The San Francisco 49ers held off the Arizona Cardinals 36-30 on Sunday to move to 3-0 and take first place in the NFC West, but the win came at a cost after two key players were carted off the field with injuries.
Running back Christian McCaffrey walked into his postgame press conference with a busted lip, still wearing the camo shirt and white hat he’d worn during the game. He told reporters he also left the game with a sore throat after taking a hit to the face while running what he described as a “burst route” during the contest.
Despite the injury, McCaffrey turned in one of his best games of the season, rushing 15 times for 75 yards and a second-quarter touchdown while adding four catches for 60 yards through the air.
The 49ers weren’t as fortunate with two other key contributors. Top free-agent addition Mike Evans was carted off the field in the second quarter with a rib injury and did not return. All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams left the game in the third quarter after suffering what was described as a neck stinger. Williams was seen on the sideline afterward but did not go back into the game.
Quarterback Brock Purdy carried much of the offensive load, completing 15 of 27 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns in his third strong outing to open the season. His final touchdown proved decisive: with 1:36 remaining, Purdy connected with tight end George Kittle on a 20-yard pass that put San Francisco ahead 35-27, a lead the team held onto for the six-point win.
