The SF 49ers visit the NY Giants in Week 3, yet the game will be a unique one in light of recent injuries, making things challenging for Kyle Shanahan.
Under the appropriate circumstances, the SF 49ers would have been heavy favorites in Week 3 to knock off the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium this Sunday.
But those circumstances have changed. A lot.
The Niners are already riddled with injuries, particularly stemming from their 31-13 road win over the New York Jets in Week 2. Among those injured were quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (knee), running backs Raheem Mostert (knee) and Tevin Coleman (knee), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (thigh), nose tackle D.J. Jones (ankle) and, most notably, defensive linemen Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas who are now out for the season with torn ACLs.
Mostert, Coleman and Garoppolo are all likely to miss Sunday’s bout versus the 0-2 Giants, who are also dealing with their own significant injuries. During their most recent loss to the Chicago Bears, the G-Men watched as star running back Saquon Barkley left the game with a torn ACL, too, ending his season. Wide receiver Sterling Shepard is also dealing with turf toe.
A massive blow amid a brutal week on the injury front.
The Niners have attempted to stem the tide a bit by making some tweaks to the roster, namely signing free-agent pass-rusher Ezekiel Ansah to a one-year deal and promoting EDGE Dion Jordan off the practice squad. Other moves could be pending as well.
Yet those are only minor factors for head coach Kyle Shanahan as he’ll look to game plan an effective approach to Sunday’s contest.
That contest should still go San Francisco’s way, provided these three X-factors wind up going in the SF 49ers’ favor at MetLife Stadium.
No. 3: Can the SF 49ers generate enough of a pass rush?
Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas aren’t the only notable absences along the Niners defensive line moving forward.
EDGE Dee Ford, who was intended to be the fellow prolific pass-rusher alongside Bosa, is still dealing with a back injury that sidelined him in Week 2. Currently, there’s no timetable for Ford’s return, meaning the rest of the pass-rushing duties will fall upon less-desirable candidates.
True, defensive end Arik Armstead is still fully healthy and coming off a team-leading and career-high 10-sack campaign last year. On top of that, rookie defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw has shown some decent interior pressure over his first two games at the NFL level, and one figures a quick maturation there could make the loss of Bosa a bit more bearable.
Aside from those two, however, hoping players like Ziggy Ansah and Dion Jordan supply enough in the pass-rush department might be a tall order, especially considering the two combined for a mere 4.5 sacks with the Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders, respectively, last year.
If there’s good news for San Francisco, though, the Giants offensive line isn’t exactly dominating in pass protection over their first two games of 2020, currently ranked 22nd by Football Outsiders after surrendering a league-high eight sacks.
Plus, without Saquon Barkley to settle things on the ground, the SF 49ers pass-rushers can pin their proverbial ears back attempting to get to second-year quarterback Daniel Jones.
At least that’s the hope.
No. 2: Can Jerick McKinnon shoulder the SF 49ers’ workload on the ground?
It’s somewhat odd to consider just how shorthanded the Niners are at running back. After all, at least entering Week 1, this was widely viewed as Kyle Shanahan’s deepest offensive position.
Losing Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert hurts, especially given how much the latter has already contributed on offense this year, including his 80-yard touchdown burst to kick off the scoring against the Jets in Week 2.
Fortunately, fellow running back Jerick McKinnon has already shown his value over those first two weeks, too, ranking second only behind Mostert with 121 all-purpose yards and tying the team lead in touchdowns with two.
But instead of the three-headed trio of tailbacks at Shanahan’s disposal, McKinnon is now expected to shoulder the brunt of San Francisco’s ground attack.
“I’m very confident in Jet. He’s done a great job in all the reps that he’s gotten in these two weeks,” Shanahan told Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee this week. “Every time he’s gotten opportunities, he came through for us. Obviously, with those two guys being out, he should get more opportunities this week and he deserves it. I know he’s excited for it and we’re excited to see him.”
The SF 49ers also have depth runner Jeff Wilson in the fray, and they protected undrafted rookie tailback JaMycal Hasty from being snatched off the practice squad this week, too. Hasty could be a game-day call-up from the practice squad on Sunday.
Still, the focus will be on McKinnon the most to go up against a Giants defense allowing an average of 4.5 yards per carry on the ground so far this season.
No. 1: Can Nick Mullens ‘hold the fort’ with Jimmy Garoppolo out?
While Kyle Shanahan wasn’t entirely committed to giving Jimmy Garoppolo a week off to rest his high-ankle sprain, it seems highly unlikely the head coach lets his starting quarterback play in Week 3.
That means it’s time for Jimmy G’s backup, Nick Mullens, to suit up for meaningful snaps for the first time since late in 2018.
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Mullens proved he can work within Shanahan’s offense, boasting a 3-5 record over eight starts that year and with a far less-talented supporting cast around him. That bodes well for Mullens’ chances to pull off his fourth career win, especially against a Giants defense that should expect to be on the field a lot with all their offensive injuries and question marks.
But Mullens has a history of being far less effective on the road, albeit over a small sample size. His road record is 1-3, and seven of his 11 interceptions tossed have come away from Levi’s Stadium.
All that has equated to a career-81.0 passer rating in away games compared to 95.8 at home.
New York, so far, has performed well enough against the pass, allowing just 377 total yards through the air, second best in the league, and averaging 5.7 pass yards per play, good for seventh.
Moving the ball through the air might not be as easy as Mullens and Shanahan would like, making this a key X-factor in determining whether or not the Niners can pull off their second win of the season in Week 3.
The SF 49ers and NY Giants kick off from MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. ET.