
SANTA CLARA – The 49ers switched it up in their defensive backfield on Sunday, as Dontae Johnson replaced right cornerback Kenneth Acker for most of the team’s snaps in their base defense.
Acker started his 13th game of the season but was quickly replaced by Johnson, who played 53 snaps – or 83 percent of the team’s defensive plays in the 49ers’ 24-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Acker played just nine snaps, one of which was a 47-yard pass to Marvin Jones in which he was in coverage.
[MAIOCCO: 49ers defense allows three short-field TDs in 4:23 span]
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Rookie Trent Brown saw his most extensive playing time of the season when he was inserted into the lineup at right tackle after Marcus Martin sustained a concussion. Martin was injured when his head appeared to strike Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga around his knees as he attempted a cut block downfield on a failed screen pass.
Martin started at right guard. After Martin’s injury, right tackle Erik Pears moved to guard, opening the way for Brown to get into the action for the first time since Nov. 8 against Atlanta.
Brown played 34 snaps in the fourth quarter, including 33 plays in which he was in pass protection. Brown allowed just one quarterback hurry, according to Pro Football Focus. Brown and left tackle Joe Staley were the only 49ers offensive linemen with positive grades in PFF’s ratings system.
Here’s a complete rundown of the 49ers’ play time on offense, defense and special teams:
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Offense
(76 snaps)
76 -- LT Joe Staley, LG Andrew Tiller, RT/RG Eric Pears, C Daniel Kilgore, QB Blaine Gabbert
70 -- WR Anquan Boldin
56 -- WR Torrey Smith, TE Blake Bell
42 -- RG Marcus Martin
39 -- TE Vance McDonald
37 -- WR Quinton Patton
34 -- RT Trent Brown
30 -- RB Travaris Cadet
29 -- RB Kendall Gaskins
18 -- WR Jerome Simpson
17 -- WR Bruce Ellington
16 -- RB Shaun Draughn
10 -- FB Bruce Miller
2 -- TE Brian Leonhardt
Defense
(64 snaps)
64 -- FS Eric Reid, CB Tramaine Brock, SS Jaquiski Tartt, LB NaVorro Bowman
56 -- LB Ahmad Brooks
54 -- LB Gerald Hodges
53 -- CB Dontae Johnson
46 -- DL Quinton Dial
44 -- NT Ian Williams
37 -- DB Jimmie Ward
31 -- LB Eli Harold
30 -- DL Arik Armstead
28 -- DL Mike Purcell, LB Corey Lemonier
13 -- DL Tank Carradine
10 -- DL Tony Jerod-Eddie
9 -- CB Kenneth Acker, CB Keith Reaser
Special teams
27 -- Nick Bellore
23 -- Shayne Skov, Ray-Ray Armstrong
21 -- Johnson
20 -- Ward
19 -- Marcus Cromartie
23 -- Miller
18 -- Patton, Gaskins
13 -- Ellington
12 -- Bradley Pinion, Armstead
10 -- Kyle Nelson, Harold, Acker
8 -- Reid, Hodges, Jerod-Eddie
7 -- Dial
6 -- Brock
5 -- Tartt
4 -- Phil Dawson McDonald, Williams, Purcell
3 -- Pears, Staley, Tiller
2 -- Brown
1 -- Martin, Cadet
Did not play -- QB Dylan Thompson, OL Ian Silberman
Not active -- WR DeAndrew White, CB Chris Davis, LB Michael Wilhoite (ankle), LB Aaron Lynch (concussion), OL Brandon Thomas, OL Jordan Devey, G Alex Boone (knee)