Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 5 biggest disappointments in 2018 so far

By Peter Panacy

San Francisco 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers and the team training staff examine quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 on the sideline after being hurt on a play during the fourth quarter of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on September 23rd, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers and the team training staff examine quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 on the sideline after being hurt on a play during the fourth quarter of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on September 23rd, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and Jerick McKinnon

Name a team that could seriously overcome losses to its starting quarterback and No. 1 running back. We’ll wait.

In all reality, expectations for the 49ers for 2018 should have been completely reevaluated once Jimmy Garoppolo went down with a torn ACL in Week 3. But it wouldn’t have been a bad idea to seriously question the Niners’ chances once McKinnon suffered the same fate before Week 1.

McKinnon was going to be a massively featured part of Kyle Shanahan’s offense, as evidenced by the head coach’s comments prior to Week 1 (h/t Joe Fann of 49ers.com):

But the 49ers managed well enough without McKinnon, namely because of the emergence of second-year running back Matt Breida who, for a short while, was leading the NFL in rush yards and average yards per carry.

Oh, Breida is out for a while with a high-ankle sprain.

Yet McKinnon’s injury pales in comparison to Garoppolo’s. The reason behind this is because Garoppolo masked a lot of the 49ers’ deficiencies during the team’s five-game win streak to close out 2017. San Francisco lacked talent late last year, much like it does now. With Garoppolo, the Niners had chances to win close games.

Now, they’re back to losing them.

Next. 49ers' 2019 NFL Draft expert mock roundup. dark

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