49ers schedule: 4 best non-NFC West games in 2021

No. 3: Week 7 — Colts @ 49ers

Last year, then-Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz had something of a turnaround game against the 49ers after getting off to an abysmal turnover-prone start in 2020.

That wasn’t close enough to prevent him from being shipped off to the Indianapolis Colts, who’ll make their way to Levi’s Stadium in Week 7 for a key prime-time matchup on Sunday Night Football.

Can the 28-year-old Wentz resurrect his career under the tutelage of Colts head coach Frank Reich and Co.? Maybe. Indianapolis is gambling a lot on Wentz’s rebound, although the AFC South doesn’t exactly present much of a challenge outside of the Titans.

Yet that’s not the key reason why this Week 7 bout is so interesting for Niners fans.

No, the big reason will be to see an old friend, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, make his return to the Bay Area after being traded to Indy during the 2020 offseason. Buckner, San Francisco’s first-round NFL Draft pick from 2016, quickly became a fan-favorite, team captain and locker-room leader during his four-year tenure with the 49ers, and there’s still the legitimate argument the Niners should have done more to try and retain him over other players like his former D-line teammate, Arik Armstead.

Nevertheless, Buckner will want to have a revenge game against his former squad, while San Francisco will want to come out fresh with a win following its early bye week.