It’s week seven, and as expected, the 49ers are still tinkering with their defensive line-up. With Arik Armstead out, expect plenty more playing time for Xavier Cooper and the newly-signed Tony McDaniel. Also, Reuben Foster, sans setback, is likely to get his first playing time since the opener on Sunday against visiting Dallas.
But that’s not all. Third-round pick Ahkello Witherspoon will likely pick right back up as a rotational player at cornerback after missing a few games with a concussion and chest injury. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is also likely to rotate Eric Reid in with Jaquiski Tartt and Jimmie Ward at safety.
It means that all three defensive units, defensive line, linebacker and the secondary will be shifting players throughout Sunday’s game at Levi’s because Foster isn’t likely to go the entire time on his first game back from a high ankle sprain.
Also, Reid is still working his way back from the knee he sprained in week two.
“We’re still trying to make sure that he’s completely healthy,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. “He did good. For the first game back, for sure. When you get in there and it’s sporadic the way it is, you can never get a true beat, but he’s looked good in practice. We as coaches have to find a way to get our best 11 on the football field. That’s the challenge for the week.”
Saleh also lauded Witherspoon’s approach to practice and his preparation.
“The men who exemplify what we’re trying to accomplish on defense,. the style, the preparation, the effort, all of those different things, those are the ones who are going to get on the football field,” Saleh said when talking about Witherspoon. “It’s not an indictment on what (starting cornerbacks) Dontae Johnson and Rashard Robinson have done and more of a testament to what he’s been able to accomplish since he’s been here and the deliberate (way) which he’s approached (practice),” Saleh said.
Witherspoon, a lanky cover man out of Colorado also looks as if he’s put on weight.
