49ers Announce Decision on All-Pro After Win Over Rams
Christian McCaffrey and the San Francisco 49ers got back on track in Week 5, jumping to 4-1 on the 2025 NFL season after a 26-23 overtime win over Matthew Stafford and NFC West foe Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. With starting quarterback Brock Purdy out for yet another game, backup quarterback Mac Jones stepped up and led the 49ers to the game-winning drive in overtime.
McCaffrey, coming off an injury-riddled 2024, has had a strong start to his ninth NFL season. Last year, he was forced to miss the first eight games of the season with bilateral Achilles tendinitis. He played in four games upon his return, but then suffered a PCL sprain that ended his season. To begin 2025, McCaffrey has tallied 282 yards on the ground and a team-high 39 catches for 387 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
In Week 6, the 49ers will look for their second straight win, hitting the road to face Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers. However, despite McCaffrey being a full participant in practice leading up to the Rams game, San Francisco elected to rest the four-time All-Pro for Wednesday’s practice session.
This is likely just a precautionary measure from the 49ers, especially after McCaffrey has dealt with injuries over the past couple of seasons. He was even forced to miss most of training camp with a calf injury. But, outside of Week 5, San Francisco has elected to rest the running back in each Wednesday practice session.
Along with McCaffrey, left tackle Trent Williams also sat out of practice due to rest.
But it seems likely the rest day for McCaffrey is nothing to fear for 49ers fans, as the former Stanford Cardinal star opened up about facing Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte Davis once again.
“I’m sick of him, man,” McCaffrey said. “I’m sick of him. Nah, he’s a hell of a player. Always brings a big challenge and just somebody that has always played the game the right way. And to my opinion, doesn’t get enough credit. Once again, just their whole defense and guys like him, when you have a veteran like that, they spark a lot of challenges that you got to be ready for.”
Dan Vladar gets start over Sam Ersson in Flyers’ season opener
The Philadelphia Flyers’ lineup for the season opener already raised a lot of questions, and Rick Tocchet raised a few more eyebrows on Thursday morning.
It will be free-agent addition Dan Vladar getting the start in net for the season opener against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night. Sam Ersson will ride the pine after being the team’s starting goalie last season.
Ersson started 45 games last season for the Flyers, going 22-17-5 with a career-worst .883 SV% and 3.14 GAA. Vladar played backup to Dustin Wolf in Calgary, posting an .898 SV% and 2.80 GAA in 29 starts.
“Well, Sam could have played. It’s just that you have to pick a goalie,” Tocchet said to media after the morning skate on Thursday. “So we decided to go Vladar, and then we’ll go from there.”
Tocchet praised Vladar’s work in camp and pointed to that as a reason for giving him the nod on opening night.
“I thought they both had good camps,” he said. “I think Vladdy did a nice job, and that’s why we decided to go with him.”
To be fair, Vladar did look like the better goalie in training camp and the preseason. In just under 50 minutes, he allowed six goals on 49 shots for an .878 save percentage, per CBS Sports. On the flip side, Ersson allowed 10 goals on 63 shots (.841 SV%) in just over 45 minutes of action.
After using three goalies last season and five the year prior, the Flyers have a goalie controversy right out of the gate to start the year.
It’s going to be a tough first start for Vladar, though, with the reigning Stanley Cup champions coming off a 3-2 win on opening night against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Panthers had a nice night with 69 shot attempts, 38 scoring chances, and 18 high-danger chances in a game that would’ve been a blowout had it not been for Spencer Knight in net.
Daniel Briere made it clear over the summer that the Flyers would have a goalie competition in training camp and throughout the season. Vladar came to Philadelphia with the right mindset, and that has earned him the start on opening night.
