SF 49ers: 3 reasons why Niners pull off Week 9 win vs. Packers
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Packers are banged up, too
The SF 49ers don’t want to hear about other teams’ injury woes at this point in the season, although the newly created matchups because of injury might be of interest.
In this case, it certainly is for the Niners.
Green Bay is awfully banged up as well, particularly at running back where Aaron Jones (calf) is questionable and Jamaal Williams won’t be available because of being high-risk contacts to fellow tailback A.J. Dillon, who tested positive for COVID-19.
Cornerback Kevin King (quad) has been ruled out, while two-time Pro Bowl left tackle David Bakhtiari is questionable with a chest injury.
Tack on the Packers having to travel west on a short week, and there’s a pretty clear understanding this won’t be a shoo-in win for Green Bay either.
Jones’ health, as he’s the Packers’ leader in both touchdowns (seven) and all-purpose yards (550), is something to closely monitor. Sure, Aaron Rodgers is, well, Rodgers. And the SF 49ers were torched by a pass-heavy Seattle Seahawks offense missing most of its runners a week ago.
But the Niners would rather face a Packers team shorthanded at running back than they would otherwise.
And it isn’t as if Green Bay’s defense provides a massive threat.