49ers, Rams head into Week 3 matchup amid mounting injuries originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
THE 49ers are dealing with a series of injuries ahead of their Week 3 matchup with the The Los Angeles Rams Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
But San Francisco is not alone in its struggles, as the team’s NFC West opponent to the south is suffering just as much, if not more.
After losing wide receiver Puka Nacua for several weeks after suffering a strained PCL in Week 1, Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters Monday that fellow star wide receiver Cooper Kupp will miss “an extended period of time” with an ankle injury in Week 2.
The 49ers are also without two of their top receivers. Deebo Samuel and back Christian McCaffrey — two threats that San Francisco’s offense faces week in and week out when healthy. But coach Kyle Shanahan revealed Monday that Samuel will miss “a few weeks” after suffering a calf strain Sunday’s 23-17 defeat At Minnesota Vikings.
McCaffrey, meanwhile, was placed on injured reserve Saturday with Achilles tendonitis and calf tightness. The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year could miss six weeks or moreNFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday, and Shanahan doesn’t know when McCaffrey might return.
“Nobody knows,” Shanahan told reporters at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis after Sunday’s game. “We’re dealing with tendonitis, so nobody knows. He doesn’t know. We don’t know.”
“We’re going to take it day by day by putting him on involuntary leave for at least four weeks. That will give him time to rest and also protect him from himself. No matter how he’s feeling, it’s four at a minimum.”
The good news for San Francisco is that the backup running back Jordan Mason has filled admirably for McCaffrey, and the quarterback Brock Purdy still has weapons like tight end Georges Kittle and receivers Brandon Aiyuk And Jauan Jennings to choose from in the passing game.
But the 49ers and Rams are also missing key players elsewhere. The 49ers are waiting for linebackers to return Dr Greenlaw and All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga injuries, although the latter could return to the defensive backfield sooner rather than later after being listed as “questionable” for San Francisco’s last two games.
And in Los AngelesThe hits keep coming. Rams safety John Johnson suffered a hairline fracture Rams starting guard Jonah Jackson suffered a fractured scapula that also put him on injured reserve, Rapoport reported Monday, citing sources.
While there will still be plenty of talent on the field in Los Angeles on Sunday, it’s unclear how the Week 3 divisional clash will end with so many big names sidelined.
