Santa Clara – The San Francisco 49ers wrapped up their final week of practice and will now turn their attention to the road ahead, traveling east to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday’s NFC Wild Card matchup. Despite a season marked by injuries, the 49ers have remained anchored in their “next man up” mentality. Linebacker Curtis Robinson embodies that approach, offering perspective on overcoming adversity and outlining what San Francisco must do to keep its postseason run alive.
Trent Williams was limited in practice on today, but the veteran offensive tackle maintained an upbeat outlook as the 49ers prepare for their Wild Card matchup against the Eagles. Despite his recent injury, Williams expressed confidence that he will be ready to play. Williams also reflected on San Francisco’s last trip to Philadelphia in the playoffs, he knows what’s at stake and the intensity that awaits on the road.
“Going into the first round of the playoffs, our focus is on playing the best football we can, being as prepared as possible, and cutting it loose for three-and-a-half hours,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan.
“Three games in 13 days, all on national TV, everything that came with it. It definitely added up. Having a normal week again, plus the extra day this week, gave us eight full days, and you could feel the difference. When I saw the players on Wednesday, we joked that it felt like we were coming off a bye week, because in a way, it did. It was the first time in about three weeks that we had a normal routine, and getting that reset helped the guys feel much more rested than they had been.”
A fresh start is exactly what Brock Purdy is embracing as the 49ers return to Philadelphia for another postseason showdown. The memory is hard to ignore: a 31–7 loss in the NFC Championship Game, when Purdy was forced out with an elbow injury and backup quarterback Josh Johnson with a concussion, leaving San Francisco reeling on the sport’s biggest stage. It was a crushing defeat that effectively ended the 49ers’ season, and one that still lingers as they prepare to face the Eagles again, this time with a chance to rewrite the ending.
“I’m grateful to have healed from that injury, to go to the Super Bowl, and to have had three more seasons since then,” Purdy said. “But more than anything, this is about our 2025 season and finishing strong. We’re focused on going in and competing against a new team with a new scheme, and that’s where my mindset is. We know Philly, the environment, the fans, all of that, but the focus is on preparing for this game, not looking back. I already went there in 2023 and played after what happened in 2022, so that’s behind me. I’m ready to move forward.”
Photo by 49ers/Twitter
