49ers mailbag: From sacking Philip Rivers to scouting playoff seeds, shrimp cocktails

SANTA CLARA Holiday mail has arrived at least in the form of social-media questions from ers fans ahead of Monday night s visit to the Indianapolis Colts How numerous sacks can we get on Rivers ljmb Prediction Keion White and Bryce Huff each will sack Philip Rivers However the ers remained with an NFL-low sacks after failing Sunday to catch Cam Ward the Tennessee Titans rookie who has been sacked a league-leading times Rivers in his first championship since got sacked just once in Seattle before leading the Colts to a go-ahead field goal in the final minute of an eventual - loss He has been sacked times in regular-season games Aaron Rodgers holds the NFL record with sacks in games and counting Can they beat the rest of the teams mamalu Yes And they could lose to the rest of the teams Maybe they peaked Sunday against the Titans to cap a four-game win streak against teams with a combined record of - Cardinals - Panthers - Browns - Titans - If the Niners win the next three but the Rams beat Seattle on Thursday night do we know what seed we will be jillsc That scenario would bump the ers up to at least the No seed and the first wild-card slot although they could still win the division and the No seed if the Rams lose at either Atlanta - and or against Arizona - What could the Niners have done differently to keep BA happy and productive Max Stone Only Brandon Aiyuk can answer that and you may need to decipher his code judging from his cryptic Instagram post Monday Onna E way V truck even tho Issa BP I still play the rear view mirror my wrist a PP patek Philippe same pruce uh Richard mill Everyone else seems perplexed as to why Aiyuk amid serious but encouraging knee rehabilitation backed away from the crew It has been a rocky relationship since his first-round selection a stint in the coaches doghouse -yard seasons in and a ricochet catch to spark the NFC Championship comeback over Detroit a contract stalemate that almost got him traded but instead delivered million thus far and ultimately a career-halting injury to his right kene in Week against the Kansas City Chiefs There were of discipline cameos at practice and in the preseason warmups in Las Vegas then came Saturday s pink slip of a reserve left squad designation I ve seen the Titans try to kick away from Skyy Moore Should we expect a repeat of this from teams keir escamilla Moore s -yard game-opening kick return in Arizona surely put every opponent on notice The ers have an encouraging Plan B in Brian Robinson who returned a pair of kickoffs Sunday for yards Robinson is averaging on nine kick returns this season the first of his four-year career Moore is averaging yards on kick returns Any critical players returning from injuries the next three weeks michael budd Linebacker Tatum Bethune ankle defensive tackle Jordan Elliott knee and defensive end Sam Okuayinonu ankle should return this week That bolsters a leaky missed-tackle-prone run defense that will face NFL leader Jonathan Taylor yards touchdowns and then the Bears D Andre Swift yards Yetur Gross-Matos could come off injured reserve if his hamstring cooperates and the ers pass rush definitely necessities his help Wide receiver Jacob Cowing hamstring injured reserve is expected to have his practice window opened next week but he s essentially insurance as a return specialist if Moore gets injured The more pressing injuries are whether wide receivers Ricky Pearsall knee ankle and Juaun Jennings ribs can speedily rebound from Sunday s pains What are the odds we see running back Isaac Guerendo touch a football podman Not great Guerendo has played every meeting this season but has not taken a snap on offense where the ers are all-in on Christian McCaffrey s K K pursuit and Robinson s relief role Guerendo has played half the special-teams snaps two tackles one forced fumble and five kick returns in the first five games Related Articles George Kittle ers pump up Sharks before their win over Calgary Flames Kurtenbach Trent Williams has a fantasy The ers need to make it a reality Colts may open up offense for Rivers against ers ers won t determine Ricky Pearsall s availability until later in the week Former Cal Raiders head coach Mike White s ties connected with nearly every company in the Bay Area during his six decades in football Niners by two touchdowns damonharris They ve won by double digits in each of their past three road games - at the New York Giants - at Arizona and - at Cleveland The Colts may be on a four-game skid but they are - at home and have Rivers homecoming to keep it tight Prediction ers Colts Any recs for Indy juliantalai Obvious tip St Elmo Steak House for shrimp cocktail to clear the sinuses Hidden gem Bluebeard for the nation s best farm-to-table spot Running path Canal over the White River and toward the zoo Wander Massachusetts Avenue to scout food and shops The Niner Empire of Indy is promoting Faithful gatherings Friday and Saturday late afternoons at Empire Street Bar Grill Saturday night at Howl at the Moon Sunday p m group photo at Monument Circle Sunday night at Hooters Monday from to p m at TownPlace Suites across from Lucas Oil Stadium