5 players who must see more field time after 49ers' latest wave of injuries

Defensive tackles Evan Anderson or Kalia Davis

It feels like a very long time ago that we were talking about Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw at defensive tackle. Both left the team in the offseason, and the Niners, to their credit, remade the position admirably, acquiring both Maliek Collins and Jordan Elliott, who have lived up to their billing so far.

However, things are getting a little thin at the key inside spot.

Javon Hargrave, San Francisco's big ticket at the position, is done for the year with a triceps injury, while Jordan Elliott is ailing with an injury as well, as mentioned in the Sam Okuayinonu section of this article.

While Kevin Givens is performing admirably and probably had his best game as a pro against the Patriots, the 49ers would surely love to have more depth step up, and that's where these two players come in.

Evan Anderson was a pleasant surprise on Sunday.

A relatively hyped undrafted free agent, who drew high praise from defensive line coach Kris Kocurek in the offseason -- comparing him to D.J. Jones, a much valued former veteran -- Anderson recorded some very good snaps in his first NFL experience, following his late elevation from the practice squad. He was solid against the run, but perhaps most crucially in Hargrave's absence, he was also excellent at pushing the pocket, something that will have definitely opened some eyes among the coaching staff.

Third-year pro Kalia Davis, meanwhile, is a projection similar to Ricky Pearsall in the previous section - but given he was name-checked by Kyle Shanahan in his comments last week on losing Hargrave, and the team seem eager to get him back on the field, with Shanahan saying that his practice window may open this week, it feels as though the plan was always to use Davis as a shot of energy to the D-line depth midway through the season, albeit that it couldn't have been known at the time how much that would be needed.

Both are likely to have to see significant playing time, not just because the 49ers value depth on the D-line as previously explained, but because the situation, particularly on the interior, is starting to look quite thin.

At one point during Sunday's game with the Patriots, only Collins, Givens and Anderson were available who were natural defensive tackles. It's hard to win with a three-man rotation at a two-person spot on the D-line in the NFL.

Therefore, anything Davis and Anderson can add long term, while Elliott works his way back and other moves get considered to beef up the depth, will be a huge boon to San Francisco.

Who do you see stepping up in the absence of some of the 49ers key players?

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