The fumble came as the Cardinals defense was on the ropes, with the end zone and the opportunity for the 49ers to add insurance points onto the board just seven yards away. Linebacker Jesse Luketa, who made his season debut on Sunday, forced out the football. Wilson got his hands on the loose ball, the first recovery of his career.
“Jesse told us ‘I’m going to punch it out,'” Wilson said. “He does it at practice all the time, so for him to do it, I wasn’t surprised.”
While they allowed 23 points in the first half, the defense disrupted 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy all game long, causing one of his worst performances since entering the league in 2022. His 16 incompletions were the most in his career, paired with the second-lowest completion percentage (54.3 percent), second-lowest passing yards per attempt (6.97) and third-lowest passer rating (62.1).
According to Next Gen Stats, Purdy was 1-for-6 when under pressure, with White’s interception putting a bow on the stat line.
“I think coverage had a hand in that,” coach Jonathan Gannon said. “We gave them some different looks, but rush and coverage go together. The guys did a good job.”
Whether it’s coming off the edge or playing alongside White, the Cardinals had a vision for the sixth-year linebacker when they signed Wilson.
Only a few months into his tenure with the team, the experience has exceeded his expectations, both on and off the field.
“I wouldn’t change nothing, honestly,” Wilson said. “We’re sitting at 2-3, and I still feel like we’ve got a hell of a football team. We’ve got a lot of ball ahead of us, going to continue to take it one day at a time. There’s still something brewing in the desert.”
