Joe Staley is 34 and in his 12th NFL season, but his play has been as good as it’s ever been.
When the 49ers take on the Seahawks Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, the veteran left tackle will be in the starting lineup, ready to protect the blind side of quarterback Nick Mullens and open holes for the running game.
Staley is coming off a terrific performance against the Denver Broncos – a rare 49ers win – in which he allowed just one quarterback pressure in 41 drop-back pass snaps. It was his ninth game this season in which he has allowed two or fewer pressures on the QB. The analytic website Pro Football Focus also selected Staley to its Team of the Week and has rated him No. 8 this season among all NFL offensive linemen.
Wrote Pro Football Focus this week: “There was a point in Staley’s career where people were ready to write him off as a bust. Now he’s polishing off a resume worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. Staley has twice been PFF’s highest-graded left tackle, and the 34-year-old hasn’t shown any signs of aging again.”
The 49ers have plenty of weak spots across the entire roster, but they’ll go into 2019 with a pair of good tackles in Staley and Mike McGlinchey, who’s played well as a rookie.
Staley went to the Pro Bowl last season – his sixth time – and has been selected to an All-Pro team six times. It seems probable he’ll gain similar honors after this season.
Staley is signed through 2019, but if he plays as well next season, could stay with the team – for the right price. Some elite offensive tackles have played well into their mid to late 30s.
Sports
Against the Seahawks this Sunday, Staley and the rest of the offensive line will have to do a better job than they did in their first matchup in Seattle on Dec. 2, a 43-16 Niners loss. In that game, quarterback Nick Mullens was sacked four times and hit 15 times.
That loss in Seattle was the 49ers’ eighth straight at CenturyLink Field, something Staley was upset about after that game.
“I just want to (expletive) win here so bad,” he told a reporter after the game. “This is the one place … for some reason, this is like my Super Bowl every year, playing here.”
Now, at least, Staley and his teammates get a chance for some payback in the Bay Area.
The 8-5 Seahawks – who can clinch a playoff spot with a victory – are favored by 3½ to 4 points against the 3-10 49ers. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m.
