Snap Count: Wilhoite, Bellore Bump Hodges to Sideline

Linebacker Gerald Hodges started the 49ers’ first three games of the season.

Since the opening of the regular season, Ray-Ray Armstrong, who saw significant time in place of Hodges in certain situations, and starter NaVorro Bowman were lost to season-ending injuries.

But instead of seeing an increased role, Hodges has been pushed to the sideline. Michael Wilhoite on Sunday started his third consecutive game, while special-teams player Nick Bellore started the first and second games of his six-year NFL career.

On Sunday, Hodges played just four snaps in the 49ers’ 45-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills, a team that produced 312 yards rushing against the downtrodden 49ers defense.

“It’s just the rotation based on what we do during the week during practice, whether we’re going to play Mike or we’re going to play Gerald,” 49ers coach Chip Kelly said. “I know Mike has done a really good job for us when we’ve given him the opportunity. So it’s just based on how we practice and how we train. That’s why we’ve made those decisions.”

Bellore played all 79 of the 49ers’ defensive snaps on Sunday. He was credited with 12 tackles, while Wilhoite recorded seven tackles. Both players had two missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus.

On offense, rookie Joshua Garnett played all 61 snaps at right guard after replacing Andrew Tiller in the starting lineup.

Here’s how the 49ers divided their playing time on offense, defense and special teams on Sunday in their 45-16 loss to the Bills:

Offense
61 snaps
61-- QB Colin Kaepernick, LT Joe Staley, LG Zane Beadles, C Daniel Kilgore, RG Joshua Garnett, RT Trent Brown
57 -- WR Jeremy Kerley
55 -- WR Quinton Patton
51 -- WR Torrey Smith
32 -- RB Carlos Hyde
30 -- TE Vance McDonald
27 -- TE Garrett Celek
24 -- RB Mike Davis
12 -- WR Aaron Burbridge
10 -- WR Rod Streater
5 -- RB Shaun Draughn
2 -- TE Je’Ron Hamm

Defense
79 snaps
79 -- LB Nick Bellore, FS Eric Reid, CB Tramaine Brock, SS Antoine Bethea
74 -- LB Michael Wilhoite
73 -- DL DeForest Buckner
67 -- LB Ahmad Brooks
64 -- DL Arik Armstead
54 -- CB Keith Reaser
44 -- CB Rashard Robinson
41 -- LB Eli Harold
39 -- LB Aaron Lynch
37 -- DL Quinton Dial
19 -- DL Glenn Dorsey
13 -- DL Mike Purcell
11 -- CB Dontae Johnson, LB Tank Carradine
4 -- LB Gerald Hodges
2 -- DL Ronald Blair

Special teams
29 -- Shayne Skov
24 -- Johnson
22 -- Marcus Cromartie, Burbridge
18 -- Purcell, Hodges
17 -- Celek, Hamm
16 -- M.Davis, Reaser
14 -- Bradley Pinion, Draughn,Carradine
12 -- Bellore
11 -- Dial
9 -- Kyle Nelson, Harold
7 -- Kerley, Reid, Brooks
6 -- Lynch
5 -- Keshawn Martin, Streater, Wilhoite
4 -- Phil Dawson, Andrew Tiller, Staley, Beadles, Brown, Garnett, Brock, Robinson
3 -- JaCorey Shepherd
2 -- Patton
1 -- Smith,Blair

Did not play
QB Blaine Gabbert

Not active
QB Christian Ponder
CB Jimmie Ward
S Jaquiski Tartt
DL Tony Jerod-Eddie
T John Theus
TE Blake Bell
DL Taylor Hart