49ers place Samuel Womack on injured reserve with knee injury

The 49ers have started off the season with a relatively clean slate of health, but reserve defensive back Samuel Womack isn't part of that trend.

One of the biggest victories from the San Francisco 49ers' 30-7 Week 1 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers was the fact head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad came away almost entirely unscathed.

In fact, the Niners' injury report heading into their Week 2 matchup versus the Los Angeles Rams was notably thin with only two notable injuries to report: linebacker Dre Greenlaw dealing with a groin injury and cornerback Samuel Womack not practicing because of a knee issue.

Greenlaw was fully cleared after Friday's practice, but Shanahan didn't get great news about Womack.

Instead, the second-year defensive back will be heading to injured reserve for a little while.

49ers' Samuel Womack suffers MCL injury, to land on short-term IR

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Shanahan said that Womack suffered an MCL sprain on the last play of Wednesday's practice, and the diagnosis revealed that the defensive back would have to go to IR.

As far as a return, Shanahan said, "sometime this year."

The coach added that the injury doesn't require surgery, and Womack could potentially be back within six to eight weeks, putting him in line to possibly return after the Niners' Week 9 bye.

Read more: Keep an eye on these Niners players in Week 2 matchup vs. Rams

Womack primarily played special teams during San Francisco's Week 1 victory but was also one of the primary backups to support nickel cornerback Isaiah Oliver.

While the 49ers haven't announced a corresponding move just yet, one would figure fellow defensive backs like Ambry Thomas and Ji'Ayir Brown would benefit by moving up a spot on the depth chart.

Perhaps that plan will be revealed on Sunday when the Niners visit the Rams.

Read more from Niner Noise