A ROUGH START

Injuries mount in 49ers’ win over Cowboys

SANTA CLARA – Early injuries to five key players made for a miserable opening act of the 49ers exhibition season Thursday night.

The casualties: defensive tackle Solomon Thomas, tight end George Kittle, linebacker Malcolm Smith, running back Matt Breida and No. 3 offensive tackle Garry Gilliam.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo safely got pulled one series into the carnage, after he completed 3-of-6 pass for 34 yards on a drive that stalled near midfield against the visiting Dallas Cowboys.

The wave of injuries, all within the first 16 minutes, cast a quick pall on opening night and could have ramifications that carry into the Sept. 9 regular-season opener at Minnesota.

The severity of injuries was not immediately known, although Smith was the only one immediately ruled out from returning, having exited with a hamstring issue. Listed as questionable to return were Thomas (head), Kittle (shoulder), Breida (shoulder) and Gilliam (head). Here’s how those injuries occurred:

Thomas, last year’s No. 3 overall draft pick, was down the longest, having apparently taken a hit to the head while trying to break through a double-team block on the defense’s second series.

Smith came out six snaps into his debut in a 49ers uniform, having missed all of last year’s action with a pectoral tear early in training camp.

Kittle, the starting tight end, landed on his right shoulder when his legs were taken out beneath him by safety Jeff Heath. Kittle was the target of a third-down, Garoppolo pass that sailed far beyond Kittle’s one-handed reach.

Breida had succeeded Jerick Mckinnon for the second offensive series and he sustained a shoulder injury in pass protection. Breida remained on the sideline and watched the game’s remainder.

Gilliam, two plays into the second quarter, headed for the locker room with a head injury.