The San Francisco 49ers have plummeted in the 2020 NFL season and are finding themselves in the middle of a Super Bowl-appearance hangover after coming off a trip to the championship stage last season. Through Week 12 proceedings, Robert Saleh and the Niners hold a 5-6 record to nab the cellar-dwelling spot in the much-improved NFC West division.
Amid their struggles, they could also potentially lose an important piece of the team in the near future. 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has recently been linked to speculations that he has emerged as a candidate to take over a head coaching job soon. The Detroit Lions are currently emerging as interested suitors after they recently parted ways with former head coach Matt Patricia.
The 41-year-old then shrugged off the rumors and insisted that the team's focus remains on the present as they are still hoping for a miracle and an opportunity to barge into the 2020 playoff picture, per Pro Football Talk.
“This league is so week-to-week, and the most important week right now is Monday Night Football against Buffalo, and we've got a team that's in the middle of the playoff hunt, so it's really a non-issue for me. I don't talk about it. I don't really even see it. I don't have social media. I don't look into the news. So it's probably more for family and friends to enjoy and get a kick out of than it is for me. We're completely locked into Buffalo.”
The entire team's struggles can be traced to the many injuries that they have suffered as of late. The 49ers' defensive rotation in particular, which was previously hit by the relocation of DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts, has been left with gaping holes early on.
Star defensive end Nick Bosa and defensive tackle Solomon Thomas bot sustained a season-ending torn ACL injury. Another pass-rusher in Dee Ford has also spent some time on the injured reserve list due to a nagging neck injury while veteran cornerback Richard Sherman also missed action due to a calf injury.
A chance to grab a playoff spot is still not out of the picture if the 49ers can generate strong performances to close out the regular season. Despite the rumors of Saleh potentially leaving, the team will still aim to build on their momentum as they face the streaking Buffalo Bills in Week 13 action.
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