‘Foster’-ing hope versus Wilson
With LB healthy, Niners look to end curse vs. Seattle QB
SANTA CLARA >> A healthy Reuben Foster might be just what the 49ers need Sunday to thwart their chief nemesis from the past few years: Russell Wilson, quarterback extraordinaire of the Seattle Seahawks.
Foster is coming off the first two full games of his rookie season — and with him healthy, the 49ers on Friday parted with his backup at weakside linebacker, Ray-Ray Armstrong.
Foster produced doubledigit tackle totals in each outing. More important, he showed the play-making range needed to combat Wilson.
“With him, you have to have fundamentals and quick feet,” Foster said Friday. “I don’t look forward to just trying to hit him hard. I just want to get him on the ground, because he’s an elusive player.”
It will take much more than a one-on-one matchup for the 49ers (1-9) to snap an eight-game losing streak to the Seahawks (6-4) dating back to the 2013 season’s NFC Championship Game.
But Reuben-vs.-Russell at least offers a new dimension, and the 49ers need all they can to stop the savvy veteran quarterback who is 10-2 all-time against them.
“Reuben doesn’t have to do anything different,” 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. “He has to play disciplined football, let the play come to him, and when he’s in position, make the play.”
Said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll: “Coming from where he’s coming from in college (Alabama), he’s faced a lot of quarterbacks that can run and play fast. I don’t think it’s going to be a big adjustment for him.”
Foster should bring better play-making potential than what NaVorro Bowman and Armstrong offered in the 49ers’ Week 2 loss at Seattle, when Wilson rallied the Seahawks to a 12-9 win and threw a go-ahead touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
“As soon as you think you’ve got him pinned to a wall, he’s coming out big time,” Foster said of Wilson, who accounts for 82 percent of the Seahawks offensive yards this season, including a team-high 376 rushing yards.
• A month after Bowman got released, Armstrong was cut Friday. Coach Kyle Shanahan cited having too many inside linebackers as to why Armstrong became the odd-man out, creating a roster spot for defensive end Tank Carradine to come off injured reserve Saturday.
Armstrong fell out of favor in recent games, and not only because of Foster’s emergence and improved health. Brock Coyle and Foster have entrenched themselves as the starting linebackers, and Shanahan likes what younger linebackers Elijah Lee and Mark Nzeocha offer for special teams duties.
Last December, Armstrong received a two-year extension from then-general manager Trent Baalke. Armstrong started during Foster’s five-game absence with an ankle injury, but the 49ers had Armstrong take only one defensive snap the past two games combined.
• Right tackle Trent Brown injured his shoulder late in Thursday’s practice and is a gametime decision Sunday, said Shanahan, who declined to name Brown’s possible replacement.
• Safety Adrian Colbert (thumb) did not practice all week and is out for Sunday’s game. With Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt on injured reserve, the 49ers will start their fourth different free safety this season, from either Leon Hall, Dexter McColl or Antone Exum.