The 49ers head into their Week 8 bye at 6-1, sitting just behind the Minnesota Vikings for the best record in the NFC, and they’ve done it while dealing with their share of injuries. Even after the Week 7 stumble, San Francisco is still rolling through most of the league. But the roster isn’t flawless, and with the trade deadline looming, there’s one move that stands out above the rest.
It’s tempting to say the 49ers should chase another wide receiver. That instinct makes sense on the surface.
Ricky Pearsall and De'Zhaun Stribling are both out for the year, and DeMarcus Robinson, Christian Kirk, Mike Evans, and Deebo Samuel have all been dealing with injuries of their own. After the offensive issues against Atlanta, plenty of fans would naturally look at the passing game and want another weapon added to the mix.
The bye week changes that equation. San Francisco now has extra time for those receivers to get healthier.
Kirk is already working his way back, Evans and Samuel are on the mend, and Robinson still has a longer road ahead. Given that outlook, adding another wideout could create more clutter than help.
The better swing for the 49ers is on defense, where the real issue is in the trenches. San Francisco has been solid on that side of the ball, but the pass rush against Atlanta was a problem.
Michael Penix Jr. was pressured on just three of his 34 dropbacks in Week 7, and that number tells the story. Nick Bosa’s calf strain, which has kept him out since the start of the season, is a major part of the issue.
Even with Bosa in the lineup, the defensive front still looks short of what it needs to be. And the kind of player who can change that comes with a familiar face: DeForest Buckner.
Buckner spent the 2016 through 2019 seasons with the 49ers before being traded during the 2020 season. Since then, he has developed into one of the league’s most underrated defensive players with the Indianapolis Colts.
The problem is that his impact hasn’t translated into enough wins in Indianapolis, and that’s led to frustration on his side. In San Francisco, his talent would fit cleanly into a defense that’s already good and could become even more dangerous with another difference-maker in the middle.
There’s no question Buckner would come at a steep price, especially with competition likely to drive up the cost. But that shouldn’t stop John Lynch and the front office.
The 49ers are reportedly prepared to be buyers, and a 6-1 start is the kind of position you don’t waste. If they want to maximize this run, bringing back a former defensive star makes sense.
And the schedule doesn’t exactly get easier from here. San Francisco still has division games ahead, plus matchups with the Vikings, Chiefs, Cowboys, and Raiders, among others.
Those are the kinds of offenses that punish weak spots fast. That’s why shoring up the defensive line should be the move when the 49ers come out of the bye.
In Other News...
49ers Bye Week Could Clarify A Return Picture Fans Need To See
The bye week arrives at a useful time for a 49ers team that has spent much of the first half juggling injuries, roster moves and the expectation that help is still on the way. San Francisco is using the break to reset physically and sort through a return picture that includes several important names, with the hope that the roster looks a lot healthier once the season resumes.
There is still some uncertainty in the timing, though, especially for the players fans are watching most closely. Deebo Samuel is part of that recovery conversation, but his hamstring situation may require a little more patience even after the break, while the 49ers are particularly eager to see one of their defensive leaders get through the extra week in good shape. Other injured players remain further away, leaving the team to balance short-term caution with the need to get stronger for the second half. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Shanahan Heads Into Bye With A 49ers Problem He Must Fix
The 49ers have spent much of the early season trying to build on clean, efficient football, but the last two weeks have complicated that picture. After standing as the leagues least-penalized team through Week 5, San Francisco suddenly looked sloppier in back-to-back games, with discipline issues becoming a more visible part of the conversation as the offense and defense both fought through a rough stretch.
Kyle Shanahan now gets the bye week to sort out a problem that has started to chip away at the Niners edge. Penalties are rarely the flashiest issue on a contender, but they can quickly become one when they alter drives, extend possessions and force a team to play from behind. For a San Francisco group that still has bigger goals in front of it, the coming week offers a needed reset before the season resumes. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Keep Running Into The Same Problem On Offense
The 49ers have spent much of this season trying to piece together an offense that can stay intact long enough to find a rhythm, and Mike Evans has become a central part of that equation. Injuries have already forced San Francisco to navigate stretches without Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle, leaving the unit short on the kind of playmaking and stability that usually keeps it on schedule. Even with the bye week offering a reset and a chance to get some bodies back, the bigger concern is whether the group can finally look like a whole offense for more than a brief stretch.
What has made the situation so frustrating is how dependent the 49ers have become on Evans being available and productive. When he is on the field, the offense can look far more balanced and dangerous, but every absence seems to expose the same familiar issues in protection, timing and finishing drives. The coming weeks will tell a lot about whether San Francisco can finally escape that cycle, or whether it is going to keep leaning on a few key names just to keep the attack moving. [Read more 🡒]