Lost in all this talk about the 49ers beating the Detroit Lions and what they need to work on is what might be the biggest positive at the game’s conclusion: Reuben Foster has completed his suspension and will be back on the field.
It comes not a moment too soon either. The 49ers have been decimated at the linebacker position with Brock Coyle going on IR and Malcolm Smith still out due to a hamstring injury. Elijah Lee started in place of Coyle and Smith on Sunday, and did solid work, leading the team in tackles and managing a sack. Fred Warner has held down the fort best he can as the MIKE, but the 49ers lack of linebackers has made them miss Foster even more.
The 49ers are going into what may be the hardest game on the first half of the schedule. The Week 7 contest against the Los Angeles Rams is up there, but KC is difficult to play in regardless. The fact the Chiefs are white hot is going to make things even harder, meaning the 49ers need Foster more than ever.
The presence of Foster will give the defense a big boost, but against Patrick Mahomes and that Chiefs offense, we’ll just need to see how much.