SANTA CLARA -- Defensive lineman Solomon Thomas played the fifth-most snaps of any 49ers’ defensive lineman on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. But Thomas turned in a solid performance, providing some pressure on quarterback Matthew Stafford.
“I thought he showed up a lot (Sunday),” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said on Monday. “I thought he was playing hard in pursuit, and I thought he showed up at the quarterback a couple of times.
“I thought he had a better game than he did a week before, and I expect that to continue throughout the year.”
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SIGN UP HERE Thomas, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 draft, played 37 snaps and accounted for four quarterback hurries on his 22 plays as a pass-rusher, according to Pro Football Focus. He played 47 percent of the 49ers’ defensive snaps after playing 35 snaps or 49 percent of the plays in the opener at Minnesota.
Again, DeForest Buckner led the way for the 49ers’ defense with one sack, one quarterback hit and three hurries. Buckner played 64 snaps, which is more than defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said last week he hopes any 49ers’ defensive lineman plays in a game this season.
The 49ers did not generate consistent pressure on Stafford, and he picked apart the San Francisco secondary with 347 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was hobbled with an ankle injury, and the Lions took advantage. Witherspoon allowed eight catches on 12 targets for 99 yards and two touchdowns, according to PFF. Witherspoon was taken off the field late in the game, as he played 64 of team’s 74 defensive plays.
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On the other side, Detroit avoided challenging Richard Sherman. According to PFF, Sherman saw one pass thrown his way. It was incomplete. He has allowed only one reception in 99 downs in pass coverage through two games, being targeted once every 24.75 coverage snaps leads all qualifying NFL cornerbacks, according to PFF. His 0.18 yards allowed per coverage snaps ranks second behind Arizona’s Patrick Peterson.
Here are the total numbers of snaps of every 49ers player who saw action on Sunday in the team’s 30-27 win over the Lions:
Offense
Total offensive snaps: 64
Quarterback – Jimmy Garoppolo 64
Running back – Kyle Juszczyk 40, Alfred Morris 31, Matt Breida 26
Wide receiver – Dante Pettis 56, Pierre Garçon 48, Trent Taylor 16, Kendrick Bourne 10, Richie James 7
Tight end – George Kittle 50, Garrett Celek 30, Cole Wick 6
Offensive line – Joe Staley 64, Mike McGlinchey 64, Laken Tomlinson 64, Weston Richburg 64, Mike Person 64
Defense
Total defensive snaps: 77
Defensive line – DeForest Buckner 64, Cassius Marsh 54, Arik Armstead 54, Ronald Blair 40, Solomon Thomas 37, Earl Mitchell 25, Sheldon Day 20, D.J. Jones 13
Linebacker – Fred Warner 77, Elijah Lee 72, Mark Nzeocha 16
Defensive back – Adrian Colbert 77, Richard Sherman 77, Jaquiski Tartt 71, Ahkello Witherspoon 64, K’Waun Williams 61, Jimmie Ward 19, Antone Exum 6
Special teams
Total special teams plays: 34
Tarvarius Moore 25, Nzeocha 25, Raheem Mostert 20, Exum 20, Bradley Pinion 18, D.J. Reed 16, Celek 16, Greg Mabin 15, Terence Garvin 15, Wick 15, Marsh 15, Ward 15, Warner 14, Buckner 14, Lee 13, Witherspoon 12, Kyle Nelson 11, Tartt 9, Jones 8, Robbie Gould 6, Garry Gilliam 6, Staley 6, Richburg 6, Tomlinson 6, McGlinchey 6, Mitchell 6, Breida 5, Juszczyk 5, Colbert 5, Thomas 5, Sherman 4, Taylor 4, Armstead 3, Williams 3, Pettis 2
