The San Francisco 49ers have been hanging on for dear life and finding ways to win games. They couldn’t find a way to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
Tampa Bay secured a 30-19 win in a battle of 4-1 teams. The loss drops the 49ers to 4-2, while Tampa Bay jumps to No. 1 in the NFC with a 5-1 record.
The big story for the 49ers, however, isn’t the loss. It’s the ankle injury to linebacker Fred Warner who went down in the second quarter in Sunday’s contest. San Francisco’s defense struggled badly without its leader, and his injury puts the 49ers’ entire season in question. That injury is far more damaging than the loss on the scoreboard.
Niners Wire brought you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Check it out.
How to watch 49ers vs. Buccaneers
Christian McCaffrey stats vs. Buccaneers
It’s still tough sledding on the ground for McCaffrey, who posted only 54 rushing yards on 17 carries. He did punch in his first, and the 49ers’ first, rushing touchdown of the season. McCaffrey also hauled in seven-of-eight targets for 57 yards. His 24 touches put him at a whopping 154 for the year, on pace for 436 this season.
Kendrick Bourne stats vs. Buccaneers
Bourne has been a revelation for the 49ers the last two weeks. With Jauan Jennings banged up and Ricky Pearsall out, Bourne stepped up in Week 5 with 10 catches and 142 yards. He backed that up Sunday with five catches for 142 yards on nine targets.
Mac Jones stats vs. Buccaneers
It was a productive day for Jones, but his two interceptions ultimately defined the game. His first pick set up Tampa Bay’s first touchdown. His second one set up Tampa Bay’s game-sealing field goal late in the fourth quarter. He finished the game 27-of-39 for 347 yards and two interceptions.
49ers vs. Buccaneers final score: TB 30, SF 19
The Fred Warner injury matters more than anything else from Sunday’s game. A potential season-ending loss for San Francisco.
Buccaneers score late field goal, put 49ers away
Chase McLaughlin missed a field goal earlier in the fourth quarter to give the 49ers life. He didn’t miss his second chance to put his former team to bed. He connected from 45 yards out with 1:55 left to make it a 30-19 Buccaneers lead. The 49ers are out of timeouts and barring a miracle, are out of chances to grab their fifth win of the year.
49ers fail to score after Mac Jones’ 2nd interception
Jones has been very good for the 49ers, but his second interception on a fourth-and-4 dashed their chances of scoring a game-tying touchdown. He got fooled by a defensive back dropping back in front of his intended target, Jauan Jennings. A 15-yard penalty on Trent Williams put the Buccaneers at their own 35 to start a potentially game-sealing drive.
Buccaneers fail to score, give 49ers life in 4th quarter
San Francisco’s defense stood tall in a key moment. They forced a Tampa Bay field goal attempt from 49 yards out and kicker Chase McLaughlin pushed it wide right to keep the score 27-19 in favor of the Buccaneers. It was the first time the Buccaneers had a drive and didn’t score since the first quarter.
49ers hopes of winning may have ended on another strip sack
The 49ers had third-and-long in long field goal range. The only thing Mac Jones couldn’t do was take a sack. He took a sack and it looked like he fumbled with the Buccaneers recovering at the 49ers’ 49. However, replay review showed Jones was down before losing the ball, allowing them to punt and pin the Bucs deep. The game still may be out of reach if San Francisco’s defense can’t get a stop.
49ers vs. Buccaneers score: Tampa Bay leads 27-19 after 3rd quarter
San Francisco’s offense is holding up its end of the bargain … sort of. They’ve been unable to convert long drives into touchdowns, but they’re putting points on the board and staying connected to the Buccaneers. The 49ers defense, on the other hand, is struggling to keep the Bucs out of the end zone. They posted a touchdown in response to San Francisco’s field goal to win the third quarter 7-3 and extend their lead.
Baker Mayfield hits Tez Johnson for ridiculous touchdown
The 49ers defense looked like they’d get off the field when they had Mayfield hemmed up for a sack on third-and-long, but he escaped to run for a first down. That set up an opportunity for him to connect with WR Tez Johnson who got wide open behind Renardo Green and Marques Sigle for a 45-yard touchdown strike and a 27-19 lead. San Francisco’s defense has been abominable since Fred Warner went down.
