The San Francisco 49ers have a clear warning sign popping up at the worst possible time: their run defense.
Ahead of their matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted the standard hasn’t been met, as San Francisco has been gashed on the ground lately. The 49ers have allowed 5.4 yards per carry and about 136 rushing yards per game over their last three contests, a stretch that has made the final weeks of the season feel a lot more uncomfortable.
“Yeah, it hasn’t been good enough,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said at a press conference. “We know we need to do better, especially with the challenge coming up this week with such a great running team.”
Key details
- SF has allowed 5.4 yards per carry over the last three games, according to a recent NinersNation report
- Shanahan: the run defense “hasn’t been good enough”
- The Colts bring a run-first challenge led by Jonathan Taylor
- San Francisco is trying to close out postseason positioning with the playoffs looming
Kyle Shanahan Sends a Clear Message on the Run Defense
The 49ers aren’t framing this as a small blip.
Shanahan acknowledged the unit needs to be better, and it’s not just one fix. When a defense is allowing 5.4 yards a carry over multiple games, it usually means edge-setting, tackling and early-down fits are all slipping at once, and opponents keep leaning into it until you prove you can stop it.
That’s why the timing matters. The Colts aren’t a “get-right” opponent. They’re a “prove it” opponent.
What It Means for 49ers vs. Jonathan Taylor
This is a pressure game because Indianapolis has the exact type of weapon that can turn a playoff-caliber team into a headline.
Taylor is the engine, and the Colts’ identity is built around keeping defenses in bad down-and-distance situations. If San Francisco can’t win early downs — or can’t force the Colts into a pass-heavy script — it risks letting Taylor control the entire pace.
Taylor has posted 1,443 yards this season on 272 rush attempts, reaching the end zone 16 times. He’s one of, if not the, best running backs in the NFL at age 26.
And it’s not just the box score. A leaky run defense creates knock-on effects: shorter third downs, fewer obvious passing situations, fewer chances for game-changing takeaways, and longer drives that keep the 49ers’ offense on the sideline.
CBS’ preview framing was blunt: the 49ers have been hit hard by injuries up front, and the recent rushing numbers reflect it as they prepare to face Taylor.
Injuries, Playoff Urgency, and Why This Matters Right Now
Part of the concern is simple math: injuries + late-season opponents.
NinersNation noted San Francisco’s defense has been hammered by injuries, including season-ending issues to key defenders, and the run defense is now becoming “a real concern” with the Colts and Bears still on the schedule.
If the 49ers clean this up, it becomes a “they fixed it before January” story. If they don’t, it’s the type of flaw that can get amplified in a single playoff game.
What to watch next
- Whether SF’s front can hold up early, before the Colts dictate tempo
- Any late-week roster/rotation tweaks aimed at stopping the run
- Postgame Shanahan quotes: does he call it “fixed,” or still “not good enough”?
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post 49ers Get Run Defense Wake-Up Call Before Colts, Jonathan Taylor Matchup appeared first on Heavy Sports.