The San Francisco 49ers pulled off an upset against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday despite a raft of injuries.
With backup quarterback Mac Jones battling through a knee issue as he again filled in for Brock Purdy (turf toe) and their wide receiver group decimated by injuries, the 49ers produced a gusty performance on a short week to beat the Rams 26-23 in overtime.
The 49ers are 4-1 and in first place in the NFC West but, fittingly for a season in which injuries have once again been a constant, they did not come out of the Rams game in great shape health-wise.
Indeed, head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed a rash of new injuries on Friday, primarily concerning the defensive line. On top of that, they will seemingly need to wait at least until Week 7 to get back All-Pro tight end George Kittle from a hamstring injury.
Kittle is on injured reserve with a designation to return with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 1.
Speaking in a conference call, Shanahan described Kittle as a “long shot” to have his practice window opened ahead of the Week 6 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, meaning the 49ers will continue with Jake Tonges, who has scored three receiving touchdowns, as their starting tight end.
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49ers D-Line in rough shape
The San Francisco defensive line enjoyed a bounce-back game in the win over the Rams, but will be down several players against the Buccaneers.
Already without star defensive end Nick Bosa after he tore his ACL in Week 3, the D-Line will be minus defensive tackle Kalia Davis for the next couple of games due a broken hand that required surgery. Davis will wear a club on his hand when he returns.
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Yetur Gross-Matos is set to miss time with a hamstring strain, while rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins — who forced a critical fumble by Rams running back Kyren Williams on the San Francisco one-yard line in the fourth quarter — has a sprained knee.
Elsewhere on the defense, rookie nickel cornerback Upton Stout is day to day with an ankle sprain.
More 49ers news
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