49ers beat: Injuries piling up for S.F.

The 49ers’ safety situation Thursday night wasn’t as dire at the start of the game as it appeared it might be earlier in the week.

Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt, who was questionable with a neck injury, started against the Rams in place of Eric Reid, who is expected to miss multiple games with a knee injury. On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Tartt was hurting and termed him questionable to play, although Tartt didn’t miss a snap in a 12-9 loss at Seattle on Sunday.

Tartt , though, was knocked out of the game and was being evaluated for a possible concussion after being injured with 2:04 to play in the third quarter. Teammate Earl Mitchell inadvertently kneed Tartt in the back of the head near the end of a 25-yard Rams pass play.

In addition, safety Jimmie Ward (hamstring), who was also questionable, made his first start of the season. Ward made his 2017 debut against the Seahawks after he was sidelined for the season opener because of the injury he sustained July 27 on the eve of training camp.

Tartt and Ward were teammates at Davidson High School in Mobile, Ala.

In addition to Tartt, the 49ers lost fullback Kyle Juszczyk (neck) and linebacker Brock Coyle (concussion). Defensive tackle Tank Carradine’s return was questionable after he suffered an ankle injury. We have a touchdown: Brian Hoyer’s 9-yard scoring run in the first quarter broke the 49ers’ touchdown drought to open the season at 128 minutes and 29 seconds.

Their last regular-season touchdown before Hoyer found the end zone? It was a 9-yard pass from Colin Kaepernick to tight end Garrett Celek ina 25-23 loss to Seattle on Jan. 1.

It was Hoyer’s first touchdown run since 2009 when he was a rookie with the Patriots. Savage statement: It’s customary for inactive players to wear team-issued sweats, but rookie inside linebacker Reuben Foster made a unique fashion statement.

Foster sported a customized 49ers jersey with his No. 56 on the back and “5AVA6E” — a play on “savage” — above it. After he was drafted April 27, Foster was asked for one word to describe his game. His answer: “Savage.”

Foster missed his second straight game with a high ankle sprain. Inactives: In addition to Reid and Foster, the 49ers’ inactive players were: wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, guard Erik Magnuson, defensive tackle Xavier Cooper, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and linebacker Pita Taumoepenu.

Tight end George Kittle (hip), who was questionable, was active. On 2nd-and-18 from the Rams’ 20 in the second quarter, the rookie fifth-round pick dropped an over-themiddle pass that would have been close to a first down. The 49ers settled for a 36-yard field goal from Robbie Gould to end the drive.