San Francisco 49ers Coach Stresses the Importance of Attitude Over Ability
In a powerful message that reflects the San Francisco 49ers’ winning philosophy, head coach Kyle Shanahan has made it clear that attitude is the foundation of success within the organization. "I value attitude over ability. If your skills aren’t there yet, we can work and improve together. But if your attitude is lacking, you don’t have a place on this team," said Kyle Shanahan, emphasizing the significance of mindset in creating a championship-caliber team.
The 49ers' leadership focuses on building a culture where players are encouraged to develop both their skills and their attitudes. While talent is vital for individual success, the 49ers firmly believe that a positive attitude is essential for long-term success and unity within the team. Players who embody the right mindset—dedicated, hardworking, and selfless—are the ones who will thrive in San Francisco.
Coach Kyle Shanahan underscored that every player has the potential to improve their skills. With the right support, effort, and determination, anyone can enhance their game. However, the right attitude is non-negotiable. Players who do not embrace the team-first mentality or demonstrate accountability and commitment to improvement simply will not fit into the 49ers’ culture.
As the 49ers continue to build towards another competitive season, this mindset remains at the core of their approach. Every player, whether a rookie or veteran, must demonstrate not only the ability to contribute on the field but also the right attitude to contribute to the team’s collective success.
In San Francisco, the message is clear: you may improve your skills over time, but without the right attitude, you won’t have a place in the team. This emphasis on attitude ensures the 49ers are not just a collection of talented individuals, but a cohesive, unified team with one goal—championship glory.
Packers’ Christian Watson Explains Surprise Week 11 Injury Update
Naturally, for a player who has been as injury-prone as Packers receiver Christian Watson in his career, especially as he comes off the most serious injury he’s had as an NFL player–an ACL tear in January–there is going to be concern raised when his name crops up on the injury report. And Watson, after Week 10’s team-wide dud against the Eagles on Monday, was indeed on the injury report on Thursday, ahead of the Packers’ next game against the Giants.
Watson was listed as “limited” this week, with injuries to his knee and hamstring, which has pretty much been the story of his career to this point. But, he explained after practice, he’s not actually injured.
“I wouldn’t classify it an injury because I didn’t get injured. It wasn’t during the game, just feeling sore,” he said.
Christian Watson: ‘They Gotta Do What They Gotta Do’
Watson explained that Packers coaches are just seeking to be careful with him.
“I mean, they gotta do what they gotta do,” said Watson, who had two catches for 45 yards on Monday. “I definitely, if it were up to me, I am not injured, so I mean, they just gotta do what they gotta do. I am good. I have no worries in terms of where I am gonna be at for Sunday. Just precautions, I guess for them.
“I am just sore. I am still in kind of the ramp-up phase, coming back from the ACL. So, I am just sore. Got a decent amount of snaps in the game and everything. Enough to be smarter about the rep count in practice but I mean, I feel fine, confident about it.”
Christian Watson 1 of Many Limited Packers
The Packers had only one player miss practice in full on Thursday, and that was cornerback Nate Hobbs.
The full list of limited participants was, in addition to Watson: Kingsley Enagbare (knee), Matthew Golden (shoulder), Micah Parsons (pec), Zach Tom (back), Lukas Van Ness (foot), Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and Savion Williams (foot).
Packers Getting Van Ness Back
Getting Van Ness back will add some firepower to the Packers defense, as he has been out since Week 5, against the Bengals. Van Ness had 1.5 sacks when he went out, and three tackles for a loss.
Coach Matt LaFleur addressed his return before practice.
“I just think he’s a really good player. So, you always want good players out there on the field,” LaFleur said. “His versatility is something I think could give players a boost.”
