49ers vs. Cardinals: Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins out vs. Niners

The 49ers are going to play a depleted Cardinals team in Week 9 with Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins inactive with injuries.

The San Francisco 49ers may have caught a slight break ahead of their Week 9 home matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Arizona officially listed starting quarterback Kyler Murray and star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins as inactive for this NFC West contest, as they’re dealing with ankle and hamstring injuries, respectively.

Additionally, fellow wide receiver A.J. Green is on the reserve/COVID list, while defensive end J.J. Watt is on injured reserve.

With Murray out, the Cardinals will be forced to start 35-year-old journeyman veteran Colt McCoy at quarterback. McCoy, who joined Arizona during the offseason, hasn’t thrown a pass this season and hasn’t started a game since 2020 when he was with the New York Giants.

Perhaps this helped explain why the oddsmakers over at WynnBET slid the Niners in as 3-point favorites despite having a 3-4 record to the Cardinals’ 7-1.

49ers place Dee Ford on IR, won’t play Trey Sermon or Deommodore Lenoir

San Francisco also had some notable moves on the roster, placing EDGE Dee Ford on injured reserve with a back injury, which could be a concern as that was the setback he endured last season, limiting him to just one game in 2020 in the process.

Ford will have to miss at least three games as a result.

Safety Jimmie Ward, who is dealing with a quad injury, wasn’t placed on IR but will be inactive for the game, meaning veteran defensive back Tavon Austin will likely get the start.

Additionally, the 49ers listed cornerback Deommodore Lenoir and running back Trey Sermon as inactives for Week 9, raising additional questions about how much of a return general manager John Lynch and Co. have gotten from their 2021 rookie NFL Draft class.

Sermon being inactive corresponds to veteran running back Jeff Wilson Jr.’s first game back after tearing his meniscus during the offseason.

In addition to Lenoir and Sermon being inactive, the Niners aren’t going to dress the following:

• DB Jimmie Ward
• DL Maurice Hurst
• OL Aaron Banks
• DL Charles Omenihu
• WR Travis Benjamin

San Francisco and Arizona kick off at 4:25 p.m. from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.