The San Francisco 49ers will enter their Week 5 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks without fullback Kyle Juszczyk, whose hyperextended knee could keep him out multiple weeks. The loss creates more than a blocking vacancy: Locked On 49ers host Brian Peacock said Juszczyk handles the shifts, motions and protection communication that help head coach Kyle Shanahan deploy the offense.
San Francisco tight end Brayden Willis is in line to take on the immediate fullback duties. Peacock said Willis has shown he can lead block and contribute as a receiver, but replacing Juszczyk means mastering a much wider assignment sheet than a typical in-line role demands.
Locked On 49ers co-host Eric Crocker said Willis already showed some of the adjustment required when he entered against Denver last weekend, pointing to the pre-snap details that come with lining up at several spots in Shanahan’s offense. Crocker added that Juszczyk’s experience helps organize the protection plan for the offensive line, quarterback and running backs before the snap.
That could alter how often the 49ers use traditional fullback and H-back looks against Seattle. Peacock suggested Shanahan may reduce those packages rather than ask Willis to replicate every alignment and communication responsibility immediately.
The immediate question is not whether Willis can make a block in isolation. It is whether the offense can preserve its flexibility without the player who has spent a decade learning the timing, checks, and multiplicity of Shanahan’s system. The answer will shape how much the 49ers can lean on their usual personnel menu in a pivotal division matchup.
49ers News and Notes
– Safety Marques Sigle (ankle) is also expected to miss multiple weeks, Peacock reported. San Francisco safety Malik Mustapha is positioned to step in, and Crocker said Mustapha’s recent pass breakup offered evidence that he can answer coverage questions while keeping the secondary intact.
– San Francisco defensive lineman Mykel Williams (knee) could return this week if he proves ready in practice, according to Peacock. The hosts view his edge-setting ability as a potential boost against Seattle’s run game, even as the pass rush continues to operate without Nick Bosa.
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