49ers’ inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite is next up, again

Niners inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite is never supposed to be a starter, but it just keeps happening. In 2014, Wilhoite started 16 games because NaVorro Bowman missed the season with a knee injury. In 2015, Wilhoite started 12 games because Patrick Willis and Chris Borland retired in the offseason. In 2016, he's started the past two games, partly because injuries to Bowman and Ray-Ray Armstrong landed them on injured reserve. The approach I've taken is I want to be prepared for everything every week, whether that's special teams or defense. For starters, it appeared Wilhoite would be released given his usage in the preseason finale in San Diego. Wilhoite, 29, played all 58 snaps in a game in which most veterans in the team's regular-season plans log a few snaps, if they play at all. Wilhoite survived the final roster cuts, but began the season buried behind Armstrong and starter Gerald Hodges on the depth chart. Wilhoite isn't the only player who has noted some of the problems in the 49ers' 31st-ranked run defense are tied to a lack of discipline. Wilhoite began his career hoping to play at least 10 seasons, but the physical demands of his position have made him reconsider....