffrey said. “When he’s out there, it gives everybody a little boost of confidence.”
Williams, along with wide receiver Deebo Samuel, returned Sunday from a two-game hiatus. Williams took his usual Wednesday off from practice to rest his 35-year-old body, as well as his Oct. 15 ankle injury.
“He’s better than a lot of the people who play. He’s really good,” McCaffrey said. “There’s nothing he can’t do. He plays beyond X’s and O’s. He does things other people can’t do. And he’s been doing it a long time.”
TOUCHDOWN RECORD REVIEW
Three days later, McCaffrey did not sound miffed that he was unable to score Sunday, thus remaining tied with Lenny Moore for the NFL’s all-time record of scoring a touchdown in 17 straight games.
“That was a huge honor for me, because I had gone back and looked at not just his statistics but the film,” McCaffrey said. “He’s a special player, a special back, and someone who did a lot off the field as well. Just to have my name mentioned with his name means a lot to me.”
The 49ers were up 31 points when McCaffrey re-entered with six minutes remaining to try breaking the touchdown record, to no avail. His 19-yard run got them to the 10-yard line, and a catch and carry moved them to the 3, but another carry and a fourth-down incompletion kept him out of the end zone.
McCaffrey was grateful to Shanahan for those attempts.
“He didn’t have to do that,” he said. “A lot of people probably would tell him not to but the fact he did means a whole lot to me.”
PURDY FILM ANALYSIS
Shanahan loved the result but held firm that Brock Purdy made the wrong decision to throw across the field and over traffic on his first touchdown pass Sunday, to Brandon Aiyuk for a 7-0 lead
“He knows when he makes a bad decision and he’s fun to talk to about it and to coach,” Shanahan said.
As for Purdy’s second touchdown, a 66-yard shot to George Kittle from a collapsing pocket Shanahan said: “I see Kittle’s release, I look back to the pocket and can’t see anybody, and it looks like somebody is throwing a grenade out of a bunker.”
Shanahan turned his back to the play and walked away in relief while Kittle went on to walk into the end zone.
“I’m not trying to look cool. It was a stressed-out type of reaction. Exhaled. I knew no (defender) was behind him,” Shanahan said. “I didn’t have to look and make sure he didn’t trip over the goal line. I counted on him not to.”
OFFENSIVE LINE ISSUES
Left guard Aaron Banks already has been ruled out for a second straight game as he recovers from a hyperextended toe. While Jon Feliciano acquitted himself as Banks’ replacement, the 49ers lost a backup option when Nick Zakelj required season-ending surgery to repair a biceps tear from Sunday’s special-teams duty.
Right tackle Colton McKivitz (ankle, knee) was limited because of Sunday’s injuries, so Matt Pryor and Jaylon Moore are expected to get reps there this week in case McKivitz misses his first start of the season.
The 49ers’ practice squad offers backup linemen in Henry Byrd, Jesse Davis, Ilm Manning and Spencer Waege, the latter of whom re-signed Wednesday; defensive end Austin Bryant was released in a corresponding move.
