The 49ers are facing Aaron Rodgers and the Jets on Monday Night Football in their season opener at Levi’s Stadium as they seek to return to the Super Bowl — aiming for a different result than February’s loss to the Chiefs in Las Vegas.
It was a busy offseason of negotiation for the 49ers, who signed extensions with reigning NFL offensive player of the year Christian McCaffrey and All-Pro receiver Brandon Aiyuk, as well as a new deal with 11-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams.
McCaffrey’s two-year deal was announced in June while Aiyuk and Williams both missed significant parts of training camp before agreeing to terms over the last two weeks.
Another major twist in the offseason came on the last day of August, as first-round pick Ricky Pearsall was shot in the chest by an attempted robber in San Francisco’s Union Square and hospitalized. He was discharged the next day as the bullet passed through him and missed vital organs. The 49ers placed him on the non-football injury list, so he will miss the first four games of the season.
All the off-field matters no matter the seriousness fall to the backburner as the season begins against Rodgers, the Northern California native and four-time MVP who tore his Achilles just minutes into his debut with the Jets last year. Opposite Rodgers for the 49ers will be Brock Purdy, the third-year quarterback fresh off his first healthy training camp as the starter.
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