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49ers vs. Rams: 5 players who need to step up in Week 6

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 30: Alfred Morris #46 of the San Francisco 49ers gets away from Ndamukong Suh #93 of the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Rams won 48-32. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 30: Alfred Morris #46 of the San Francisco 49ers gets away from Ndamukong Suh #93 of the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Rams won 48-32. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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TEMPE, ARIZONA – MARCH 24: Daniel Brunskill #75 of the San Diego Fleet drops into pass blocking during an Alliance of American Football game against the Arizona Hotshots at Sun Devil Stadium on March 24, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/AAF/Getty Images)
TEMPE, ARIZONA – MARCH 24: Daniel Brunskill #75 of the San Diego Fleet drops into pass blocking during an Alliance of American Football game against the Arizona Hotshots at Sun Devil Stadium on March 24, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/AAF/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Offensive Lineman Daniel Brunskill

The 49ers are already going with a rookie lineman in Joe Staley’s stead, sixth-round NFL Draft pick Justin Skule, and he’s performed admirably well enough over his first two pro-level starts.

Now it’s time for 2017 undrafted free-agent tackle Daniel Brunskill to show the Niners they did right by bringing him aboard earlier this offseason.

Brunskill, who initially signed with the Atlanta Falcons back in 2017, saw some time with the San Diego Fleet of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football. Apparently his performance there was enough to warrant attention from San Francisco, and his role now becomes an important one with Mike McGlinchey out for a few weeks.

If there’s a bit of a bonus for Brunskill, it’s Rams EDGE Clay Matthews being out with a broken jaw.

Los Angeles figures to rotate some strong-side pass-rushers during this contest, including Michael Brockers and Dante Fowler Jr. These matchups figure to be a bit more favorable to Brunskill, yet he has to be on his game for this contest to keep both the 49ers’ run and pass games working effectively enough.