49ers’ Shanahan, Purdy on Deebo health, NFC Championship Game vs Lions

SANTA CLARA — Four days before the 49ers host the NFC Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium, coach Kyle Shanahan, quarterback Brock Purdy and other key players took to the media podium to discuss Sunday’s matchup with the Detroit Lions. Here are the highlights and best sound bites:

DEEBO SAMUEL’S STATUS

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel (shoulder) did not officially practice Wednesday and his status remains to be determined Sunday’s game. But he did run on the side with a football tucked in his left arm while under the watch of trainers. He was not seen catching any passes with his seemingly restricted shoulder during his brief, individual workout as practice began.

Shanahan did say Samuel is “feeling better,” and, rather than specify the nature of Samuel’s injury, Shanahan merely said: “His shoulder hurts. The coach said Monday that X-rays revealed no fracture.

Samuel exited Saturday’s win after getting hurt on the 49ers’ opening possession. Fellow wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk personally expects Samuel to play, adding: “but you just continue to pray for him that he gets better through the week and is out there with us to finish the job.”

Quarterback Brock Purdy didn’t parse his praise for Samuel’s presence, saying: “He’s probably the best playmaker in this league. If you get the ball in his hands, he can do whatever he wants. … He’s got grit. He gives us juice and energy. If he’s not playing, that’s tough, but we’ll have guys who can create that, as well.”

No other player is listed on the pre-practice injury report given by Shanahan, who added: “To go into this game with just Deebo on there, it’s pretty good.”

PURDY’S MINDSET

Purdy, in the wake of Saturday’s 24-21 fourth-quarter comeback win over the Packers, said he’s entering this game with a “clean slate.”

“It doesn’t matter if you play good or bad. You can’t take any of that with you the next week,” Purdy said. “It’s a new game, a new scheme, a new environment. Everything about it is new. It’s almost like you have a clean slate.

“You build off the good things you’ve done, but it’s a new game. That’s the mental battle that I feel all NFL quarterbacks go through, and that’s where the great ones really separate themselves from the others.”

Aiyuk shrugged off any outside critiques of Purdy by stating: “We’re all sitting here because of him, obviously. …  He’s steady. A dawg. Just a football player. I love playing football with him. He’s the reason I’m here today with an opportunity this weekend to play my best football, because of a quarterback like him.”

Shanahan spread the blame for Saturday’s offensive struggles beyond Purdy and off-target passes in the rain. “We’d like to have done better. But the way Brock finished on the last drive, and everybody, we were able to overcome mistakes that we didn’t earlier in the game. Brock did some good things that would have been impossible to win without.”

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP PAST

This is the 49ers’ seventh NFC Championship Game in 13 years, their fourth since Shanahan took over as coach in 2017, and their third straight trip. After losing the past two at the Los Angeles Rams and at the Philadelphia Eagles, the 49ers believe that past can fuel them.

“We’re here now trying to get over the hump and get to the other side,” Aiyuk said. “The time is now. The time is right now.”

“It’s crazy to look at. I walk up here and see this little (NFC Championship backdrop) behind me. I can blink and remember getting ready for Philly and seeing that exact same banner,” Warner said. “We talk all season about getting in position to play for the NFC Championship again and also do it at home. We did that. We have that opportunity, so how can you not sell out and give your all to this thing and play your best ball for three hours Sunday?”

“For the Bay Area and the (49ers) Faithful in general, we want this game bad,” Purdy said. “They’ve obviously been hoping to have another championship for this organization. The last couple of times we’ve been in the Super Bowl, we’ve fallen short. Now we have a shot at it again. Playing at home for the NFC Championship, it’s pretty sweet.”

CAN AMBRY GET HIS GROOVE?

Ambry Thomas played in his first game since fracturing his hand in a Week 17 win over the Commanders and had his struggled in 48 snaps.

Thomas was targeted five times and gave up three catches, plus two pass interference penalties on third down. One of them went for 41 yards on a third-and-15 play to Bo Melton.

“Nothing like live reps,” Thomas said. “You grow with live reps. I’m thankful for all that happened to me this week because I know what it is.”

Thomas faulted himself for allowing Melton to get behind him.

“Honestly if I just play my game, if I stay on top, I’m picking that one,” Thomas said. “Usually you look on film I’m on top of that. That’s why it kind of shocked me. It’s getting back in the groove of things and feeling things out again.”

THOUGHTS ON THE BROWN OUT

:Safety Ji’Ayir Brown met the media last week and talked enthusiastically of getting back in the fray after missing the previous two games with a knee injury after being hurt against Baltimore.

Except Brown didn’t play a snap on defense or special teams. He and Sam Darnold were the only active 49ers who didn’t play. Shanahan went with veteran Logan Ryan instead at strong safety alongside Tashaun Gipson.

“Whether I agree with it or not, I understand it,” Brown said. “Personally, I didn’t agree with it, but I understood Kyle and I understand the mission of this team and as long as we can get the win and however I can help the team I’m good for it.”

Shanahan said Brown ended the week well in practice last week and was in the mix to play this week.

ARMSTEAD  ENCOURAGED

Defensive tackle Arik Armstead returned after missing five games with a foot injury and considered the Packers game one to build on for the title game against the Lions.

“It went great out there considering everything,” Armstead said. “I played more snaps than I was expecting, did some good things out there. It was pretty positive.”

LIONS’ DEFENSE

Detroit’s pass defense ranked 27th in the regular season, allowing 247.4 yards per game. But with 23 takeaways, they ranked 18th and that’s enough to give Shanahan pause.

“They’re aggressive, and they mix everything up,” Shanahan said. “That makes them susceptible to big plays but they also make negative plays. They’re very aggressive, and that makes you hit or miss.”

GOFF REVIEWS

Lions quarterback Jared Goff has lost his past five games against the 49ers, dating back to his days with the Los Angeles Rams, including a 2018 season in which Shanahan recalled the Cal product playing at an MVP level.

“When they give him a good scheme with good people around him, Jared’s always going to find the spot. He’ll play at a top level,” Shanahan said. “He’ll gash you. You better be on your stuff or he’ll embarrass you fast.”

Nick Bosa’s take on Goff: “He is the same guy. He’s played great in LA and great with Detroit. The key is obviously getting pressure on him. He’s got a really good O-line so it makes it tough. If you cover up his first couple of reads, get after him, and hit him a few times, it changes things a little bit.”

ON LIONS’ RUN GAME

After Aaron Jones (108 yards) became the first opponent to rush for 100 yards in 45 games against the 49ers, Shanahan noted that the run defense was “obviously not good enough” Saturday, with too many explosive runs and too much room around the outside. Now come the Lions who he said “stick with run, it’s what they do, and it’ll be a huge challenge this week.”

Linebacker Fred Warner said the challenge starts up front with the Lions’ top-notch offensive line featuring big, athletic players with the right mindset. Then comes the “two-headed monster at running back, with (David) Montgomery and (Jahmyr) Gibbs, who are physical and quick. They can run downhill, hit you in the mouth, run outside.”

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