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5 things Kyle Shanahan, 49ers need to accomplish during Week 4 bye

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during warm ups prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi's Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during warm ups prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi's Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 16: Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers is helped offsidesthe field by training personnel after injuring his knee on a play against the Seattle Seahawks during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 16: Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers is helped offsidesthe field by training personnel after injuring his knee on a play against the Seattle Seahawks during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Find a Replacement for Ahkello Witherspoon

One of the downsides of the 49ers’ Week 3 win over the Steelers was the loss of starting cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.

The third-year pro has been one of the Niners’ best defenders early this season, and his sprained foot will keep him out for at least a month.

Thankfully, San Francisco can absorb one of those weeks in its bye.

The 49ers could explore the free-agent or trade market. But the former likely isn’t going to offer much, by the way of quality options, and both Witherspoon and fellow corner Richard Sherman are playing too well this season to make a blockbuster deal. Who sits when Witherspoon comes back, and at the cost of what could be a relatively lucrative trade package, especially for a big-name player?

San Francisco has on-roster options, which Kyle Shanahan mentioned during last Monday’s press conference. D.J. Reed is a backup corner, while Emmanuel Moseley is an option. Veteran cornerback Jason Verrett, who was burned for a touchdown against Pittsburgh, has plenty of experience, as does fellow defensive back Jimmie Ward.

Either way, the 49ers will need to find a quality option for Weeks 5 through 7, as the team will face off against the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins during that stretch.