Golden Nuggets: Garoppolo has completed 71% of his passes on third down this season

With Elijah Mitchell doubtful, I’m curious about the workload for each running back. Trey Sermon likely receives over 50% of the snaps, but who is after him? Chris Thompson since he’s best in the passing game? Kerryon Johnson as the third running back? We’ll see at least two new running backs active Sunday night.

49ers vs. Packers: Finally, a real home game again, plus 10 observations and our predictions

Garoppolo has been efficient so far this season, ranking No. 5 among NFL quarterbacks in adjusted net yards per attempt (ANY/A) and No. 4 in DVOA.

His performance on third down has been a key component of those numbers. Garoppolo is 10-of-14 for 168 yards (12 yards per attempt) with a touchdown and a 135.4 passer rating on third downs. He’s moved the chains six times with throws and three times with his legs.

Injury report update: Elgton Jenkins officially listed as doubtful before SNF

Left tackle problems are never good in the NFL. Left tackle problems after your All-Pro left tackle started the season on the injured reserve list is even worse. Left tackle problems when your starting left guard was played as a reserve due to a concussion last week is even worse than that. Compounding all of this is San Francisco’s strong defensive line, led by the 23-year-old Pro Bowler Nick Bosa.

Realistically, if Jenkins can’t play, the Packers have two survival options:

1. They can flip Billy Turner to left tackle and play Dennis Kelly, who started at right tackle for the Tennessee Titans last season, as the right bookend.
2. They can keep Turner at right tackle and bring Yosuah Nijman, who has not started a game at the NFL level, off the bench as Aaron Rodgers’ blindside blocker.

Packers vs. 49ers Matchup Preview: How will Green Bay try to handle George Kittle?

Barry could try to get creative in other ways with his personnel. He could try and line up his top cover player in Jaire Alexander, kicking him inside. However, that runs the risk of exposing the boundaries with a rookie in Eric Stokes and a struggling vet in Kevin King on the outside.

The run game will be a completely different animal for Barry to handle, and one he might not have an answer for. Kittle is notorious for opening up rushing lanes, but the Packers lack any true run-stopping talent on their defensive line outside of Kenny Clark on the interior.

Kittle’s effectiveness as a pass-catcher and run-blocker will have a big impact on whether or not the 49ers can control the game and pull out a decisive win. Barry and the defense are going to have their hands full, and they might not have enough firepower right now to handle Shanahan’s offensive play style.

49ers Notebook: Good news on Sermon, bad news for Packers, but questions elsewhere

• Charitable donations
• The Armstead Academy: Armstead and the Armstead Academic Project will present a $250,000 contribution to Mercy Housing California his partner in launching the Armstead Academy. The Armstead Academy will provide academic coaching, tutoring, and leadership training to young people in Armstead’s hometown of Sacramento as well as college trips and enrichment activities for young people in San Francisco.
• 49ers continue grants: 49ers announced a commitment to award $5 million in grants over the next 10 years to local and national social justice organizations working to create societal change in the Bay Area. The grant initiative extends the $1 million awarded by the team to 10 social justice organizations in September 2020. Details of the organizations will come at a later date.

49ers reportedly implied to Mac Jones he was their target in first round

“Meanwhile, 49ers decision-makers implied to Jones during pre-draft interviews that he was their target, according to sources,” Howe writes. ”The 49ers also did a heavy amount of background work on Jones, speaking to coaches as far back as his high school days in Jacksonville, Fla.”

Our Tom E. Curran recently caught up with former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, who had an opinion on the Niners’ pre-draft interest in Jones.

“I really thought (Jones) was going third. I really did. I thought San Francisco was taking him third,” Weis told Curran. ”I think they made that move to take him third. That’s what I think. I think when they did all these workouts and got enamored with Trey Lance — who might turn out to be a wonderful quarterback — but I can’t imagine they made that move with all that collateral, all that juice, to go get Trey Lance. I can’t imagine that being the case.”