Game Preview, Week 6: Washington at San Francisco 49ers
October 17, 2026
by Steve Thomas
Well, last week’s battle against the New York Giants was . . . suboptimal, to say the least. Fortunately, they have a pretty easy matchup this week, nothing more than the 5 – 0 and probable Super Bowl favorites, San Francisco 49ers, on the road on Monday Night Football. No problem, right? Clearly, this is an extremely tough matchup even in the best of circumstances, to say nothing of what’s going on with the team at the moment. At least playing a quality, mistake-free, hard-fought game – even if Washington loses – would likely go a long way towards calming the masses who are calling for heads to roll within the organization. Will that happen? Maybe. The 49ers do have a ton of injuries right now. Okay, fine. Probably not. Our game preview is below.
Game time & location: Monday, October 19, 2026, 8:15 p.m. ET, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California; Gates open 6:15 p.m. PT; parking lots open 4:45 a.m. PT
Television: ESPN
Television announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Laura Rutledge
TV broadcast map: Click here
DC-area radio: BIG-100 (WBIG FM)
Washington radio network: Click here
49ers radio network: Click here
Satellite radio: SiriusXM: 193 (Wash. broad.), 831 (Wash. broad.), 88 (nat’l broad.)
Washington roster: Click here
Washington depth chart: Click here
49ers roster: Click here
49ers depth chart: Click here
All-time head-to-head record vs 49ers: 11 – 20 – 1 (last 10: 3 – 7)
Last meeting: L, December 31, 2023, 10 – 27
49ers record: 5 – 0 (1st place) / home: 3 – 0 / NFC: 3 – 0
Washington record: 1 – 3 – 1 (4th place) / away: 0 – 2 / NFC: 1 – 2 – 1
Early odds: 49ers, -7.5
3 KEYS TO THE GAME
Play mistake-free football
The only way Washington has any chance to win this game is for them to play outstanding, mistake-free football on both sides of the ball. On offense, this means no turnovers, minimal dropped passes, and no mixups on plays. On defense, this means, no blown coverages, minimal penalties, and not allowing Mr. Do Everything, Christian McCaffrey – who is the older, more talented brother of Washington receiver Luke McCaffrey – to do easy big gains.
Tight, solid coverage by Washington’s secondary
San Francisco’s passing game is a very serious problem. Brock Purdy has been mostly outstanding this year, with a 69% completion percentage and a 119.3 quarterback rating. They also have several different talented weapons in the passing game who Purdy can reach, including former Washington receiver Deebo Samuel, Mike Evans, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey. Washington cannot afford any blown coverages or easy long balls this week. Douglas and Robertson have both played well for Washington so far this season, with Robertson bordering on Pro Bowl-level play. This week’s game against the 49ers will doubtlessly represent the toughest challenge they’ve had all season. For Washington to have any chance to win, the team needs both of them, along with the safeties, to come through and not allow any easy plays. We’ll see whether Trey Amos returns from injured reserve this week; the team could really use him on the field for this game.
Ball control and long drives
Washington needs to keep the 49ers offense off the field as much as possible. They simply can’t win if they allow themselves to get into a high-scoring shootout with the 49ers. If there’s ever a game that calls for a steady successful run game from the running backs – not the quarterback – it’s this contest. San Francisco actually does not rank very high in time of possession. They are only ranked 22nd so far this year, but that’s primarily because they score alot of touchdowns, quickly. Ball control and time of possession might be the single biggest key to the game this week.
3 KEY MATCHUPS
Rasul Douglas and Amik Robertson vs Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel
As I mentioned above, Douglas and Robertson have both played well this year, particularly Robertson. The 49ers probably represent their biggest challenge to date, because both Evans and Samuel are very high quality receivers. Quarterback Brock Purdy has been good at spreading the ball around to multiple players, but as far as the receiver group goes, Evans and Samuel are the two most dangerous. Washington needs Douglas and Robertson to lock down these two receivers, assuming Samuel plays, which isn’t a guarantee. It won’t fully stop San Francisco’s offense, but it would greatly limit their options. If Robertson in particular can play well this week, I would think that he will start to get some league-wide recognition.
