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Know Your Foe: San Francisco 49ers 

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CHARLOTTE — The Panthers (6-5) are back in prime time this week, for the first time in two years. It will require traveling to the West Coast to face the San Francisco 49ers (7-4).

This will be the first time the two teams have faced each other since October 2022, and the first time since 2019 that the Panthers will travel to San Francisco. The Panthers are 13-10 all-time against the 49ers, going back to the early days when the Panthers were in the NFC West (1995-2001). Carolina is 6-6 at home and 7-4 on the road at the 49ers.

From a return at quarterback, questions at kicker, and a reunion with an old friend, get to know the 2025 San Francisco 49ers ahead of Monday night's game.

A reunion with CMC

One 49ers player who Panthers' fans know very well already is Christian McCaffrey. The running back was traded to San Fran in 2022 and has become a focal point of their offense since. That has never been truer than this season. With various injuries and trades surrounding other starters, the former NFL offensive player of the year (2023) has become almost the entirety of the 49ers offense in 2025.

The running back is the 49ers' leading rusher with 707 yards and six rushing touchdowns. That makes sense, given his position. But CMC is also the team's leading receiver. He's pulled in a team-high 74 receptions (43 more than the next closest teammate) for 732 yards through the air, which is 250 more yards than the next closest receiver, Kendrick Bourne. McCaffrey also has five receiving touchdowns.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) and running back Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrate a play during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Samantha Chow)

The return of Purdy

Quarterback Brock Purdy made his return to the field on Sunday after missing six weeks with a toe injury. He looked like the back who helped carry the 49ers to the Super Bowl, going 19-of-26 for 200 yards with no interceptions, finishing with a 133.5 quarterback rating.

Teammates praised Purdy’s return to the huddle, complimenting his poise, the audibles at the line, and his presence in the pocket. According to Next Gen Stats, Purdy averaged a 3.33-second time to throw against the Cardinals, his fourth-longest in his career.

On passes with over a 2.5-second time to throw, Purdy completed 15-of-22 passes for 161 yards and all three of his touchdowns. Despite his long time to throw, Purdy faced just a 25.0 percent pressure rate, tied for the 4th-lowest rate in his career.

The biggest help to Purdy downfield was tight end George Kittle, who had one of his better games of the season. Kittle brought in all six of his targets for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Both touchdowns came on downfield throws over 10 air yards. It was Kittle's second game of his career with multiple TD receptions on targets over 10 air yards.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) rolls out to pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Talking special teams

What's a Know Your Foe without a special teams section? The 49ers boast one of the highest-ranking kickoff returns in the league in Skyy Moore. He is 10th in the league in total return yardage and fifth (amongst qualifying kickoff returners), averaging 28.5 yards per return. Versus the Cardinals, Moore had a 98-yard return, the longest of his three-year career.

Moore is also the 49ers' primary punt returner, averaging 10.3 yards per return, with four fair catches.

San Francisco 49ers' Skyy Moore (9) returns a kickoff during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Another former Panthers player, Eddy Piñeiro, will not be suiting up for a face-off with his old team. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan announced on Monday that Piñeiro would be week-to-week and was likely to miss some time.

"We're going to bring in some guys for a workout," Shanahan said. "They're working on that now. They're going to do it either tomorrow or Wednesday."

Piñeiro was perfect on field goals so far this season, going 22-of-22, including six from 50 or more yards.

View photos from past games between the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers. Carolina holds a 13-9 edge in the all-time series.

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