Baker Mayfield puts together another highlight scramble
This was an unbelievable play for Mayfield on third-and-long, and an absolute backbreaker for a 49ers defense that hasn’t been able to get stops.
Buccaneers injury news: WR Emeka Egbuka doubtful to return vs. 49ers
Tampa Bay announced before their offense took the field for the first time in the third quarter that their star rookie WR is doubtful to return because of a hamstring injury. He joins a long list of superstar players hurt for both teams in Sunday’s game.
49ers score another FG after long drive to start 2nd half
The 49ers had a nice drive to open the third quarter. They chewed up 7:33 of game clock while going 65 yards on 14 plays. Despite a strong start, they stalled out in the red zone when Mac Jones’s third-and-7 throw for Kendrick Bourne fell incomplete. Bourne continues to star for the 49ers. He’s up to 130 receiving yards on four receptions, but his inability to haul in that last third-down throw forced Eddy Pineiro go boot a 29-yard field goal. His fourth successful kick of the game made it a 20-19 Buccaneers lead.
49ers vs. Buccaneers score: Tampa Bay leads San Francisco 20-16 at half
Fred Warner’s injury cast a pall over a not-bad first half for San Francisco. They added a late 42-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro to cut Tampa Bay’s lead to 20-16. The 49ers defense rallied without Warner at first, but the Buccaneers finished the half with back-to-back touchdown drives where they went 140 yards on only 13 plays. Offensively it was ugly early for San Francisco, but they bounced back to score a touchdown and two field goals on their final three drives of the half.
Buccaneers score long TD, retake lead over 49ers in 2nd quarter
Tampa Bay is making quick work of a banged up 49ers defense. They needed only five plays to go 72 yards after the 49ers field goal to retake the lead on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to Kameron Johnson. The 49ers defense busted its coverage and Johnson was wide open for a walk-in touchdown. The bad news is the Buccaneers took a 20-13 lead after failing to score its two-point conversion try. The good news is the 49ers have 44 seconds and all three timeouts to try and get points again before the half.
49ers score, cut into Buccaneers lead late in 1st half
Eddy Pineiro has been a revelation for the 49ers. He connected from 54 yards out to pull the 49ers within a point of the Buccaneers who lead 14-13 with 1:58 left in the first half. Pineiro is a perfect 13-for-13 since joining the 49ers, including three-for-three from outside of 50 yards. Having a reliable kicker is a game changer for a beat up 49ers offense. The key now will be the 49ers defense keeping Tampa Bay off the board. They have 1:58 and all three timeouts to try and score before the half. San Francisco gets the ball to start the third quarter.
Buccaneers answer 49ers score with rushing TD of their own
The 49ers defense finally faltered. After San Francisco’s offense put them ahead 10-7 with a touchdown, Tampa Bay answered with a nine-yard touchdown run by running back Sean Tucker to cap an eight-play, 68-yard drive. There wasn’t much resistance on the series. If defensive coordinator Robert Saleh doesn’t have an adjustment it may be a long rest of the day for that unit.
49ers score 1st rushing touchdown of 2025 season to take lead vs. Bucs
San Francisco’s offense is just finding a way despite their injury problems. Their 10-play, 83-yard drive was sparked by Kendrick Bourne’s 56-yard catch, but they found some running room and Mac Jones is starting to look more settled in than he looked in the first quarter. The 49ers took a 10-7 lead with 10:18 to play in the second quarter on Christian McCaffrey’s one-yard rushing touchdown. It was their first rushing score of the year. Somehow, they lead.
49ers highlights: Kendrick Bourne hauls in 56-yard catch
Big plays to Bourne are the 49ers’ lone source of offense so far, but Bourne is up to 97 yards on two receptions after a 56-yard catch-and-run to open the second quarter and put the 49ers in scoring range.
