Three 49ers Trending Up After A Disappointing Loss In Week Three
Week Three against the Broncos was a game that lacked much offensive production, but there were still some 49ers who had a positive game.
49ers Linebacker, Dre Greenlaw
After the 49ers’ victory in Week Two, Greenlaw was signed to a two-year extension worth roughly $19 million. When a player signs an extension this early within the season, they are put in a situation where they must prove their worth throughout the season.
Greenlaw has shown through three weeks what the 49er defense was missing during the 2021 season, due to his injury-ridden season. Throughout the 2022 campaign, Greenlaw so far has produced a total of 23 tackles, 14 of which have been solo and two have been tackles for loss.
In Week Three we saw the linebacker bring in a combined 10 tackles. This is two more than the previous week and five more than Week One. We have seen a continued increase in Greenlaw’s production and if that trend continues the 49ers will have another star linebacker to pair next to Fred Warner.
Cornerback, Samuel Womack
The fifth-round rookie had an exciting preseason for the 49ers in which he tallied two interceptions. Womack showed he would be a great addition to the 49ers’ cornerback room going forward.
Throughout the first three weeks of his rookie campaign, Womack has not had a huge role in the defensive game plan. His main role for the team has been on the special teams side of the ball.
In Week Three, Womack had saved a punt from becoming a touchback with a leaping play. This resulted in the Broncos starting from their own one-yard line which due to terrible starting field position led to a punt later in the drive.
WHAT A PLAY BY #49ERS SAMUEL WOMACK ON SPECIAL TEAMS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/3m68lSKWZb — 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙎𝙁𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 (@TheSFNiners) September 26, 2022
Although Womack’s main role in Week Three was on the special teams unit, he did however get two defensive snaps. Womack took advantage of his little time on the defensive side of the ball, forcing Broncos’ running back Melvin Gordon to fumble the ball off of a hard hit.
Womack has shown his versatility as a player and with it being so early within his rookie campaign, we can only expect his impact to improve. If there were to be an injury within the 49ers’ cornerback room, he could step into an important role in the secondary.
Running Back, Jeff Wilson
In a game that involved seven punts and only ten points from the 49ers, not much stood out within the offense. Jeff Wilson was one of the few who had a solid game in the offensive unit.
Taking the lead back role, Wilson had a productive day on the ground producing 75 rushing yards on 12 carries, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Wilson also brought in three catches for 31 receiving yards.
Wilson’s biggest play of Sunday night’s game was a 37-yard run that came early in the first quarter and put the 49ers into the red zone. This big play set the offense up for their only touchdown of the night.
Big run by Jeff Wilson Jr. sets up a big time TD! #49ers || #FTTB pic.twitter.com/IOfHhOMmVd — OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) September 26, 2022
Wilson continued to have a productive night after this big play, also adding in an 18-yard carry late in the third quarter. The only downside of his night was a fumble late in the fourth quarter that gave the Broncos the ball and secured their win. Although his fumble secured the 49ers’ loss, the lackluster offense in Week Three seemed as though they would have been unable to put together a game-winning drive either way.
Honorable Mentions
Drake Jackson: The rookie defensive end picked up his first career sack even though he is still lacking in playtime.
https://youtube.com/shorts/WVa2CHAG3Wk?feature=share
Robbie Gould: The veteran kicker made both a 51-yard field goal and PAT to tie Phil Dawson with the 12th most point scored by a single player in NFL history. This also kept his only missed field goal of the year being a blocked kick in Week Two.
For More: