We’re a handful of days from the Vikings and 49ers kicking off the final game of Week 1 of the NFL regular season on Monday Night Football, and this year’s version of the 49ers will look a whole lot different.
CBS Sacramento notes that linebackers Chris Borland and Patrick Willis, along with defensive lineman all retired; and the team cut Aldon Smith for repeated run-ins with the law. That’s four studs removed from what was once one of the NFL’s best front sevens.
So after three straight trips to the NFC Championship game, the 49ers went 8-8 last season and this year appears to be headed in the wrong direction.
CBS Sacramento has the Vikings winning by double digits.
Here are three other areas of concern entering Week 1 against the Vikings.
Kaepernick under pressure
According to the San Francisco Gate, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick completed just five passes in three preseason games and he had very little time to set his feet thanks to poor protection.
"Our whole objective is to just go out there and dominate." – @EversonGriffen
WATCH: http://t.co/DRZRFokAFx pic.twitter.com/Cx5JbSfn8c
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 8, 2015
Most explosive threat?
Bleacher Report says Kaepernick’s stock is at an all-time low, while also saying the most explosive receiver on the team is the speedy Bruce Ellington. Ellington, though, missed a ton of action last year with leg injuries and he’s been banged up again this year, prompting head coach Jim Tomsula to have a “man’s conversation” with him.
Keep in the mind the 49ers still have Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith, who caught 11 touchdowns for the Ravens last season.
Cornerback problems
Tramaine Brock is the unquestioned No. 1 cornerback for the 49ers, but the second corner on the roster hasn’t been identified. Kenneth Acker and Keith Reaser, both of whom missed the entire 2014 season, are battling for the No. 2 job, the Sacramento Bee reports.
On the plus side, the 49ers – for the first time in franchise history – will be rocking alternate black uniforms on Monday night.
