The absence of Vernon Davis in the lineup last Sunday led to the 49ers to abandon the ground game in favor of a heavy dosage of four- and five-wideout looks in an ugly loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
With their pass-catching tight end back on the field, look for the run-happy Niners to revert to what they do best against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport tweeted Sunday morning that Davis is "good to go" after missing the Cardinals tilt with an ankle injury. Also dealing with a knee issue, Davis was listed as questionable against the Eagles after practicing on a limited basis Friday.
Barring a setback in warmups, Davis will return to a lineup that has seen quarterback Colin Kaepernick throw more to Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin and Stevie Johnson than his trusty tight end this season.
Desperate for a win against Philadelphia, though, San Francisco will receive a huge boost from the presence of Davis. Along with serving as an X-factor through the air, Davis also looms as one of the team's best run-blockers.
UPDATE: The 49ers later announced that Davis is active.
*We preview and pick every Week 4 game in the latest Around The NFL Podcast. *
