More help was needed for overmatched Allen
Robert Saleh acknowledged the obvious: He could have given overmatched cornerback Brian Allen more help in Sunday’s 4317 loss to the Dolphins.
Allen, 26, who had not played a defensive snap in the NFL, was benched after four series in which he committed two penalties and allowed five receptions for 124 yards, including a 22yard touchdown on 3rdandgoal.
Saleh, the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, was asked if he should have provided more secondary assistance, such as shading a safety in Allen’s direction.
“Obviously with every situation, you learn a lot,” Saleh said. “Absolutely, there could have been more ( help). I know that we had a certain game plan going in throughout the entire course of the week. After that first series, we did our best to get him safety help.”
Allen is back on the practice squad this week after he was moved to the active roster Saturday. Saleh indicated the 49ers still plan to develop Allen, a 2017 fifthround pick of the Steelers who is on his fourth NFL team.
“I’m very proud of the individual and I mean this sincerely,” Saleh said. “He’s got a bright future ahead of him. Sometimes people get thrown into a fire, not that he wasn’t ready for it, but there’s still a lot of room for him to grow and get better, and I’m still excited to work with him on a daytoday basis.”
Still missing: Wide receiver Dante Pettis has started the 2020 season where he spent the last part of 2019 — on the sidelines.
The wide receiver who was a The secondround pick in 2018 has zero catches on one target, has played 63 offensive snaps and was inactive against the Dolphins. Last year, Pettis played nine offensive snaps in the final 10 games, including the playoffs, before he was inactive for Super Bowl LIV.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked if time was running out for Pettis to prove he can become the player the 49ers envisioned when they traded up to take him at No. 44 overall.
“Well, yeah, obviously we envisioned him — ( hoped) he could be a starter out there and hoped he could be a returner for us,” Shanahan said. “He got some opportunities this year to be a returner for us, but I don’t think, on the ( returns) he’s gotten, have been some great looks.”
Pettis, who owns the NCAA record for punt return touchdowns ( nine), has averaged 7 yards on two returns this season. He’s averaged 3.7 yards on 11 returns in his career.
Shanahan said Pettis was inactive because injuries to cornerbacks created holes that needed to be filled on special teams. He was replaced by wide receiver Kevin White, who played 15 specialteams snaps after he was moved from the practice squad Saturday.
Injury report: Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley ( concussion) was a full participant in practice for the first time since he was injured Sept. 27, suggesting he will start Sunday against the Rams.
Running back Jeff Wilson ( calf ) and safety Marcell Harris ( ankle) did not practice. Neither was on the injury report Wednesday.