5 biggest concerns stemming from 49ers epic win vs. Saints

No. 1: How Bad Will Weston Richburg’s Injury Hurt?

One could make the argument all the 49ers’ previously mentioned worries on this list can either be understood by the nature of the game, or at least addressed by some serious film review and practice time before the team’s final three regular-season games.

San Francisco 49ers

The last concern, however, probably won’t be anywhere near as easy.

During the third quarter, veteran center Weston Richburg suffered what looked to be a serious knee injury when right guard Mike Person fell on the back of his leg, bending it awkwardly. Richburg was subsequently carted off, and Kyle Shanahan later said he saw Richburg walking around on crutches after the game.

“I don’t think it’s going to be too good,” Shanahan told reporters after the game. “But we won’t know until probably tomorrow.”

Reserve lineman Ben Garland entered in Richburg’s stead and performed well enough. Garland also worked a lot with the first-team unit during training camp and the preseason, too, while Richburg was recovering from offseason knee surgery.

Still, Richburg had been playing very well up to this point in the season, and his responsibility for calling out protections and reading the pressure is something the 49ers could sorely miss, should he be out for an extended period of time.

Or the rest of the season, which will likely be revealed at some point on Monday.