49ers snap count: Matt Breida starts, sees more playing time

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Although Matt Breida exited Sunday's game in the second quarter with an apparent knee injury, the 49ers running back eventually returned.

Not only did Breida continue to rotate with veteran running back Alfred Morris, but for the first time this season, he saw more playing time. Breida, who made his second start of the season, played 29 snaps, while Morris was on the field for 23 offensive plays.

Breida had five carries for 29 yards before leaving the game late in the first half, then he came back in the third quarter and immediately produced a 21-yard run. Breida finished the game with 90 yards on 10 rushing attempts. He also caught three passes for 27 yards.

Entering the Monday night game, Breida is tied with Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott for the NFL lead with 274 rushing yards on the season. Breida has carried the ball 32 times this season, while Elliott has attempted 48 runs.

The 49ers trailed the Chiefs 35-7 in the second quarter but scored 17 unanswered points to tighten the margin of defeat in Kansas City.

“We stayed with the same plan,” Breida said. “We just have to play better in the second half is what it comes down to. We can’t make mental mistakes.”

Breida’s 8.6 yards per carry is the best in the NFL, but he has been even more effective on runs outside the tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. He has 11 outside runs for 138 yards, a 12.5 average.

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Fullback Kyle Juszczyk has emerged as the 49ers' third-down back. Juszczyk was the lone third-down back on six of the 49ers' eight plays of third-and-3 or longer, according to PFF. Juszczyk played 53 snaps in the game.

Rookie right tackle Mike McGlinchey struggled in pass protection. He allowed a sack and three hurries, according to PFF.

On defense, the 49ers had an astounding 17 missed tackles, according to PFF. The biggest culprits were Reuben Foster and Fred Warner, who missed six and four tackles, respectively. Foster missed just 10 tackles all of his rookie season.

Injuries on defense meant that 18 different players were on the field for 20 or more snaps. Among the 49ers who saw their first significant action of the season on defense were safety Antone Exum (76 snaps), Foster (75), cornerback Jimmie Ward (71), safety D.J. Reed (52) and linebacker Malcolm Smith (34),

Here are the total numbers of snaps of every 49ers player who saw action Sunday:

Offense

Total offensive snaps: 68
Quarterback -- Jimmy Garoppolo 67, C.J. Beathard 1
Running back -- Kyle Juszczyk 53, Matt Breida 29, Alfred Morris 23, Raheem Mostert 3
Wide receiver -- Pierre Garçon 52, Marquise Goodwin 42, Trent Taylor 25, Dante Pettis 25, Kendrick Bourne 15
Tight end -- George Kittle 54, Garrett Celek 19
Offensive line -- Joe Staley 68, Mike McGlinchey 68, Laken Tomlinson 68, Weston Richburg 68, Mike Person 61, Erik Magnuson 7

Defense

Total defensive snaps: 76
Defensive line -- DeForest Buckner 55, Arik Armstead 49, Solomon Thomas 44, Cassius Marsh 40, Earl Mitchell 33, Ronald Blair 29, D.J. Jones 22, Sheldon Day 20
Linebacker -- Fred Warner 76, Reuben Foster 75, Malcolm Smith 34, Elijah Lee 1
Defensive back -- Antone Exum 76, Jimmie Ward 71, K’Waun Williams 54, D.J. Reed 52, Ahkello Witherspoon 40, Richard Sherman 36, Adrian Colbert 25, Tarvarius Moore 5

Special teams

Total special teams plays: 28
Mark Nzeocha 24, Lee 24, Moore 23, Exum 18, Reed 18, Mostert 17, Celek 15, Tyvis Powell 14, Cole Wick 14, Warner 14, Bradley Pinion 13, Witherspoon 12, Marsh 11, Buckner 10, Ward 9, Kyle Nelson 8, Bourne 6, Mitchell 6, Thomas 5, Robbie Gould 4, Garry Gilliam 4, Staley 4, McGlinchey 4, Tomlinson 4, Richburg 4, Juszczyk 4, Taylor 4, Colbert 4, Breida 3, Pettis 2, Armstead 1

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