Ravens’ Jackson is special
Defense embraces challenge of facing dual-threat QB
SANTA CLARA >> Nick Bosa has faced players like Lamar Jackson before, years ago on south Florida’s high school circuit with its triple-option offenses and hyped-up hot shots.
“They’d have their best athlete at quarterback,” Bosa said Wednesday. “Down in south Florida, there’s a lot of really good athletes, and they remind me of Lamar.
“He’s just the best of all of them. That’s why he’s doing what he’s doing. Yeah, it’ll be fun.”
The Ravens’ Jackson is the best of all NFL quarterbacks going right now, a challenge that Bosa and the 49ers are excited to take on Sunday in Baltimore. By
the way, Jackson played at Boynton Beach High, some 30 minutes up the south Florida coast from Bosa.
And fittingly mimicking Jackson on the 49ers’ scout team is Richie James Jr., a wide receiver who excelled as a dual-threat quarterback his senior year of high school in south Florida, at Riverview in Sarasota.
“I was 80 (percent) run, 20 pass, and that’s going to work for today because that’s what we’re going to do,” James said.
Rather than brace for Jackson, the 49ers (10-1) are embracing him. They offered up heartfelt compliments in all corners of their locker room when it came to Jackson, as merited with his 2,427 passing yards and 876 rushing yards.
“The kid deserves it. He’s playing good football,” cor
nerback Richard Sherman said. “It’s good for black quarterbacks.
“For a long time, it’s been a rhetoric around this league that black quarterbacks have to run, or black quarterbacks `can’t do this,’ or is always a drop-back quarterback league. When it was zone-read and it was Cam (Newton), it like, `Oh man, this is a one-hit wonder.’ This kid is being dynamic and taking over the league.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh frowned on comparing Jackson to two other mobile quarterbacks the 49ers recently faced, the Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson and the Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray.
“He’s just different in that he’s a running back when he has the ball,” Shanahan said. “The other two guys, they can make a lot of plays with their legs but eventually will slide . ... (Jackson) can take the hits but also deliver them.”
Bosa agreed: “He actually runs like a running back. He’s not trying to slide, not trying to just get a few yards. He’s trying to break it every time.”
Saleh noted that Jackson is in a “completely different” scheme, and that when he’s scrambling, he’s not looking to pull up and throw. Rather, “he’s more looking to create his explosive plays downfield with his legs,” Saleh said.
Jackson’s arm is “underrated,” Saleh added. The Ravens’ QB has a 66.9 completion percentage, 24 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 111.4 passer rating that ranks third behind Kirk Cousins (114.8) and Wilson (112.1).
“I’ve been pulling for him since he was at Louisville,” nose tackle D.J. Jones said, “and I hope he continues to show the haters that they’re wrong.”
• Wide receiver Dante Pettis injured
his left knee early in Wednesday’s practice, casting doubt on his availability for at least Sunday’s game. Pettis, after being evaluated on the field by the team’s medical staff, was able to walk on his own to the locker room.
The 49ers’ post-practice participation report confirmed that Pettis has a knee injury. Shanahan is next scheduled to speak to the media Friday.
Pettis apparently got hurt during a special-teams drill. It’s the latest setback in a sullen second season. He has no catches in the past three games and just 11 all season for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
Emmanuel Sanders (ribs) and Deebo Samuel (shoulder) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, wearking blue jerseys to signify no contact. Pettis’ injury could prompt Marquise Goodwin to return to uniform.
• Running back Matt Breida resumed practicing after missing the past two games with an ankle injury. Not participating were left tackle Joe Staley (finger), defensive end Dee Ford (hamstring) and tight end George Kittle (knee, ankle), all of whom still might play Sunday.
Kicker Robbie Gould (quadriceps) was cleared to practice for the first time in three weeks. Chase McLaughlin remains on the roster.
• Fred Warner became the first 49ers linebacker in five years to win the NFC’s defensive player of the week award. He had a strip-sack fumble and 11 tackles to spark a 37-8 rout of the Green Bay Packers. No 49er has won offensive player of the week honors since Anquan Boldin from the 2013 season opener.
• Defensive end Jeremiah Valoaga was promoted from the practice squad, where he’s been since a team-high 4½ sacks in the exhibition season. Defensive end Damontre Moore went to injured reserve because of right-forearm surgery Tuesday. Defensive lineman Alex Barrett was signed to replace Valoaga on the practice squad.