3 SF 49ers who shouldn’t see a snap vs. Cowboys in Week 15
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: SF 49ers Cornerback Dontae Johnson
Injuries have forced the SF 49ers to test their cornerback depth a lot this season, and setbacks to nickel corners K’Waun Williams and Emmanuel Moseley thrust veteran defensive back Dontae Johnson into a starting slot role the last two games.
The results weren’t exactly great either, considering Johnson surrendered three receptions on six targets in Week 14 against Washington and received a lowly 39.5 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus during the game.
The hope is both Williams and Moseley return from their respective injuries in time for Week 15. But even if they don’t, the Niners would be better off promoting a younger cornerback off the practice squad like Tim Harris or Parnell Motley, if for nothing else but to see what they might be able to offer against a substandard Dallas passing offense.
Another reason why Johnson needs not to see the field is that he’s a free agent next season and doesn’t figure to be re-signed by San Francisco in 2021.
At this point, Johnson doesn’t offer anything for long-term value, so continue to evaluate what he can do makes little sense from the SF 49ers’ vantage point.