K’Lavon Chaisson vs. Trent Williams
This one is a key matchup primarily because it involves our old friend Trent Williams. Honestly, I don’t expect Chaisson to make much headway in pass rushing against Williams. I still don’t care for the way Washington’s former leadership treated him and then traded him away, but the fact of the matter is that he’s likely a future hall of famer. It will be a pretty big benefit to the team if Chaisson can get any pressure at all on Brock Purdy while facing Williams. Look for the television broadcast team to highlight this matchup due to Williams’ history in Washington.
Jayden Daniels vs. Fred Warner
Warner is another probably hall of famer someday. He’s the engine that makes the 49ers’ defense go, and leads the team in tackles. I view Daniels versus Warner as a key matchup because it will be primarily up to Daniels to keep track of Warner and either change the plays at the line of scrimmage or make the correct calls on RPO plays as a result. This is obviously a mental matchup instead of a physical one, given the two players’ respective roles, but it may be the most important one in the game. Daniels needs to keep up with Warner at all times and properly lead the offense in order to minimize Warner’s impact on the offense.
OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (active roster only)
LP – limited practice FP – full practice DNP – did not practice
NIR – not injury related Q – questionable O – out
D – doubtful
| Washington | 49ers |
| OLB K. Chaisson, knee/NIR (rest); Thurs: FP; Fri: DNP; Sat: FP | DL N. Bosa, knee/calf; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; Sat: DNP; game: O |
| RB J. Croskey-Merritt, groin; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; Sat: DNP; game: O | WR J. Cowing, ankle; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP |
| OLB J. Jean-Baptiste, pectoral; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; Sat: DNP; game: O | WR M. Evans, ribs, achilles; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: Q |
| DT J. Kinlaw, ankle/knee; Thurs: FP; Fri: DNP; Sat: LP; game: Q | DL G. Halton, quadricep; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: Q |
| QB M. Mariota, knee; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; Sat: DNP; game: O | DL R. Height, hand; Thurs: FP; Fri: DNP; Fri: DNP |
| WR T. McLaurin, hamstring/NIR (rest); Thurs: LP; Fri: DNP; Sat: LP | FB K. Juszczyk, knee; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP |
| DE C. Omenihu, groin/ankle; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; Sat: DNP; game: O | WR C. Kirk, calf; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP; game: Q |
| WR T. Burks, shoulder; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP | RB C. McCaffrey, NIR (rest); Thurs: DNP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP |
| S P. Butler, hamstring; Thurs: DNP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP; game: Q | OL C. McKivitz, illness; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP ; Sat: LP |
| WR S. Diggs, hamstring; Thurs: DNP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP; game: Q | DB S. Neal, neck; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP |
| RB A. Ekeler, chest; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP | WR D. Samuel, hamstring; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O |
| LB J. Magee, hamstring; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP; game: Q | S M. Sigle, ankle; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; ; Fri: DNP; game: O |
| CB F. Moreau, knee; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP | CB U. Stout, shoulder; Thurs; LP; Fri: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| S T. Owens, hamstring; Thurs: DNP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP; game: Q | DL J. Thompson, Jr., ankle; Thurs: DNP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP |
| C/G L. Patrick, illness; Thurs: NL; Fri: LP; Sat: FP; game: Q | LB G. Wallow, hamstring; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O |
| S J. Reaves, rib; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP | DL M. Williams, knee; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP; game: Q |
| RB R. White, shoulder; Thurs: FP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP | T T. Williams, NIR (rest); Thurs: DNP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP |
| CB T. Amos, ankle; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP; game: Q | OL C. Willis, toe; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP; Sat FP |
| S N. Cross, illness; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP; game: Q | |
| QB J. Daniels; left elbow; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP | |
| S Q. Martin, illness; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP | |
| RB J. McNichols, quad; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP; game: Q |
Steve’s Prediction
This one is probably going to go horribly wrong, again. San Francisco wins, 32 – 17.