It’s hard to complain about the 49ers’ 32-19 win over the New York Jets, especially considering the road they’ve taken over the past few weeks to get there.

Sure, there were too many drives that ended in field goals instead of touchdowns. But considering everything that’s happened to the 49ers since training camp began, from the shooting of their first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall during a robbery to contract disputes that caused wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams to miss the preseason (not to mention their last game was a devastating Super Bowl loss), it was certainly satisfying to see the team play at the level it showed on Monday night.

The 49ers have proven time and time again over the years that they are a team that can overcome adversity, and Monday’s win over the Jets is the latest example of that. 49ers players spoke about their resilience after Monday’s game, as well as a number of other important topics that we’ll cover in more detail in this edition of the 49ers Notebook.

The right stuff

Any concerns that existed about the 49ers’ performance this season given the challenges of the past few weeks quickly evaporated Monday night, when the 49ers went on eight consecutive scoring drives after a three-and-out on their first possession and largely kept the Jets at bay with their defense. Perhaps there shouldn’t have been any concerns from the start, considering how well the 49ers have responded to adversity in the past.

Whether it’s injuries, contract disputes, poor starts to the season or other unforeseen issues, this core of players has proven over the years that it can weather virtually any storm. Quarterback Brock Purdy praised the team’s culture on Monday night and said the 49ers are a franchise that does things right.

“Crazy stuff can happen, but our culture, our team, what we stand for and how we all come together and find ways to win and support each other, that’s what we do here,” Purdy said. “That’s something I stand on and believe in deeply, and we all do. So I’m very proud of the guys for being able to fight through all the adversity and stuff that we’ve been through the last few months. But we’re just going to keep going.”

Williams praised the team’s leadership, which starts at the top with head coach Kyle Shanahan and includes players like himself, Purdy, linebacker Fred Warner, tight end George Kittle and defensive end Nick Bosa.

“We have great leaders in this locker room. And we have guys that follow the leaders,” Williams said. “We have leaders that repeat what the coaches preach. And I think that’s why our locker room can stay focused.”

Bosa tipped his hat to 49ers owner Jed York and said it was helpful to know that the players would continue to do their part even when they were not on the team.

“Our owners really take care of us,” Bosa said. “That’s what you have to do when you have really good players, and we have really good players at every position. And when guys aren’t there, we’re behind them. We know they’re going to work their asses off when they come back. So that doesn’t change when they’re not here. We work, and when they come, we work.”

If Monday night’s result is any indication of what’s to come, the 49ers are in for a lot of wins this season. Whether their journey ultimately ends with an elusive Super Bowl victory remains to be seen, but it already seems clear that there’s not much standing in the way of another strong year.

“You always have an idea of ​​what kind of team you’re going to have in a year, but you never really know until you go out there and see it in week one, right?” Warner said. “And so when you’re able to put together a real team effort on offense, defense and in the kicking game, that obviously builds confidence going into week two.”

Welcome back, Trent

This was already expected before Monday night’s game, but Trent Williams proved to be one of those NFL players who doesn’t need training camp or the preseason to be among the elite.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Williams did not allow a single quarterback pressure on Monday night for the first time since Week 3 of the 2022 season. While Williams left the field late in the game to get an IV, he otherwise played at the All-Pro level the 49ers are accustomed to.

Williams didn’t know how he would feel going into Monday night’s game, but obviously everything turned out well in the end.

“I’ve never been in a situation where I haven’t had the luxury of shaking off the rust in training camp,” Williams said. “I’ve never been in the middle of game week after a six-month or seven-month layoff, you know what I mean? So this was new to me. I really didn’t know what to expect. I mean, I’ve obviously played a lot of football, so I knew it was going to come back to me.”

“I just didn’t know how long it was going to take. Obviously there’s rust involved, you have to get in shape. I had never played football before. You can’t really replicate the fatigue you go through during a football game, especially the O-linemen. It’s like pushing a truck every game. So, honestly, I didn’t know what to expect tonight. I have a lot of confidence and I can play at a high level, but like I said, this is new territory, so I didn’t know how much it would affect me.”

Rookie of the game

Williams ended his strike last week after securing a three-year contract with the 49ers worth $82.66 million. Much to his surprise, he returned to the 49ers and found the team to be better than when he left.

“I’m like, damn, everyone’s laser-focused, everyone’s flying around,” Williams said. “There’s not a lot of joking going on. We’ve got a lot of new players in the locker room that are already playing at the San Francisco level, you know what we expect here.”

“I looked at all the young guys and the draft and I was like, damn. Obviously we had a good roster last year. I didn’t know they could improve it, but in my opinion we’ve improved and these guys are playing their asses off.”

One of those new players, third-round pick Dominick Puni, started at guard on Monday night and quickly showed he’s on his way to becoming a staple of the 49ers’ offensive line. Puni was praised for his blocking and earned a first-round grade from Williams.

“I’m excited to watch the game again and see how he did,” Williams said. “He obviously played well… I’m sure his head was spinning when he went out there and played from the start for the first time, but I think he obviously played well. I haven’t seen it yet, but looking at the results, I think he played well.”

Puni was all smiles after the game as he made his NFL debut in prime time surrounded by star players.

“It was amazing,” Puni said. “For a rookie, Monday Night Football is a pretty big stage against a great team. I just soaked up the whole game.”

Positive first results for the defensive line

The 49ers weren’t happy with their defensive performance last season, but maybe that will change in 2024. The 49ers signed a number of players in the offseason to bolster their defensive line, including defensive end Leonard Floyd, who helps with the pass rush, and defensive tackle Maliek Collins, who helps with the run. Both players made an impact on Monday night and left a lasting impression on Bosa.

“I think (Floyd) is going to open up a lot of opportunities on the other side for all the guys rushing forward,” Bosa said. “And Maliek made a fantastic play in the run game. He’s a great veteran, and he and I are going to work really well together on the left side there.”

Floyd was credited with the only sack of the game for the 49ers, while Collins helped the 49ers hold the Jets to 68 rushing yards on 19 carries. The run defense, in particular, was a boon after the struggles the 49ers had against the run in 2023.

“Floyd is just a ball of energy and he can run,” Bosa said. “People think he’s a smaller, skinnier guy who can’t run, but he could. He’s incredibly explosive, so he can really run like we need him to. And of course, he can accelerate his speed rush. He’s proven that throughout his career.”

“And then Maliek, just a beast in the running game. A big, big guy. And if he can keep that up all year, then we’ll be in good shape.”

Will we see each other again?

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers hopes Monday night’s game against the 49ers was a preview of the Super Bowl, even though his team seemed far from Super Bowl level on Monday night.

Jets head coach and former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh called the 49ers a “championship team” after Monday night’s game, which Rodgers echoed. Rodgers then said he hoped to get a chance to play the 49ers when it mattered most.

“They’re a championship-caliber group – and I hope we see them then,” Rodgers said, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.

Rodgers played his first full game with the Jets since suffering a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in Week 1 of the 2023 season. He finished the game with 167 yards on 13 of 21 passing, one touchdown and one interception.

“I can play better,” Rodgers said. “I missed a couple of shots … I felt like I got the ball out pretty well overall, but we had some chances that I’d like to get back.”