SANTA CLARA >> Social-media lip readers spent a lot of time this week debating what Jimmy Garoppolo said as he came off the field after throwing a crucial interception in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos. The 49ers quarterback says he’s not even sure what came out of his mouth and was caught on video.

“I’m not sure exactly what I was saying, but it is what it is,” Garoppolo said Friday when reporters had the first opportunity to ask about the incident, which appeared to show the quarterback criticizing head coach Kyle Shanahan’s play calling.

“I can’t read lips,” Garoppolo said. “I’m sure I’ve said a lot worse things on the field than that. I’m glad they caught that and not something else.”

Garoppolo was more direct about quelling any speculation of friction.

“You say a lot of things in the heat of battle that I hope people don’t hear. But, no, me and Kyle are cool. We really are,” Garoppolo said. “We’ve been through a lot of different type of seasons, this being no different.

“We’re early on in the season, still. We, as a team, have to find our identity. Me and Kyle, obviously, keep working and get on the same page more and more. But we’ve been through this before and it’s a long process.”

Garoppolo said he “always” is accepting of accountability in games, though he did appreciate Shanahan telling reporters that he made bad calls that led to Garoppolo’s safety and later interception.

“I give Kyle a lot of credit for being man enough to do that,” Garoppolo said. “But I do the same to him, too. If I mess something up, I’m willing to say it’s on me. That makes for a good relationship and leads to a good team. That starts with us two and carries its way down to the rest of the guys.”

As for film review and specifically retreating through the end zone for the safety, Garoppolo replied: “That one was tough, but just the whole film – we had one good drive, honestly. Other than that, it wasn’t too pretty. You have to swallow your medicine and take it. We put that performance out there and we have to own that. We have the right guys in the locker room to do that and respond the right way.”

ALL EYES UP FRONT >> Samson Ebukam burst into the backfield and notched the 49ers’ first sack of the season, only three snaps into their opener at Chicago.

That type of production is expected from one of the NFL’s best defensive ensembles, and especially from the defensive end who starts opposite of double-team magnet Nick Bosa.

Ebukam and Bosa might need to do even more, however, when the 49ers (1-2) host the Los Angeles Rams (2-1) on Monday night. Defensive tackles Arik Armstead (foot) and Javon Kinlaw (knee) missed their second straight practice Friday, and, if they’re out this game, that could take some luster off a heralded pass rush against the Rams’ dynamic passing attack.

“Everybody says that it’s a strong defensive performance, but I feel we can definitely do better,” Ebukam said this week. “I’m looking at myself in the mirror when I say that, because I watch the film. What I put out there, I can definitely do better to help the team.”

It’s been 91 snaps since his first sack in Chicago. He’d love his second to come Monday night against his original team, the Rams.

Neither Armstead nor Kinlaw have a sack this season. Armstead, whose plantar fasciitis kept him out of Sunday’s loss in Denver, worked up a sweat doing side work Friday. Kinlaw was not spotted, and that is particularly concerning because of last season’s anterior cruciate ligament repair.

“Those guys will be out there for us. They’ll be fine,” defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans said in general rather than committing on their status for Monday night.

Matthew Stafford got sacked seven times in the Rams’ season-opening loss to Buffalo’s stout defense, then only once in their ensuing wins over Atlanta and Arizona.

Ebukam’s goal is to play firmer, stouter at the point of attack. “Other than that, try not to force plays. I was trying to force plays a little,” Ebukam said of Sunday’s 11-10 loss in Denver. “We’re going to get it fixed this week. It’s going to be straight.”

The 49ers offense is what’s been mostly broken amid a 1-2 start, although defensive penalties helped key their season-opening loss at Chicago, and Sunday’s defensive dominance faded in a fourth-quarter demise in Denver.

“It’s about rushing together as a group,” Ryans said. “Bosa gets a lot of attention, and rightfully so as a dynamic player. It’s about whoever’s opposite him or who’s inside, and how it’s about rushing as one. Rushing together makes our group go and makes them effective.”

Bosa has four of the team’s eight sacks.