49ers vs. Buccaneers score: Tampa Bay leads 7-3 after 1st quarter
It’s a small miracle San Francisco isn’t losing by two or three touchdowns after the first 15 minutes. Their defense has done a nice job with Fred Warner out, but they’ve also gotten the benefit of a couple of Buccaneers miscues that kept a couple explosive plays off the board. On the other side, Mac Jones is under siege every dropback and it’s clear his movement skills are hampered. He was sacked three times in the first quarter while the 49ers managed only 51 yards of offense with 41 of them coming on one completion to Kendrick Bourne.
49ers highlights: DE Mykel Williams gets first career sack
San Francisco’s defense rallied after Fred Warner’s injury. LB Dee Winters tipped a pass on second down, and then Williams corralled Bucs QB Baker Mayfield for a sack after Mayfield looked to escape the pocket and had nowhere to go. Williams has been close multiple times this season. His breakthrough as a pass rusher would be a nice lift for a defense that’s missing its two biggest stars.
49ers injury news: LB Fred Warner carted off vs. Buccaneers
Just brutal. Warner stayed down after a run play and was holding his right leg. The training staff was quickly summoned and they appeared to be working on his lower leg. This was an injury San Francisco’s defense would not be able to withstand with Nick Bosa already out for the season. Tatum Bethune took over the Mike LB spot for Warner.
49ers score: Eddy Pineiro drills 52-yard field goal
San Francisco’s second series started strong, but it quickly bogged down and ended on a third-down sack by Tampa Bay that pushed the 49ers to the edge of Pineiro’s field goal range. He calmly connected from 52 yards out to cut the Buccaneers lead to 7-3.
49ers WR Kendrick Bourne picks up where he left off
The 49ers didn’t shy away from throwing after Mac Jones’s opening interception. They started their second series with a deep shot for Bourne and the two connected for 41 yards. San Francisco badly needed a big play and got one to start their second drive.
Buccaneers RB Rachaad White scores TD after 49ers turnover
Tampa Bay didn’t need long to take advantage of the 49ers’ first mistake of Sunday’s game. Two plays after Kindle Vildor’s interception, White plowed in from two yards out to put Tampa Bay ahead 6-0. The extra point moved it to 7-0 early in the first quarter.
Mac Jones throws interception on 49ers first drive
Pressure got to the 49ers quarterback on a third-and-4, and Jones floated a dangerous throw to the sideline for an easy interception for Buccaneers cornerback Kindle Vildor.
49ers starting defense gets a change
Jason Pinnock has been the starting safety alongside Marques Sigle this season. We speculated Malik Mustapha would re-enter the starting lineup after returning from the PUP list. It was neither Mustapha nor Pinnock with the starting group, though. Ji’Ayir Brown got the start.
49ers uniform schedule
San Francisco is wearing red for the first time all year. Tampa Bay chose to wear its white jerseys to help combat the Central Florida heat.
Who are the Buccaneers Week 6 inactives?
Who are the 49ers Week 6 inactives?
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49ers vs. Buccaneers predictions
49ers injury updates
What a mess for San Francisco. The good news is reporting from ESPN’s Adam Schefter indicated Jones and Jennings will play. The club also activated Malik Mustapha on Saturday − a sign he’ll be back in action after recovering from an ACL injury he sustained in last season’s final game.
Who is starting for 49ers at quarterback?
It looks like Mac Jones is going to be the starter with Adrian Martinez once again working as the backup. We got close to seeing Martinez in Week 5 as Jones battled through a raft of injuries. The 49ers have to do a better job of keeping their QB upright in Week 6.
Who is starting for 49ers at wide receiver?
If Jauan Jennings is good to go, he’ll start alongside Kendrick Bourne or Demarcus Robinson. Given Bourne’s connection with Jones and the 10-catch, 142-yard performance he posted last week, we’re leaning toward him getting the starting nod.
49ers schedule 2025
Here is San Francisco’s regular season schedule and results.
More 49ers: 49ers coordinators break down potential new starting QB for Week 6
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers vs. Buccaneers highlights: San Francisco outgunned in NFL Week 6 game
Reporting by Kyle Madson, Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
