Linebacker Coyle might play more
Rookie inside linebacker Reuben Foster was moving around the locker room without his walking boot or a noticeable limp Tuesday, nine days after he sustained a high ankle sprain in the season opener.
That’s an encouraging sign for the 49ers, who have been replacing Foster with Ray-Ray Armstrong and, briefly, Brock Coyle.
Foster won’t be available for Thursday’s game against the Rams, and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh indicated Coyle could play more in his absence. In a 12-9 loss at Seattle on Sunday, Coyle replaced for Armstrong for a six-snap series in the second quarter.
“He deserves it,” Saleh said when asked why Coyle entered the game. “He works his tail off. He works hard. We wanted to make sure we got him some reps. And, to be honest with you, I feel like he probably should get a little bit more.”
Saleh said the insertion of Coyle was “not an indictment on any of the other players,” but it suggests the 49ers haven’t been wowed by Armstrong.
On Sunday, in his sixth career start, Armstrong had eight tackles and was flagged for an unnecessary-roughness penalty for a sideline hit on quarterback Russell Wilson. Armstrong was flagged for pass interference and had a 15-yard face-mask penalty after replacing Foster in the season opener.
Coyle, a 2014 undrafted free agent from Montana, is known primarily for his special-teams ability, but he did make five starts in his three seasons with the Seahawks.
“When you have a guy like Brock who can come in and perform the way he does,” Saleh said, “then you take advantage of it.” Injury report: Safety Jaquiski Tartt (neck) and tight end George Kittle (hip) took part in individual drills during the portion of practice open to the media but were limited in the team portion.
On Monday, when the 49ers didn’t practice, the team indicated Tartt and Kittle wouldn’t have been available to participate because of their injuries. Tartt played all 82 snaps against the Seahawks, and Kittle played 43 of 49 snaps.
The 49ers didn’t make a roster move to add a safety, which suggests Tartt will be available. With Eric Reid (knee) likely sidelined for multiple games, the 49ers’ other safeties are Jimmie Ward and rookies Lorenzo Jerome and Adrian Colbert. Coach reaches Canton: The Pro Football Hall of Fame has a game shirt and binder used by 49ers assistant coach Katie Sowers displayed this week. Sowers is the second full-time female assistant in NFL history, and is also the league’s first openly gay coach.