Niner Noise
FanSided

5 SF 49ers who stepped up most amid injuries

By Peter Panacy

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Kerry Hyder (92) and San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (99) Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Kerry Hyder (92) and San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (99) Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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SF 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Jason Verrett
Jason Verrett #22 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles John Hightower #82 of the Philadelphia Eagles (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

The SF 49ers have been riddled with injuries this season. Thankfully, these five players have stepped up as excellent backups over the first four weeks.

The 2020 season has been awfully cruel to the SF 49ers on the injury front.

Perhaps this should have been expected, as an abbreviated offseason ultimately meant players wouldn’t receive the normal strength and conditioning regimens they’d otherwise undergo in advance of the regular season. Even if they did, injuries are always part of any team’s campaign to reach the playoffs.

For the Niners, however, it seems this year has been tougher than any in recent memory.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle), running back Raheem Mostert (knee), EDGE Nick Bosa (knee), cornerback Richard Sherman (calf), tight end George Kittle (knee), EDGE Dee Ford (back), running back Tevin Coleman (knee), defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (knee), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quad), wide receiver Deebo Samuel (foot) and tight end Jordan Reed (knee) have all missed significant time over the first four weeks of 2020.

For the most part, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have put together adequate depth to help San Francisco navigate a portion of its schedule where it’s tremendously shorthanded. While there have been some serious downgrades, namely with players like Bosa missing the rest of the season, a number of reserves and backup players have stepped up and provided a much-needed spark in place of starters. Despite the 2-2 start to the season, the SF 49ers still boast the No. 11 scoring offense and the No. 2 scoring defense.

While the .500 record over these first four weeks isn’t ideal, at least these five backups have helped keep the Niners right in the mix heading into the season’s second quarter.