49ers’ First Loss Leads to Honest Tom Brady Admission

The San Francisco 49ers absorbed their first defeat of the 2026 NFL season last weekend, a 29-20 road loss to the Atlanta Falcons that dropped them to 6-1. The setback came amid a wave of injuries, and the team has since used the bye week to reacquire defensive tackle DeForest Buckner while preparing for potential returns from several key players.

San Francisco entered the game in Atlanta with a depleted roster. The Falcons capitalized, ending the 49ers’ six-game winning streak on Oct. 25 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The 49ers remain in first place in the NFC West and sit second in the overall NFC standings behind the undefeated Minnesota Vikings.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Monday that as many as seven players have a chance to return for the Week 9 home game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 8. Those include edge rusher Nick Bosa, wide receiver Mike Evans, linebacker Luke Gifford, safety Marques Sigle, linebacker Garret Wallow, wide receiver Demarcus Robinson and defensive tackle CJ West. Shanahan cautioned that none are guaranteed to play.

The timing of the bye offers a recovery window after injuries accumulated early in the season. Additional players such as wide receiver Deebo Samuel have also been listed among those who could rejoin the lineup soon.

Tom Brady, in his weekly FOX Sports power rankings, moved the 49ers from the No. 1 spot to No. 2 for the first time in several weeks. He placed them behind the Vikings, who are the league’s last remaining undefeated team at 6-0.

“Down go the Niners. Not very far and I may have jinxed this one last week when I said they’d cruise into their bye at a perfect 7-0. One of my first announcer’s jinxes. My bad, guys,” Brady said. “They get a well-timed bye this week as the injuries continue to pile up. But as I’ve said before, I think Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have built a team capable of withstanding it.”

Earlier this week the 49ers acquired Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick. Buckner, 32, is in the final year of his contract. He recorded 4.0 sacks, 31 tackles, three passes defensed and one fumble recovery in seven starts with Indianapolis this season.

Over an 11-year career Buckner has 75.5 sacks. The 49ers selected him seventh overall out of Oregon in the 2016 draft. He spent his first four seasons in San Francisco before being traded to the Colts in 2020. He has earned three Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro honors.

The return reunites Buckner with a 49ers defense that has ranked among the league’s better units despite the injuries. San Francisco will host the Raiders after the bye, with reinforcements potentially available on both sides of the ball.

The 49ers are 4-0 at home this season and 3-0 in the NFC West. Their remaining schedule includes a prime-time matchup against the Vikings on Nov. 22.

Injuries have tested the roster depth, particularly at wide receiver and along the defensive line. The combination of returning players and the Buckner addition gives San Francisco additional options heading into the second half of the season.

The Colts, at 2-5, have begun a broader roster overhaul after also trading Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson earlier the same day. Buckner’s production as an interior pass rusher provides an immediate boost for a contender.

With the trade deadline approaching on Nov. 10, further moves remain possible, but the current additions already address needs exposed in the loss to Atlanta.