The 49ers’ injury problems have been a slow burn all season. They had some injuries in the preseason, and then at least one injury to a starter or key contributor every week of the regular season.
That onslaught of adversity in the health department has left them without at least eight starters against the Falcons in Week 6. They could miss as many as 10. Here’s the list of the team’s Week 1 starters that won’t be available for Sunday’s game:
QB: Trey Lance (Injured Reserve)
RB: Elijah Mitchell (Injured Reserve)
LT: Trent Williams
LG: Aaron Banks (Questionable)
DT: Arik Armstead
DT: Javon Kinlaw
DE: Nick Bosa (Questionable)
LB: Azeez Al-Shaair (Injured Reserve)
CB: Emmanuel Moseley (ACL tear)
FS: Jimmie Ward
Ward technically didn’t start in Week 1 because of a hamstring injury he suffered in the preseason, but he would’ve been the starting free safety had he entered the season healthy.
Jimmy Garoppolo’s return on a restructured contract allowed the 49ers to withstand losing Lance back in Week 2 to a broken ankle. While the team’s backup QB had been their starter for two deep playoff runs, Lance went into this year as QB1, and therefore counts on this list.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if San Francisco winds up sitting both Bosa and Banks in Atlanta.
Bosa’s groin was bothering him before last week’s game in Carolina and he was pulled from the game at halftime. Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Friday didn’t sound optimistic about the defensive end’s chances to play Sunday:
“You have to be smart with all of that stuff,” Shanahan said. “It’s not bad enough to say he’s out, but you have to be careful always with whoever has that, especially Nick.”
Earlier in the week Shanahan described Banks’ knee injury as soreness from playing on the turf in Carolina.
Given the team’s issues with injuries and artificial turf, they could opt to exercise caution with both players and make it so 10 starters are out of the lineup. Daniel Brunskill would be the likely replacement for Banks while Bosa’s role would be filled by Charles Omenihu and rookie Drake Jackson.
