Patriots G Sidy Sow makes season debut, LB Anfernee Jennings is inactive for Sunday's game against the 49ers

New England's inactives include OT Vederian Lowe (knee), G Michael Jordan (ankle), OLB Anfernee Jennings (shoulder), TE Jaheim Bell, DE Jamree Kromah and QB Joe Milton is the third quarterback in an emergency. That means questionable players G Sidy Sow (ankle), CB Jonathan Jones (shoulder) and OT Caedan Wallace (knee) are active. The inactive 49ers are C Ben Bartch, CB Darrell Luter, WR Ronnie Bell, S Talanoa Hufanga and QB Joshua Dobbs (3rd QB).

If you're a Patriots fan hoping the 49ers are in top shape for Sunday's game, you're mostly out of luck. Although star RB Christian McCaffrey won't play, the 49ers' offensive playmakers, TE George Kittle and WR Deebo Samuel, are officially active, as is junior LT Trent Williams. Samuel (calf) and Williams (illness, toe) were questionable in Week 4.

For the first time this season, G Sidy Sow will be active on the offensive line and will likely start on the left side. Going into the season, Sow was expected to be the Pats' starting left guard, but the 2023 fourth-rounder suffered an ankle injury in the preseason finale. After missing the first three games, Sow will make his season debut against the 49ers, and the team is hoping the second-year pro will make a jump in his second year.

As a rookie, Sow had some inconsistency in pass protection (allowing five sacks). However, he showcased his raw power as a solid run blocker in gap runs. Although the offense struggled overall, one of the few things it had last season was its downhill run behind Sow and RT Mike Onwenu. Now Sow will move to the left side, where he will likely play alongside waiver-claimer Trey Jacobs, who is expected to start at left tackle.

With Lowe out and third-round rookie Caedan Wallace recovering from a knee injury, Jacobs was the top left tackle in practice this week. The second-year pro spent his rookie season on the Broncos' practice squad and then was released by Denver at the end of camp. The offense-starved Patriots claimed Jacobs, who allowed just two pressures in 101 snaps this preseason with an overall PFF grade of 73.0, on waivers. Jacobs also posted a relative athleticism score of 8.38 out of 10 at his pro day, and you've seen that athleticism translate into blocking in space this summer.

While it's never a good idea to limit yourself to the fourth-string left tackle, the Patriots have posted a league-high 20.8% pressure rate from left tackles through three games. Honestly, it can't get much worse. The Patriots' projected starting offense is LT Trey Jacobs, LG Sidy Sow, C David Andrews, RG Layden Robinson and RT Mike Onwenu. Despite his knee injury, Wallace is active, so he could fill in at left tackle if Jacobs struggles.

Next up, Mitchell Wilcox, promoted to the practice squad, takes seventh-round rookie Jaheim Bell's spot on the gameday roster. Bell was active in the team's first three games, but played just one snap on offense and 11 special teams snaps. Wilcox, a more robust in-line run blocker, will take the rookie spot to bolster the Patriots' run-first approach on Sunday. While it makes sense stylistically, it's a little disappointing that Bell, an explosive outdoor athlete, hasn't found a role.

On defense, the Patriots had a little-known injury, namely star Anfernee Jennings. Although he returned Friday, Jennings was questionable with a shoulder injury after not participating in the first two practices of the week. Jennings is officially inactive, a huge loss for the Pats' defense against the 49ers' wide zone system. San Francisco runs outside the tackles more than almost any other team in the NFL, with the outside zone being the foundation of head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense.

The key to slowing down the outside zone scheme is solid edges and inside penetration. Over the years, New England has countered the Shanahan tree with five- or six-man defensive lines. The goal is to set the edge, force the ball carrier back inside, and unlock the inside to move upfield with additional edge support. Now the Pats will have to do this without their best edge setter against the run, leaving Keion White and Joshua Uche as their primary edge rushers. This season, veteran Deatrich Wise is also playing more of a stand-up outside linebacker role.

The Patriots defense could line up in a tilt front (6-1) or a more standard 5-2 structure with hybrid EDGE Keion White on the strong side. Then NT Davon Godchaux can maintain the back combination block by absorbing the double team, allowing online players like Wise, Daniel Ekuale, Jeremiah Pharms and Trysten Hill to penetrate the line of scrimmage. While easier said than done, this is a possible formula for stopping the 49ers' dangerous attack, but it's harder to implement with Jennings sidelined.

On the backend, New England typically ran cover-three (buzz) and quarter coverages against the Shanahan tree. By starting with two high safeties, they can rotate (sum) another safety into the short zone distribution or run support. They could keep both safeties deep in the quarter or in Cover-2 if they expect a shooting game. The zone defense could also mask the fact that the Patriots' cornerbacks have a size disadvantage compared to the 49ers' receivers.

If the 49ers' size advantage shows, the Patriots signed CB Isaiah Bolden to the active roster on Saturday. Bolden has great size (6-2, 201) and is a great athlete who ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash out of Jackson State. Not only is the 2023 seventh-round pick likely to play a role on special teams, but he could also contribute on defense this week.

Bolden's coverage skills are still a work in progress, but his body type is a better fit for 49ers WR Jauan Jennings (6-3, 215), who had 11 catches for 175 yards and three touchdowns last Sunday, than Jonathan and Marcus Jones. Last week, the size of Jets receivers Allen Lazard and Mike Williams was a problem for the Pats' smaller CBs. Other boundary corner options include Marco Wilson and rookie Marcellas Dial Jr., who are also active.

From that perspective, it makes sense for top CB Christian Gonzalez to accompany 49ers star WR Brandon Aiyuk. Gonzalez has held his own in heavyweight battles with Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase, Seahawks WR DK Metcalf and Jets star Garrett Wilson; If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That leaves a mix of Jones, Bolden, Wilson and Dial to cover Jennings and Deebo Samuel, who is active for San Francisco despite being listed as questionable.

The Patriots are the big underdogs in San Francisco (-10). For head coach Jerod Mayo, this week is about seeing approval from his team. Of course you play to win every game. However, the 49ers are on a different level than the rebuilding Patriots. All you want to see from New England is a more competitive performance than last Thursday night in the Meadowlands. It stinks when you're in moral victory territory, but here the Patriots are against a Super Bowl contender.

The Patriots face the 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET.