Rotation planned for linebackers
The 49ers played All-Pro inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman every snap.
That was common sense.
The 49ers played Bowman’s replacement, Nick Bellore, every snap. That was a mistake. Head coach Chip Kelly and defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil acknowledged this week that they need to rotate inside linebackers after Bellore and Michael Wilhoite logged the majority of the snaps in the two games since Bowman suffered a torn Achilles tendon.
Bellore, who had played 40 defensive snaps in his six-year career before Bowman was injured, has played all 147 defensive snaps in his first two career starts. Wilhoite has played 128 of 147 snaps as the 49ers’ 32nd-ranked defense has allowed 485 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns in losses to Arizona and Buffalo.
The 49ers have allowed 33 fourth-quarter points in those defeats.
“I think in some of those situations we need to get some other guys in the game,” O’Neil said, “and keep those guys a little bit fresher as we get going into the fourth quarter.”
O’Neil said, “You’ll see a lot more Gerald Hodges,” the inside linebacker who started the first three games but has played just 14 snaps in the past three games.
O’Neil has said Hodges wasn’t benched for disciplinary reasons, and Hodges didn’t shed any light on his demotion.
“I kind of want to stay out of that one and let the coaches handle that,” Hodges said. “When my number’s called, I’m ready to go.” Receiver returns: The 49ers haven’t received many contributions from the seven players they’ve drafted since 2013 who were recovering from serious knee injuries, but there remains hope that wide receiver DeAndre Smelter could still make an impact.
Smelter, a 2015 fourthround pick, was signed to the practice squad Tuesday after he was waived Sept. 3. Smelter didn’t play in a preseason game because of a hamstring injury he suffered in training camp. Kelly suggested the 49ers intended to bring Smelter back after he’d healed.
“It was one of those deals is that you never saw enough of him to really make an accurate decision on: ‘Hey, can he really contribute and help?’ ” Kelly said. “So let’s give him an opportunity when he’s healthy.”
Smelter didn’t play last year because of a torn ACL he suffered at Georgia Tech. Listed at 6foot-2 and 227 pounds, he said he weighs around 210 and spent part of the past six weeks in Dallas working with David Robinson, a wide receivers coach and speed trainer in Dallas who played at Oklahoma.
After shoulder injuries derailed his baseball career at Georgia Tech in 2013, Smelter, an expitcher, moved to football, a sport he hadn’t played since he was a junior in high school.
“I’m new to the position,” Smelter said. “I’m still learning a lot.” Injury report: The 49ers officially ruled running back Carlos Hyde (shoulder) out of Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay.
Wide receiver Torrey Smith (back), defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey (knee) and cornerback Rashard Robinson (concussion) are questionable.