PLAYER NOTES
–RB Matt Breida rushed for a career-best 138 yards in the Week 2 win over Detroit, including the longest touchdown run of his career, a 66-yarder. Through two games, Breida leads the NFL in both rushing yards (184) and yards per carry (8.4).
–WR Marquise Goodwin (strained quad) was a limited participant at practice on Wednesday as the 49ers began preparations for their Week 3 game at Kansas City. Goodwin remains questionable for the game. He has missed the club’s first two games.
–G Michael Person (strained left foot) was on the field for all 64 offensive snaps of the Week 2 win over Detroit. Person had to leave the 49ers’ opening loss at Minnesota with a foot injury.
–G Joshua Garnett (dislocated toe) sat out practice Wednesday and it is uncertain whether he’ll be healthy enough to return from his injury for the Week 3 game at Kansas City. Garnett suffered the injury in the opener at Minnesota and missed the Week 2 win over Detroit.
–G Matt Tobin was released on Wednesday so the 49ers could create a spot on the 53-man roster for MLB Reuben Foster. Tobin had been inactive for the team’s first two games.
–DT DeForest Buckner recorded a sack in the Week 2 win over Detroit, increasing his season total to 3.5, tops in the NFC and just a half-sack behind NFL leader OLB Von Miller.
–ILB Reuben Foster was reinstated from suspension Monday and was activated by the 49ers on Wednesday. Foster was forced to sit out the first two games of the season.
–CB Richard Sherman pitched a shutout against the Lions in Week 2, not allowing a single completion to the receiver to which he was assigned. The Lions attempted 53 passes in the game, only one of which went in Sherman’s direction. It went incomplete. Sherman has allowed just one completion in two games with the 49ers.
–DB Ahkello Witherspoon was benched in favor of DB/SS Jimmie Ward during the Week 2 win over Detroit. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday the starting cornerback opposite of CB Richard Sherman for the Week 3 game at Kansas City has not yet been decided.
–SS Jaquiski Tartt (strained shoulder) aggravated his previous injury in the Week 2 win over Detroit and is questionable for the Week 3 game at Kansas City. Tartt was held out of practice Wednesday as the 49ers began preparations for the Chiefs.
–PK Robbie Gould broke PK Phil Dawson’s franchise record (27) when he went 3-for-3 on field goals in the Week 2 win over Detroit, running his streak of consecutive makes to 29. Gould enters Week 3 tied with Mason Crosby for the most field goals in the NFL this season with six.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: CB Ahkello Witherspoon. The Lions torched the young cornerback so often in Week 2 that the 49ers had to bench him. His replacement, DB/FS Jimmie Ward, also got beat for a long gainer, which prompted 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan to disclose Monday that he was unsure who would start against Kansas City.
GAME PLAN: Unleash Reuben Foster. No doubt, a potential difference-maker in what should be a shootout is the team that puts the most pressure on the other’s young quarterback. With the Chiefs likely to focus their protection on defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, the NFC’s leading sacker through two weeks, holes likely will exist in the middle of the line for Foster to sneak through a time or two in his season debut and get a couple of solid hits on Patrick Mahomes.
The 49ers also would like to have a new weapon on offense this week with the possible return of wide receiver Marquise Goodwin. The timing would be perfect, with the Chiefs no doubt having seen the running ability of running back Matt Breida from the Detroit game film. Sneaking a safety up to deal with Breida could prove costly with the fleet Goodwin running downfield.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–49ers FS Adrian Colbert vs. Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill. The Lions picked on the inexperienced Colbert all day in Week 2, completing 30- and 67-yard touchdown passes, while also just missing on four other long attempts to open receivers. Now the 49ers face arguably the NFL’s best deep threat in Hill, who leads the league in receptions for 20 or more yards with seven in two games. Look for Hill to spend a lot of time lined up to QB Patrick Mahomes’ left, away from CB Richard Sherman.
–49ers RB Matt Breida vs. Chiefs OLB Dee Ford. The Chargers torched the Kansas City defensive exterior in the opener with dump-offs to RB Melvin Gordon, who hauled in nine passes for 102 yards out of the backfield. No doubt, the 49ers would love to do the same with Breida, who was deemed more of a pass-catching threat than a runner until he exploded for a career-best 138 yards on the ground in Week 2 against Detroit.
