Eagles vs. SF 49ers: 5 matchups that will determine Week 4 outcome
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: SF 49ers Linebackers, Safeties vs. Eagles’ Zach Ertz
The lack of wide receiving prowess for Carson Wentz has led to an understandable reliance on his tight ends, namely Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert.
Goedert recently suffered an ankle fracture, however, putting all the more pressure on Ertz to be Wentz’s No. 1 pass-catching weapon in the foreseeable future. While Ertz is nowhere close to the tier of tight end as is the Niners’ own, George Kittle, the former is still a potent weapon and already has a team-high 24 targets over the first three games of 2020.
Normally, San Francisco would be well equipped to handle a player of Ertz’s caliber, especially considering the lack of wide receiver weapons at Philly’s disposal.
Yet the SF 49ers’ best pass-coverage linebacker, Dre Greenlaw, missed Week 3 with a leg contusion and didn’t open up this week’s practice sessions on the field. His status for Week 4 remains in doubt.
Few would question fellow linebacker Fred Warner’s abilities, and that’s fine. But fellow linebacker Kwon Alexander, who has had a rough start to 2020, has already missed six tackles and leads all Niners linebackers in that particular category.
Additionally, ensuring strong safety Jaquiski Tartt clamps down on Ertz’s on-field presence will be a must to keep the tight end from impacting Sunday’s contest.