The 7-6 Seahawks are home for Thursday Night Football's NFC West rematch against the 9-4 San Francisco 49ers. With injuries causing a facelift to the depth chart of both teams, Week 15's matchup also has much at stake for a pair of teams with playoff aspirations. Here are five new 49ers developments to watch for since the teams met in Week 2.
Brock Purdy or Josh Johnson: Quarterback Carousel
The 49ers were on their third starting quarterback when Brock Purdy took over for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo—Week 1 starter Trey Lance suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2 against Seattle—and now Purdy's availability is in question due to an oblique injury suffered on Sunday.
In his fifth-career game, Purdy completed 16 of 21 passes for 185 yards and two passing touchdowns, adding in a rushing score. Early in the first half, the Iowa State alum took a shot to the oblique that caused him to leave the game in the fourth quarter. Despite initial fears, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Monday that Purdy is "day-to-day."
Josh Johnson, meanwhile, has played for more than a dozen franchises. Last week, San Francisco signed Johnson off the Denver Broncos’ practice squad for his third stint with the franchise. Selected in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Johnson has played sporadically over his career as a journeyman. In 2021, Johnson started once for the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15's 41-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Johnson completed 28 of 40 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns. Down several quarterbacks, San Francisco turned to Iowa State alum Brock Purdy, who suffered injuries to his oblique early in the contest. Johnson stepped in to complete 1 of 2 passes when called, after Purdy played through injury early in the fourth.
Head Coach Kyle Shanahan discussed bringing Johnson back and his capabilities under center.
"That's one of the reasons we brought him here," Shanahan said. "Just because Josh is really good at picking things up. He can go in, has really good command of the offense. It's Thursday, so no one is getting full speed reps, so that's always a challenge when you get in there but that was the situation for the quarterback last week too."
Christian McCaffrey: From Charlotte to the Bay Area
Since Seattle's Week 2 loss to the 49ers, San Francisco has added a dynamic weapon in running back Christian McCaffrey via trade with the Carolina Panthers.
After dealing with injuries in recent years with Carolina, McCaffrey is once again one of the league's most-versatile backs. In seven games with the 49ers, the Stanford alum has rushed for more than 400 yards and three touchdowns, along with 35 receptions for 316 yards and three scores. In Week 14's 35-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he rushed for a touchdown on 14 carries with 119 yards. Out of the backfield, McCaffrey made two receptions, one for a score.
Trent Williams: Large and In Charge
Year-13 shows no sign of regression for 49ers tackle Trent Williams. After ranking as Pro Football Focus' top-graded player for 2021, the Oklahoma alum is back atop the list. In addition to lead blocking for San Francisco's backfield, Williams leads all offensive linemen currently in Pro Bowl voting.
Seattle's defense will look to get around Williams - and get home to whoever Sunday's starting quarterback may be.
Talanoa Hufanga: Eye for the Ball
49ers second-year safety Talanoa Hufanga is developing into one of the league's best young ballhawks. Through 13 games, the USC alum's four interceptions tie for fourth-best across the league, along with seven passes defensed.
The hard-hitting safety is versatile, recording 70 combined tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Dre Greenlaw: Dre Day
Through 12 games played, 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw has surpassed his career-high in solo tackles (61) with 71 (103 combined). While the third-year Arkansas alum continues to develop into one of the league's best young run-stoppers, he's taken a leap in coverage as well. After playing just three games in 2021, Greenlaw has recorded four passes defensed and an interception. That pick came in Week 14's 35-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on future Hall of Famer Tom Brady.
The Seattle Seahawks take on the San Francisco 49ers for Week 15 of the 2022 season. Take a look back at some of their previous matchups.
Seattle Seahawks fullback Dan Doornink (33) runs upfield during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, Oct. 7, 1979. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 35-24. (AP Photo/Al Messerschmidt)
San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana (16) passes during an NFL football game against Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Nov. 25, 1985, in San Francisco. The 49ers won the game, 19-6. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
San Francisco 49ers Ronnie Lott pulls down Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent (80) for a short gain in the first quarter at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Aug. 29, 1986. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Jerry Rice (80) of the San Francisco 49ers dives into the endzone for a touchdown after catching a 30-yard pass from Joe Montana during the second quarter on Friday, Sept. 1, 1989 in Seattle, against the Seahawks. Unable to make the play for the Seahawks in Dwayne Harper (29). (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Dave Krieg gives the number one sign as he lines up behind Seahawks tackle Andy Heck (66) during the second quarter at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Sept. 1, 1990. The Seahawks beat the 49ers 30-10. (AP Photo/John Mabanglo)
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Sam Adams (98) fights his way through the blocking of 49ers offensive guard Derrick Deese (63) during a 9 to 13 Seattle Seahawks preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers on August 26, 1994 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Seattle Seahawks running back Ricky Watters (32) evades San Francisco 49ers' Monty Montgomery on a first-quarter run Saturday, Aug. 19, 2000, in Seattle. Watters made a first down on the play. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander (37) makes touchdown on Saturday, August 25, 2001, in San Francisco, California. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 28-18 in a preseason game. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Seattle Seahawks defensive back Reggie Tongue (25) moves in to finish off tackle on San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Tai Streets (89) on Sunday, December 1, 2002, in San Francisco, California. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 31-24. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Seattle Seahawks' Antonio Cochran (78) celebrates a fumble recovery by teammate safety Ken Hamlin on the first play after the 2-minute warning in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2003, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 20-19. At left is 49ers' Ron Stone. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Ken Lucas (21) grabs San Francisco 49ers Jamal Robertson on a run in the fourth quarter Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, in Seattle. Robertson was held to no gain on the play, and the Seahawks won, 34-0. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
San Francisco 49ers' Shawntae Spencer, left, pushes Seattle Seahawks' Joe Jurevicius out of bounds on a first quarter pass reception, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, front left, is brought down by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Manny Lawson, back, and linebacker Brandon Moore, right, in the second half of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006. San Francisco won 20-14. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) smiles after greeting former teammate and San Francisco 49ers back-up quarterback Trent Dilfer after an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 24-0. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Justin Forsett (30) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers running back Michael Robinson (24) during an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) passes under pressure by San Francisco 49ers' Takeo Spikes in the fourth quarter during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Seattle, Wash. Hasselbeck completed the pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The Seahawks won 20-17. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Michael Robinson #26 during an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers December 12, 2010 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco Ca. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 40 - 21 in regular season week fourteen action. (Ap Photo/ Bill Nichols)
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Justin Smith (94) bull rushes the quarterback during an NFL game against Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Robert Gallery (72) on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Seattle. The 49ers won the game, 19-17. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) catches a pass in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver (29) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
NFL Football: NFC Conference Playoff: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks Game Action CenturyLink Field/Seattle, WA, USA 1/19/2014 X157457 TK1 Credit: Rod Mar
FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2014, file photo, Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman (25) tips a pass in the endzone intended for San Francisco 49ers' Michael Crabtree (15) in the final minute of the second half of the NFC championship NFL football game in Seattle. Seattle's Malcolm Smith intercepted the tipped pass. Sherman was fined $7,875 for unsportsmanlike conduct/taunting after he made a choking gesture after the play toward the San Francisco bench that he said was directed at quarterback Colin Kaepernick. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) scores a touchdown between San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Gerald Hodges (51), strong safety Jaquiski Tartt (29) and linebacker Michael Wilhoite (57) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner intercepts a 49ers pass near the goal line and heads upfield.
