The legend, Jerry Rice, is just as frustrated as fans by the San Francisco 49ers' 37-27 loss on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. The Hall of Fame wide receiver joined 95.7 The Game on Monday morning, as he does every week during the season, and discussed his former team's latest loss.
The 49ers fell to 4-4 and remain in last place within the NFC West. Hopes of emerging as division champions for the second consecutive season are likely gone as San Francisco shifts its focus toward just trying to make the playoffs.
"It was a bad day yesterday, from all phases," Rice said on The Morning Roast. "Even with Kyle Shanahan, he said he was disappointed with the entire team, also disappointed with himself. I was just so surprised because it was almost like I didn't see that urgency. I didn't see that fight.
"You know you had that opportunity against a rival, playing them in Seattle. You would think you would be pretty much focused and ready to go in there and play Forty-Niner football, but yesterday, it just didn't happen for them.
"Then they also got more injuries. I just don't know. I think we might have to bring Roger Craig back out of retirement because we really don't have anybody to run the ball now."
Rice also weighed in on Jimmy Garoppolo's struggles. The 49ers' starting quarterback went 11-of-16 for 84 yards with an interception and a passer rating of 55.2 before exiting late in the third quarter with an ankle injury. Nick Mullens replaced him in the fourth quarter.
"I think what we saw yesterday is a guy that's not healthy, and If you're going to hurt the team, you shouldn't be on that football field," Rice said. "Yeah, Nick Mullens, he came in, and it was towards the end. I think the game was like 30-7, and during a situation like that, Seattle, you're not going to see the most sophisticated defensive looks and all of that. But still, he was able to go 18-of-25, 238 yards, and two touchdowns."
With Garoppolo's health status unclear, Mullens could make his third start of the season on Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers.
"Jimmy is not driving the ball down the field," Rice added. "You watch when he throws the ball, his back foot, it comes up off the ground. You've got to be able to plant that back foot, and drive, and throw that ball with velocity down the field, and I don't think he's healthy. It's going to be up to Kyle Shanahan to make that decision."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Rice below.
