The SF 49ers might have pulled off a one-sided 31-13 win over the Jets in Week 2. But injuries to Nick Bosa and Jimmy Garoppolo don’t make it feel like a victory.
If the SF 49ers 2020 “revenge tour” is to ever gain momentum, it’ll likely have to occur against the backdrop of some serious injuries. And their Week 2 31-13 win versus the New York Jets felt more like a total loss because of those injury setbacks.
This was the case early in San Francisco’s Week 2 road bout at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, as the 49ers suffered two key injuries early, losing EDGE Nick Bosa and defensive end Solomon Thomas to leg injuries.
Both players had to be carted off, raising serious questions about the team’s defensive depth, which was already without cornerback Richard Sherman (leg), who is on short-term injured reserve.
Bosa and Thomas were quickly ruled out shortly after going off the field, and the initial prognosis from Pro Football Doc doesn’t look good:
And the early news by video analysis is not good as reported at https://t.co/dFDT8os6QG. pic.twitter.com/SDhYFURT21
— David J. Chao - ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) September 20, 2020
Running back Raheem Mostert, after the Niners received the opening kick, took a handoff from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to the house for an 80-yard touchdown.
And just like that, head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad ensured there would be no negative carryover from his team’s Week 1 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals. It was important, too, considering New York allowed the Buffalo Bills to rush for just 3.1 yards per carry in Week 1 and figured to carry over a strong run defense from 2019.
No one told Mostert, though.
https://twitter.com/49ers/status/1307728016412274688
Mostert nearly added another 67-yard touchdown scamper on the same play, only for it to be negated by an offensive-hold call against right tackle Mike McGlinchey. With tight end George Kittle inactive with a knee injury, however, Mostert would have to shoulder a good chunk of the load.
In total, Mostert rushed for 92 yards on eight carries with the score. He also added 15 yards on two receptions through the air before being ruled out with a knee injury for the second half.
Despite taking a hit to his knee in the first quarter, Garoppolo gutted through a hard-fought game and looked far more poised and decisive than what he displayed versus the Cardinals in Week 1.
In New York, Garoppolo was 14-of-16 for 131 yards, two touchdowns against zero interceptions for a 140.4 passer rating over the first half.
Unfortunately, he didn’t return for the second half.
SF 49ers Jordan Reed impressive in his second game with Niners
One of the reasons why Garoppolo had so much success was because of No. 2 tight end Jordan Reed, who got the start with Kittle out.
Reed, who managed seven catches for 50 yards, picked up two touchdowns in the first half, helping San Francisco carry a 21-3 lead into the third quarter.
Depending on Kittle’s status for Week 3, Reed could be another name to watch again.
SF 49ers win overshadowed by Nick Bosa, Jimmy Garoppolo injuries
Garoppolo took a hit on a sack by Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Jimmy G hobbled his way through the rest of the first half before exiting to the locker room a bit early before halftime.
The quarterback received X-rays during halftime, and head coach Kyle Shanahan elected to go with No. 2 quarterback Nick Mullens for the duration of the game. Mullens struggled early, first being bailed out on 3rd-and-forever by a 55-yard pickup by running back Jerick McKinnon.
Mullens went 8-of-11 for 71 yards, zero touchdowns with one interception and a 51.7 passer rating in relief of Jimmy G. McKinnon also added a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to increase the Niners’ lead to 31-6.
Garoppolo’s injury will be something of extreme importance for San Francisco in the week off before its next game at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants a week from today.
But Bosa’s loss could be devastating.
Should the initial prognosis be true, the SF 49ers will be without their top pass-rusher and last season’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, putting increased pressure on the veteran, defensive tackle Arik Armstead, to live up to his five-year new contract signed during the offseason after recording a career-best 10 sacks in 2019.
Despite Armstead’s presence and reserve EDGE Kerry Hyder showing a good game on Sunday, one might expect the Niners to ink at least one, perhaps two outside pass-rushers in Bosa and Thomas’ injury wake.
True, San Francisco getting back to the .500 mark is a plus with its win over the Jets.
But in the wake of Bosa’s injury, and potentially Garoppolo, Week 2 has to feel like a major loss.