SANTA CLARA – The 49ers had five defenders who played all 66 snaps on Sunday in the team’s 31-21 victory over the New York Giants.
Three of those players were rookies, who greatly contributed to the 49ers’ first victory of the season.
Linebacker Reuben Foster, a first-round pick, recorded 10 tackles, including four stops near the line of scrimmage, and allowed just 12 yards in coverage on three pass plays on which he was targeted, according to Pro Football Focus.
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Safety Adrian Colbert, a seventh-round draft pick, has taken over as a starter after Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt sustained season-ending broken forearms. Colbert recorded four tackles and showed his range in the deep middle with two passes broken up.
And cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, a third-round pick making his third consecutive start since unseating Rashard Robinson, allowed just 24 yards receiving on the four pass plays on which he was targeted.
Also, second-year player Ronald Blair made his second appearance after coming off injured reserve following his recovery from thumb surgery, played 30 snaps and recorded two quarterback sacks, including a forced fumble. The takeaway led to a 49ers touchdown in the second quarter.
On offense, the 49ers compensated for the losses of wide receivers Pierre Garçon and Trent Taylor with a four-player combination that featured Marquise Goodwin, Aldrick Robinson, rookie Kendrick Bourne and veteran Louis Murphy, who played 27 snaps just days after being signed off the street.
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Here is a look at the 49ers’ playing time on offense, defense and special teams:
OFFENSE
(61 plays)
Quarterback – C.J. Beathard 61
Running back – Carlos Hyde 46, Kyle Juszczyk 38, Matt Breida 17
Wide receiver – Marquise Goodwin 48, Aldrick Robinson 31, Kendrick Bourne 29, Louis Murphy 27, Victor Bolden 1
Tight end – Garrett Celek 56, Logan Paulsen 12
Offensive line – Joe Staley 61, Daniel Kilgore 61, Laken Tomlinson 61, Trent Brown 61, Brandon Fusco 61
DEFENSE
(66 plays)
Defensive line – DeForest Buckner 52, Leger Douzable 38, Elvis Dumervil 37, Ronald Blair 30, Earl Mitchell 25, Datone Jones 16, D.J. Jones 14, Tony McDaniel 12
Linebacker – Reuben Foster 66, Brock Coyle 60, Eli Harold 37, Dekoda Watson 21
Cornerback – Dontae Johnson 66, Ahkello Witherspoon 66, K’Waun Williams 44, Leon Hall 10
Safety – Eric Reid 66, Adrian Colbert 66
SPECIAL TEAMS
(24 plays)
Watson 19, Mark Nzeocha 15, Bolden 15, Antoine Exum 14, Dexter McCoil 14, Ray-Ray Armstrong 14, Bradley Pinion 12, Greg Mabin 11, Breida 10, Blair 8, Johnson 8, Paulsen 8, Raheem Mostert 7, Witherspoon 7, Colbert 7, Harold 7, Kyle Nelson 6, Celek 6, Hall 6, Robbie Gould 5, Zane Beadles 5, Erik Magnuson 5, Staley 5, Kilgore 5, Tomlinson 5, Brown 5, Coyle 5, D.J. Jones 5, Da.Jones 4, Buckner 4, Douzable 4, Reid 4, Bourne 3, Mitchell 3, Hyde 1, Juszczyk 1, Murphy 1
DID NOT PLAY
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
INACTIVE
LB Elijah Lee (knee)
LB Pita Taumoepenu
DL Aaron Lynch (calf)
OT Darrell Williams
WR Trent Taylor (ribs)
TE George Kittle (ankle)
DT Solomon Thomas (knee)
