49ers vs. Panthers: How Carolina spoils Week 5 for San Francisco
By Peter Panacy
Reason No. 2: Brian Burns torments Jimmy Garoppolo
As fun as it’ll be to watch Nick Bosa chase after Baker Mayfield, the Niners should have a significant concern with the Panthers’ own top pass-rusher, Brian Burns, who currently leads them with three sacks, five tackles for a loss and five quarterback hits.
Those aren’t elite pass-rushing numbers over four weeks, per se, but they’re important to point out nonetheless.
Especially considering the shorthanded nature of San Francisco’s offensive line.
The 49ers are already down to their third-string tackle in Jaylon Moore after watching the All-Pro starter, Trent Williams, suffer a high-ankle sprain, which was then followed by fellow tackle Colton McKivitz suffering an MCL sprain in Week 4.
As such, one might expect Burns to frequently line up opposite Moore and chase quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to the point where a turnover or two ends up keeping Carolina in the game.
And if the Niners offense winds up struggling to any greater degree than expected, that could be enough to grant the Panthers an upset.