5 Changes the 49ers Need to Make Entering Week 5

After a two-week road trip in New Jersey, the San Francisco 49ers had a rude awakening at home against the Philadelphia Eagles, losing 25-20 to a winless team in need of a momentum boost.

The 49ers unraveled in the fourth quarter, turning the ball over twice on a fumble and a pick-six. Philadelphia capitalized on both takeaways.

Quarterback C.J. Beathard replaced Nick Mullens after the interception. He led the offense down the field on a touchdown drive, but San Francisco couldn't squeeze out a final trip to the end zone in Eagles territory.

According to Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee, head coach Kyle Shanahan hopes to see starting signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo back at practice this week, but that's not a given. 

"Shanahan is hopeful Jimmy Garoppolo can return to practice this week but there's a chance he could miss his third straight game with his right high ankle sprain," Biderman wrote.

Clearly, Garoppolo will start if he's ready to play, though a change at quarterback from the primary backup to the third-stringer seems like an overreaction.

Mullens made some head-scratching turnovers, but he's just two weeks removed from throwing for 343 yards and a touchdown with a 4-6 record as a starter. Beathard (1-9 as a starter) has only completed 58 percent of his pass attempts for his career.

Bypassing the quarterback position, we'll look at five changes the 49ers need to make going into their Week 5 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.

Bench Daniel Brunskill; Start Colton McKivitz at Right Guard

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San Francisco 49ers right guard Daniel Brunskill

Head coach Kyle Shanahan has come up with creative ways to run the ball, using his wide receivers on jet sweeps and handoffs, but he hasn't been able to cover up the issues in pass protection.

According to Pro Football Focus, right guard Daniel Brunskill has allowed three sacks through four games. As a unit, the 49ers struggled to protect Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard in the most recent outing. They took five sacks in total.

Brunskill played tight end and right tackle at San Diego State. Perhaps a switch back to the perimeter could help boost San Francisco's blocking, which ranks 31st and 21st in run and pass situations, respectively, per Football Outsiders.

The coaching staff should consider rookie fifth-rounder Colton McKivitz at the right guard spot. He played tackle at West Virginia but impressed as an interior lineman during the summer. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey called him a "blessing to the O-line room" (h/t Niners Nation).

Since Week 2, the 49ers have dressed McKivitz over ninth-year veteran Tom Compton. With Brunskill allowing constant pressure, the team should see what the former Mountaineer could do in a starting role.

More Targets for WR Brandon Aiyuk, Fewer for RB Jerick McKinnon

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk

With Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert out with knee injuries over the last two outings, Jerick McKinnon has logged 38 touches between carries and receptions. He's been the lead ball-carrier and was second on the team in targets (eight) for Week 4. 

While McKinnon has been productive—he's averaging 7.8 yards per reception—the 49ers can potentially rack up more yards in open space with Brandon Aiyuk in a featured pass-catching role.

In Week 3 against the New York Giants, Aiyuk displayed his versatility and ability to extend plays, recording 101 yards from scrimmage and a score on eight touches. During Week 4, he saw five targets. None of the 49ers wideouts eclipsed 35 receiving yards.

Aiyuk has an aspect of his skill set comparable to Deebo Samuel's capabilities. He can turn short completions into big plays with breakaway speed. The rookie wideout averages 12.1 yards per reception. Whoever starts under center should look to feed him on quick throws to combat poor pass protection or overcome lapses in the ground attack. 

Furthermore, the coaching staff may want to refrain from overloading McKinnon given his history of knee injuries while Mostert and Coleman remain on the sideline.

Ramp Up WR Deebo Samuel's Snaps

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel

The 49ers justifiably eased Deebo Samuel back into the offense after his brief stint on injured reserve. In June, he broke his foot and experienced soreness during the healing process, which delayed his recovery.

Samuel suited up against the Philadelphia Eagles in the previous outing, playing 34 percent of the offensive snaps. He caught three passes for 35 yards, leading 49ers wideouts in the latter stat category.

San Francisco needs more production out of its wide receiver corps. Aiyuk missed the season opener because of a hamstring ailment and only has three games on his resume. Kendrick Bourne, though solid, didn't record a 500-yard campaign in three prior seasons. 

Samuel can take some of the load off of George Kittle, who returned from a knee injury in Week 4. The All-Pro tight end played 99 percent of the offensive snaps and hauled in 15 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. 

If Samuel isn't at high risk of reinjuring his foot, he should see an uptick in offensive plays—closer to 66 percent as a starter along with Bourne and Aiyuk.

Sign DE Cameron Wake

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San Francisco placed Ezekiel Ansah on injured reserve with a torn biceps, per Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee. The team signed him as a free-agent replacement for a depleted defensive line without Nick Bosa (torn ACL) and Dee Ford (neck).

Now, the 49ers need reinforcement for their inactive depth on the edge. They can turn to Cameron Wake, who played under defensive line coach Kris Kocurek during the 2018 term with the Miami Dolphins. Through that season, he logged 36 tackles, five for loss and six sacks in 14 starts.

At his age (38), Wake isn't a game-changer, but he can possibly set an edge for the 49ers front line, which has struggled with mobile quarterbacks such as Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz.

Wake hasn't played since November 2019 with the Tennessee Titans. He suffered an undisclosed injury and landed on injured reserve before the team released him. Through his agent, Paul Sheehy, the five-time Pro Bowler refuted reports about his intent to retire this year. 

Free-agent edge-rusher Clay Matthews is four years younger than Wake, but he's rushed the passer from a standup outside linebacker position for most of his career. Wake lined up in a four-man front under Kocurek.

Start Jamar Taylor in Place of Injured CB K'Waun Williams

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According to ESPN's Nick Wagoner, K'Waun Williams is "most likely" going on short-term injured reserve with a sprained knee. The coaching staff could move Jimmie Ward to the slot, where he's played in the past, and elevate Tarvarius Moore to starting free safety. 

Yet, ideally, the 49ers would make the fewest possible changes to the secondary for continuity. Jamar Taylor has recent experience in the slot. He manned the position with the Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons in 2019.

This year, San Francisco released Taylor before final roster cuts and then signed him to the practice squad prior to last week's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He made an immediate impact in place of Williams, taking down quarterback Carson Wentz for a sack. 

Taylor has knowledge of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh's system. He could fill in adequately for Williams in the short term. The 30-year-old still possesses enough speed and provides some physicality as a slot defender.