Locals in the NFL: Fred Warner, 'MVP' teammates have 49ers living up to 'standard'

AROUND THE SHIELD — By his own admission, Fred Warner didn't do much out of the ordinary in San Francisco's win Sunday over division rival Arizona.

The former BYU linebacker had a team-high nine tackles, shared a sack, and forced a fumble in the 49ers' 45-29 win over the Cardinals, the club's fourth-straight victory over their divisional rival that clinched the NFC West for the third time in five years.

That those numbers don't constitute a marvel for the two-time All-Pro linebacker who has posted double-digit tackles in five of the 15 weeks of the 2023 regular season is testament to his standard within the organization — one that has its own standard, as well, after clinching the division title for the second straight season and third time in five years.

"It's everything. This is the goal every single year; this is the standard from here on out," Warner told 49ers media from Glendale, Arizona. "We've got to win the division. Going undefeated in the division, this is amazing."

The San Marcos, California, native offered plenty of credit to his teammates, including an offense that posted 404 yards with 242 yards and four touchdowns coming through the arm of quarterback Brock Purdy in his home state.

"Brock Purdy, M-V-P; I've said it, and I'll keep saying it, too, until he wins it," Warner said. "That's just a man right there."

The former Iowa State star who was the final pick of the NFL draft in 2022, "Mr. Irrelevant" isn't so sure he's the MVP of the 49ers' own team.

That honor, Purdy argues, belongs to Christian McCaffrey, the all-everything running back whose second touchdown in the third quarter gave the 49ers a 28-13 lead.

McCaffrey was so wide open on that play that the 27-year-old Stanford alum leaped for the catch, fell down, got back up and sprinted into the end zone for the 41-yard score that helped the Niners pull away for good.

"He does everything for us," Purdy said of McCaffrey, per the Associated Press. "Runs the ball well, catches the ball, everything. In my eyes, that's an MVP."

Warner also complimented cornerback Charvarius Ward, who had two interceptions against the Cardinals and has been "playing at an All-Pro level all season."

"It's just a team effort all the way through," Warner said. "When the offense is hitting on all cylinders, it's easy for us to go out and try to stop their offense. The takeaways are huge for our entire team. We've got to be better, and we're going to get better. But this win is everything."

Monday Night Football

Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks, 6 p.m. MST, ESPN

Eagles (10-3)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury
• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview

Seahawks (6-7)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State

Sunday Night Football

Baltimore 23, Jacksonville 7

Ravens (11-3)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Active, but did not play.
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Starting safety made five tackles on defense before exiting with a groin injury.
• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Reserve edge rusher had two tackles on defense.

Jaguars (8-6)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker tied for the team high with 11 tackles on defense.

Sunday afternoon

Los Angeles 28, Washington 20

Rams (6-7)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting receiver caught five passes for 50 yards with a pair of jet sweeps on offense.
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Starting defensive end made two tackles on defense.

Commanders (4-9)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker posted 13 tackles on defense.
• Tyler Larsen, C, Utah State/Jordan: Started at center before leaving early with an injury.

Buffalo 31, Dallas 10

Bills (7-6)

• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Reserve tight end was targeted twice for no catches on offense.
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Startling nickel had seven tackles and a pass defended on defense.

Cowboys (10-3)

• No locals on the active roster.

San Francisco 45, Arizona 29

49ers (11-3)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had a team-high nine tackles, shared a sack, and forced a fumble on defense.
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted twice for 96 yards (49.0 yards per punt) with one punt downed inside the 20.

Cardinals (3-11)

• No locals on the active roster.

Carolina 9, Atlanta 7

Panthers (2-12)

• No locals on the active roster.

Falcons (6-8)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Starting running back had team-high 45 yards on 14 carries, caught one pass for 6 yards.
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback made five tackles.
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker totaled five tackles and a tackle for loss.

Cleveland 20, Chicago 17

Browns (9-5)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had five tackles and a tackle for loss.
• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker recovered a fumble on special teams.
• Siaki Ika, DT, East (via Baylor): Reserve defensive tackle also played on special teams.

Bears (5-9)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting defensive back had three tackles and a pass defended.
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Played 13 snaps on special teams.
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Started at left tackle.
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Inactive for Week 15.

Tampa Bay 34, Green Bay 20

Buccaneers (7-7)

• Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State: Reserve receiver returned a punt for 13 yards with a fair catch, and three fair catches on kickoff return.

Packers (6-8)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 29-of-39 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns with two rushes for 1 yard, two sacks taken and a fumble.
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Reserve safety also played on special teams.

Miami 30, New York 0

Dolphins (10-4)

• No locals on the active roster.

Jets (5-9)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Starting quarterback completed 4-of-11 passes for 26 yards with four sacks taken and a fumble before leaving with a head injury.

Kansas City 27, New England 17

Chiefs (9-5)

• No locals on the active roster, but coached by former BYU offensive lineman and graduate assistant Andy Reid.

Patriots (3-11)

• No locals on the active roster.

New Orleans 24, New York 6

Saints (7-7)

• Taysom Hill, QB, BYU: Reserve utility player ran for 1 yard, attempted a pass, caught one pass for 4 yards and returned a kick 18 yards.
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Starting tailback ran for 24 yards on eight carries, caught one pass for 2 yards.
• Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah/Desert Hills: Reserve linebacker also played on special teams.
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Reserve receiver caught three passes for 36 yards, returned three punts for 35 yards (41.8 yards per return) with two fair catches.

Giants (5-9)

• No locals on the active roster.

Houston 19, Tennessee 16

Texans (8-6)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Reserve tight end caught four passes for 58 yards.

Titans (5-9)

• No locals on the active roster.

Saturday games

Cincinnati 27, Minnesota 24

Bengals (8-6)

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Reserve cornerback played three snaps on defense, 15 snaps on special teams.
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Inactive for Week 15.

Vikings (7-7)

• Jaren Hall, QB, BYU/Maple Mountain: Backup quarterback was active, but did not play.
• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Reserve nose tackle played two snaps on defense, five on special teams.
• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont: Reserve linebacker played 14 snaps on special teams.

Indianapolis 30, Pittsburgh 13

Colts (8-6)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Starting right tackle played all 67 snaps on offense.
• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Starting strong safety had two tackles, an interception, a pass defended and recovered a fumble in 56 snaps on defense.
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Connected on field goals of 29, 31 and 42 yards and three PATs om 15 snaps on special teams.
• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Starting running back ran for 13 yards on four carries, caught three passes for 20 yards including a 16-yard touchdown in 19 offensive snaps.

Steelers (7-7)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, East/Snow/Utah State (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back posted team-high 40 yards on 10 carries, caught five passes for 28 yards in 40 offensive snaps, seven on special teams.
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety made one tackle in 11 defensive snaps, played 20 snaps on special teams.

Detroit 42, Denver 17

Lions (10-4)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Starting right tackle played all 66 offensive snaps.

Broncos (7-7)

• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Starting left tackle played all 64 snaps on offense.

Thursday Night Football

Las Vegas 63, Los Angeles 21

Raiders (6-8)

• Andre James, C, Herriman (via UCLA): Inactive for Week 15.

Chargers (5-9)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Starting cornerback had six tackles, a tackle for loss and two passes defended in 61 defensive snaps.
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety made three tackles in 61 defensive snaps.

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