More pain for tortured team: Armstead needs surgery on hand

Just as optimism starts to surround C.J. Beathard as he begins his first full week of practice as an NFL starting quarterback, the 49ers are again looking to fill more holes on their depleted defense.

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that thirdyear defensive end

Arik Armstead will need surgery on his left hand that was broken the day before against Washington, and that he could be placed on injured reserve sometime this week.

Armstead, 23, suffered the injury in the second quarter of Sunday’s game, which the 49ers lost 26-24 to drop to 0-6. Shanahan also said defensive end Aaron Lynch is week to week with a calf strain that happened in the second half, and that he’ll at least miss next Sunday’s home game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Armstead, the 49ers first-round pick in 2015, had played in all six games this season, with eight tackles, 1.5 sacks and one pass deflection. Lynch has five tackles and one sack this year.

“That takes away two guys who were helping,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan is hoping to get Dekoda Watson (groin) back this week as well as linebacker Reuben Foster, who has not played since he suffered a high ankle

sprain in the 49ers season opener against the Carolina Panthers. The 49ers will also likely bring in a player from the outside to help with their depth on the defensive line.

Still, the latest injuries figure to test a 49ers’ run defense and pass rush that had become more consistent over the last three weeks.

Thomas’ role

While Armstead and Lynch heal, Solomon Thomas might be needed to take on an even bigger role. Thomas was superb against Washington with nine tackles, including two for loss, and one sack. Elvis Dumervil played just 15 snaps, but he too could be more prominent than just coming in on passing downs.

“I would love to keep Elvis fresh,” Shanahan said. “He’s one of our better third-down pass rushers, the way he gets off the ball and he knows how to get to the quarterback. It’s tough as the year goes when you have injuries. You’ve just got to deal with it. We will always try to keep guys fresh if we can, but that’s definitely getting harder as we go.”

Beathard stirred up a struggling 49ers offense Sunday.

After he replaced Brian Hoyer in the second quarter, Beathard completed 19of-36 passes for 245 yards, which included 45-yard touchdown throw to Aldrick Robinson.

Beathard also threw an interception in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter that snuffed out any comeback hopes.

Up until Beathard entered the game, Hoyer had completed 4-of-11 passes for 45 yards as the 49ers punted on their first four drives and trailed 14-0 midway through the second quarter.

‘Needed a spark’

“I could see the way the game was going. I know we needed a spark and C.J. had put together a couple good weeks of practice,” Shanahan said. “I knew he had been getting better. I knew he was about ready. Definitely at the time I thought he gave us best chance to win, and I think that going forward, also.”

Shanahan liked how Beathard has handled himself and improved in practice in recent weeks, going through progressions and reading defenses. Sunday, Beathard also helped the 49ers convert 5-of-11 times on third down. For the season, San Francisco is 28for-91 on third down, a 30.8 conversion percentage that ranks 30th in the NFL.

“He’s going to see a lot of things he hasn’t seen before and that will change each week. That’ll probably change each quarter. It’s really how does a guy handle that stuff,” Shanahan said. “I’ve seen a lot of guys come in and struggle early and learn from it and end up becoming pretty good. I’ve seen guys come in and play very well right away, and things change and they don’t adjust that well.

“But, he’s got the ability to do it. I think he’s got the mental toughness to do it. I think he will get better the more he plays.”