Reinforcements are Coming for the 49ers
Maybe this is the 49ers’ lowest point.
It’s their bye week now that they have dropped three straight games. As a result, they have time to gather themselves, identify the problem, and resolve it.
They also have time to acclimatise new players to the strategy and get healthy. The 49ers’ finest news comes from this. For this season to be different, they require significant reinforcements.
The following five reinforcements will be returning:
1. Chase Young
Young was the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft, and the 49ers acquired him for a late-third round pick because Washington didn’t want him anymore despite the fact that he has five sacks this season. That makes him the 49ers’ sack-leader before he plays a down for them. He’s a huge upgrade over Clelin Ferrell and Drake Jackson, and should make the 49ers’ pass rush much better.
2. Trent Williams
Williams missed the past two games with an ankle sprain and the 49ers couldn’t do anything well without him, because he’s their best pass protector, plus he’s the tip of their spear in the run game. Everything depends on him. And he should be back for the 49ers’ next game, which is in Jacksonville against the Jaguars.
3. Deebo Samuel
Without Samuel, the 49ers’ offense seems vanilla. That’s because Samuel is the primary outlet for Kyle Shanahan’s creativity. So when Samuel is on the field, the 49ers’ offense seems cutting edge. He should return next week after missing most of three games with a shoulder injury.
4. Dre Greenlaw
Greenlaw is the tone-setter and the hardest hitter on the 49ers defense — without him, they’re soft. And the past few weeks, Greenlaw hasn’t been himself. He’s been playing through an injured hamstring, and the entire defense has taken a hit as a result. A fully healthy Greenlaw should create a more menacing defense.
5. Randy Gregory
The 49ers traded for him a few weeks ago and immediately threw him on the field without teaching him the ins and outs of their defensive scheme. Now he has a full week to study and learn so he can become a part-time contributor down the stretch.