49ers vs. Packers: Joe Staley, Reuben Foster among key injuries in Week 6
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers could be without a number of key players versus the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football in Week 6, including left tackle Joe Staley and linebacker Reuben Foster.
The injury bug certainly hasn’t been too kind to the San Francisco 49ers in 2018, and the Niners’ Week 6 matchup versus the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football doesn’t look to be any kind of exception.
Two key injuries stand out amid the plethora of health setbacks the team has endured entering this contest, left tackle Joe Staley and linebacker Reuben Foster.
Staley suffered a knee injury during the Niners’ 28-18 Week 5 loss to the visiting Arizona Cardinals and didn’t return to action late in the game.
Here’s the full injury-report breakdown from San Francisco:
| Player | Pos | Type | Class | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dante Pettis | WR | Knee | out | Pettis was held out of the previous game due to a knee injury and will not partake in Monday’s clash against the Packers. |
| Matt Breida | RB | Ankle | doubtful | Breida departed the previous game due to a mid-ankle sprain and his status for Monday’s tilt against the Packers is in doubt. |
| Richard Sherman | CB | Calf | questionable | Sherman is still recovering from a lingering calf injury and his status for Monday’s contest against the Packers is hazy. |
| Joe Staley | T | Knee | questionable | Staley is dealing with an ongoing knee injury and it has yet to be determined if he will face the Packers on Monday. |
| Trent Taylor | WR | Back | questionable | Taylor is tending to a back injury, leaving his availability against the Packers on Monday clouded. |
| Michael Person | G | Knee | questionable | Person is tending to a knee injury and it is unclear if he will be active for Monday’s tilt against the Packers. |
| Erik Magnuson | OL | Hamstring | questionable | Magnuson is sidelined with a strained hamstring and it is undetermined if he will return to the lineup against the Packers on Monday. |
| Jimmie Ward | S | Hamstring | questionable | Ward was held out of the previous game due to a hamstring injury and it is uncertain if he will line up against the Packers on Monday. |
| Garrett Celek | TE | Quadricep | questionable | Celek left the last game with a quad injury and his status for Monday’s matchup against the Packers is unclear. |
| Weston Richburg | C | Knee | questionable | Richburg left the last game due to an injured knee and his status for Monday’s matchup against the Packers is in question. |
| Reuben Foster | LB | Shoulder | questionable | Foster has a shoulder injury and it is unclear if it will prevent him from playing against the Packers on Monday. |
| Pierre Garcon | WR | Shoulder | questionable | Garcon exited the last game due to a shoulder injury and it is undetermined if he will be active against the Packers on Monday. |
| Marquise Goodwin | WR | Hamstring | probable | Goodwin sat out the previous game due to a hamstring injury but is likely to play against the Packers on Monday. |
| Joshua Garnett | G | Toe | probable | Garnett missed his fourth-straight game with a dislocated toe but is on track to return to action against the Packers on Monday. |
| George Kittle | TE | Knee | probable | Kittle has a knee issue but is likely to be ready for Monday’s game against the Packers. |
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/13/2018.
The good news, however, is both Staley and Foster were limited in practice this week. Should Staley be available, the 49ers wouldn’t be forced to place swing tackle Garry Gilliam into the left side of the offensive line, as he’s a serious downgrade.
And with the scuffling Niners defense now having to face off against Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Foster’s presence will be much needed.
So will that of cornerback Richard Sherman, who is still hobbled by a calf injury suffered earlier in the season. He was able to play 51 snaps in Week 5 versus Arizona.
Running back Matt Breida, who appeared to suffer a serious knee injury last week, remains doubtful for the contest. This means head coach Kyle Shanahan will likely rely heavily on backup running back Alfred Morris, who owns a career-6.61 yards-per-carry average against Green Bay.
Let’s hope that continues.
On the positive side of things, wide receiver Marquise Goodwin looks like he’ll be able to return after missing Week 5 with a hamstring issue.
Goodwin practiced in full this week.
Next. 49ers vs. Packers: 3 key players for San Francisco. dark
The 49ers and Packers kick off on Monday, Oct. 15 at 8:15 p.m. ET from Lambeau Field in Green Bay.