Injuries mount, but Rams will be banged up as well
The good news for the bangedup 49ers: They play the bangedup Rams on Sunday.
Yes, the 49ers will be missing four starters, including both offensive tackles, but the Rams will be without top edge rusher Clay Matthews (broken jaw), Pro Bowl cornerback
Aqib Talib (ribs) and, probably, Pro Bowl running back
Todd Gurley (quadriceps). Talib was ruled out Friday and Gurley was listed as doubtful for the defending NFC champions.
“I’m not upset about it,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shana
han said. “Those are some good players. But it’s not going to change their team much. They’ve got some good guys all over. It’s still going to be a huge challenge.”
Given the 49ers’ situation along their offensive line, the most notable injury is to Matthews, 33, the rejuvenated sixtime Pro Bowl selection who ranks fourth in the NFL in sacks (six) after averaging 5.6 sacks in his previous four seasons.
“That’s not good for us,” Rams head coach Sean
McVay said the day after Matthews was hurt in an Oct. 3 loss to Seattle. “That’s a big injury.”
And it’s particularly signficant because the 49ers will start rookie left tackle Justin
Skule, who has two career starts, along with right tackle
Daniel Brunskill, who will make his NFL starting debut.
The Rams’ top edge rushers will be Dante Fowler (two sacks) and Samson Ebukam, Matthews’ replacement who had three sacks in 16 games (14 starts) last year.
“Samson’s played and he’s started for us and he’s done some good things,” Rams defensive coordinator Wade
Phillips said. “We feel comfortable with him playing there.”
Gurley rushed for a total of 2,556 yards and 30 touchdowns the previous two seasons, but he is averaging 12.8 carries this season amid speculation his reportedly arthritic knee is the reason for his lighter workload.
However, without the threat of Gurley, whose top backup is
Malcolm Brown, the Rams could be forced to continue their onedimensional ways against the 49ers’ ferocious pass rush. Los Angeles is averaging 44.4 passes a game, tied for the most in the NFL, and ranks 22nd in average rushing attempts (23).
Kittle questionable: Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle was limited due to a groin injury he sustained in practice Friday and was listed as questionable for Sunday.
Shanahan, who spoke with reporters a few minutes after practice ended, expects Kittle to play.
“Right now I do,” Shanahan said. “But it’s still a little bit early. That’s why he will be questionable. We’ll see what news I get later after he gets with the trainers and stuff and gets it checked out.” Wide receiver Marquise
Goodwin missed practice for personal reasons, but Shanahan said he will play against the Rams.
Sorry, not sorry: Phillips spoke with Los Angeles reporters Thursday, a day after the Dodgers’ season ended with a Game 5 loss in their National League Division Series against the Nationals.
“I feel bad for the Dodgers, they did have a great year,” Phillips said in his opening statement. “… Anyway, we are playing San Francisco. I don’t feel sorry for them.”