49ers have depth to overcome Tarvarius Moore, Justin Skule injuries

The injury bug doesn’t seem to be leaving the 49ers after last year, so it’s good the latest setbacks for Tarvarius Moore and Justin Skule can be overcome.

The San Francisco 49ers seemingly can’t catch a break.

A year removed from being the most injury-plagued team in the NFL, organized team activities claimed the 2021 season from two notable role players, defensive back Tarvarius Moore and offensive linemen Justin Skule.

The Athletic’s Matt Barrows reported the injury news, which apparently took place during a Monday session of OTA practices:

If there’s some slight solace to both Moore and Skule suffering these injuries, it’s that neither player was expected to earn a starting job this season. Moore has been tabbed as a primary backup, serving as a big-nickel defensive back and reserve safety, while Skule was squarely in the mix for a swing-tackle role and backup lineman.

For Moore, entering the fourth year of his rookie contract, the injury is particularly devastating, as this season was going to be crucial in determining whether or not he could cash in on a solid contract in 2022.

Despite this negative news, the Niners spent considerable effort during the offseason stockpiling depth at safety and along the offensive line, meaning they should be able to at least somewhat absorb the two injuries.

Particularly with the understanding neither Moore nor Skule were locks to make the regular-season 53-man roster.

49ers should have enough depth to overcome Tarvarius Moore, Justin Skule losses

Both players are almost assured to be done for the upcoming season. In Moore’s case, San Francisco added a number of safeties during the offseason, including rookie defensive back Talanoa Hufanga out of USC in Round 5 of the NFL Draft, as well as veteran safeties Tavon Wilson and Tony Jefferson.

Those three figure to compete with rostered safeties like Marcell Harris and Jared Mayden for the rights to back up the two starters, Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt.

Yet Ward and Tartt both have lengthy injury histories, too, so the need for at least one starting-caliber option is up there.

Hence why adding Jefferson earlier this week was a smart move.

Related Story: 49ers guard against injury, sign safety Tony Jefferson

Skule, meanwhile, actually saw his snap counts diminish from his rookie 2019 campaign into 2020 despite the 49ers suffering a tremendous amount of O-line attrition last year, going from 51 percent to 23 percent, respectively.

The Niners are looking at getting the veteran, Shon Coleman, back from his opt-out decision last year, and he figures to compete alongside the rookie, Jaylon Moore, among other players for a swing-tackle role.

Additionally, other linemen like Daniel Brunskill and second-year pro Colton McKivitz could be in the mix for tackle duties with the ability to play inside, too.

Still, one might expect San Francisco to add another defensive back and lineman off the free-agent wire between now and training camp, if for no other reason but to get the practice-unit numbers up to full strength before the preseason later this summer.

More importantly, one can only hope the rash of injuries the 49ers suffered last year won’t carry over into 2021, and these two latest setbacks are merely going to be an anomaly in what’s otherwise a relatively healthy season from the team.