SF 49ers: 3 players Kyle Shanahan will call on most amid injuries

Amid all the injuries for the SF 49ers through Week 7, who will head coach Kyle Shanahan call on most?

The 2020 NFL season has not been kind to the SF 49ers in the injury department. Every week it seems as though they lose key players for various amounts of time.

They lost edge rusher and generational talent Nick Bosa for the season to a torn ACL in Week 2. Fellow EDGE Dee Ford has been sidelined with a back injury aside from Week 1. To try and compensate for the loss of Bosa and Ford, the SF 49ers signed defensive end Ziggy Ansah. But after just two games Ansah also found himself on the IR due to a torn bicep.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffered an ankle injury in their Week 2 battle with the NY Jets, and he spent sometime sidelined, before returning against the Miami Dolphins.

Then after the game against the Los Angeles Rams, top running back Raheem Mostert and starting center Ben Garland were placed on injured reserve. One of Mostert’s backups, running back Jeff Wilson, suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Niners’ Week 7 win over the New England Patriots. He was joined by wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who exited with a hamstring injury late in the game, too. On top of all that, No. 1 cornerback Richard Sherman, who was placed on IR on Sept. 16 and was supposed to return against Miami, is experiencing setbacks. He is still a few weeks away from his return, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Everything is not peachy in the Bay Area. But alas Shanahan instills a next-man-up mentality in his players, which is a prime reason the SF 49ers are 4-3 seven weeks in. Therefore, even amid all the injuries, certain players will need to step up not only their play on the field but as leaders on the team.

Who will Shanahan call on most amid all these injuries? Let’s take a look at three players he will rely on to make plays and be motivational leaders for the team.