49ers Faithful Shine On the Road as Team Faces Washington
SANTA CLARA — When Nick Bosa started walking out of the locker room after 49ersand#039; loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night, the All-Pro defensive end turned around, seemingly forgetting something. “If you’re going to write about something, write about it,” Bosa told members of the media who interviewed him recently. “Write about the faithful.
They were as vocal at the end of the game as they were at the beginning. They were amazing.” The 49ers Faithful were there for the 2023 NFL season and very loud regardless of conditions or location.
After San Francisco’s four games through the first three quarters and the Christmas loss, many fans stayed in Levi’s Stadium until the bitter end. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year took notice. On Sunday, the faithful will make their presence known again – this time already on the road.
According to ticket outlet Vivid Seats, 49ers fans represent 42 percent of the FedExField crowd in Week 17 to see their team face the Washington Commanders. Since coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch took over the reins of the organization in 2017, 49ers fans across the country have found their way to multiple NFL stadiums to watch their team play.
Not only do they arrive early to watch the players warm up, get autographs and take pictures — they’re loud. Even in places as hostile as Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, fans showed up to support the 49ers. There are so many frequent traveling 49ers fans and they are so loud that you can hear their cheers over the airwaves when you are overseas. While Sunday’s game in Washington may not be a hidden matchup between the 49ers and Ravens, expect to see plenty of red and gold in the stadium. Bosa would certainly expect nothing less.
Clippers defeat Grizzlies while Kawhi Leonard’s return date remains a mystery
Kawhi Leonard is not yet cleared to return, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said before Friday’s 117-106 win over Memphis, even though the team listed Leonard as questionable after missing the last four games with an injection in his left hip. When Dallas’ Grant Williams’ knee hit Leonard in the Dec. 20 win, it aggravated the hip injury. Leonard got his first on Dec. 8 in Utah, Lue said, when Leonard went down after a foul. “He made it worse then and played through it and the Dallas game just took over,” Lue said.
On Thursday, Lue said Leonard would practice “a little bit” as the team prepares for Friday’s home game against Memphis. But before the announcement, Lue said that Leonard was not present and practiced later. “He’s recovering, but he’s not allowed to play,” Lue said. The team is closely monitoring all of Leonard’s injuries because of his history, including his most recent season-ending torn meniscus last April. However, Leonard proved particularly durable, averaging 34.5 minutes in the first 27 games of the season – including four back-to-back games.
It marked the most consecutive games Leonard has played to start a season since 2016-17. Leonard is averaging 24.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists, 56 percent from the three-point arc and 42 percent from behind. He was even more productive in December, making 50% of his 3-pointers. andquot;We know it’s going to take some time to get Kawhi back in the lineup, so going into it we know what we have and what we have to do, it’s not surprising,andquot; Paul George talked about the team’s adjustment to Leonard’s absence. George added that he is not worried about Kawhiand getting injured.
He looks good, he keeps looking better, but you know it’s nothing serious,andquot; George said. andquot;He’ll get over that when his body is back to where it needs to be, but again, our job is just to continue at the level we’re going. We’re going to play great basketball in December.
After the victory against Memphis, the Clippers (19-12) are 2-2 without Leonard. They finished 11-2. december The Clippers again had to make up for Leonard’s production, getting 16 points and 13 assists from James Harden, but had to play him 43 minutes after trying to hold a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter.
George added 23 points on one of his more inconsistent nights, making 8 of 21 shots. Memphis’ Ja Morant had 19 points and 10 assists in his fifth game since returning from suspension, but made just seven of 19 shots.