Foster gets back in the middle of things
Returns from injury, takes over Bowman’s MLB role
Not only was rookie linebacker Reuben Foster playing for the first time in six weeks Sunday, he was also playing his first game as the 49ers’ middle linebacker.
Foster was calling plays for the first time in an NFL regular-season game after the 49ers parted ways with NaVorro Bowman last week.
Foster finished with five tackles in his first game since Sept. 10 — the 49ers’ season opener against Carolina, when he played weakside linebacker and suffered a high ankle sprain just 11 plays into his NFL career.
“It was just like Alabama, calling the plays and getting everybody lined up,” Foster said. “But you are not going to have a 100 percent game, so you have to just do a good job. If you mess up, you have to go on to the next play and not dwell on the play you messed up on.”
Bowman was signed by the Raiders last Monday started on Thursday.
“I accepted that role when I got drafted and I wanted the role,” Foster said.
Foster had four tackles in the first half, including one on Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott for a one-yard loss in the first play of the second quarter. Otherwise it was a day to forget for Foster and a patchwork 49ers defense, which allowed 501 net yards in the worst loss of the Kyle Shanahan era.
Foster was briefly re-injured late in the third quarter as he tried to tackle Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who came out of the pocket to score on a 2-yard touchdown run.
Foster suffered a rib injury as he reached out to get a piece of Prescott’s legs and landed awkwardly on his side. Shanahan said Foster was cleared to return but that he decided to keep him out for the game’s final possessions.
Foster was limited in practice all week but had been expected to play as of Friday.
Elliott finished with 147 yards on 26 carries and two rushing TDs, including a 25-yard score midway through the first quarter. Elliott ran right up the middle and cut to his right, as Foster was unable to shed a block of Cowboys right tackle Le’el Collins.
The 49ers were without defensive linemen Arik Armstead (broken hand) and Aaron Lynch (calf strain). Other linebackers Ray-Ray Armstrong (shoulder), Brock Coyle (shoulder) and Dekoda Watson (groin) were limited in practice all week.
Eric Reid played linebacker for the first time in his life.
“It’s a little different for me. I’ve never played the position,” Reid said. “I’m trying to embrace it and learn as I go.”
• Any thoughts of a 49ers comeback were quickly squashed with a 72-yard catch and run from Elliott, who eluded a handful of would-be tacklers for his third touchdown of the game and a 26-3 Cowboys lead with 10:58 to go in the third quarter.
Cornerback Rashard Robinson couldn’t shed the block from Cowboys receiver Noah Brown, as Elliott outraced Jaquiski Tartt and Foster down the field and stayed in bounds before he cut back to the inside and crossed the goal line.
• The 49ers once again had to play from behind for almost the entire game after a special-teams turnover deep in their own zone.
Punt returner Trent Taylor fumbled just over a minute into the game after he was hit by Kavon Frazier, and Dallas safety Xavier Woods recovered at the San Francisco 20. The Cowboys then gave the ball to Elliott three straight times, with the third rush resulting in a 1-yard touchdown run.
The 49ers trailed 14-0 after just 7:04 of play, and have now been outscored 50-16 after the first quarter in seven games this season.
• Right tackle Trent Brown suffered a concussion in the second half and did not return.