Another blow to Dline
Help isn’t on the way. Defensive tackle Jullian Taylor, who was poised to provide needed depth to a position group wracked by attrition, sustained a torn ACL in practice Thursday that will end his season.
The 49ers will place Taylor on injured reserve Saturday and will fill his roster spot by promoting undrafted rookie defensive lineman Kevin Givens from the practice squad. Taylor recently returned to practice after he was sidelined the past three games with an elbow injury.
The 49ers have lost starting nose tackle D.J. Jones (ankle) and reserve edge rushers Ronald Blair (knee) and Damontre Moore (forearm) to seasonending injuries. In addition, Pro Bowl pass rusher Dee Ford will miss Sunday’s game against the Seahawks with a hamstring injury that has limited him to four snaps in the past five games.
Looking to upgrade their passrush depth, the 49ers waived defensive end Jeremiah Valoaga on Monday and signed Anthony Zettel, 27, who had 6.5 of his 7.5 career sacks with the Lions in 2017.
Taylor was expected to assist the interior defensive line, where a committee approach has been used to replace Jones. Taylor, a 2018 seventhround pick from Temple, finished just two games from 2015 to 2016 because of seasonending injuries to his left knee.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Givens has been named a scoutteam player of the week in each of the past two weeks. He wasn’t sure if Givens would be on the active 46man gameday roster Sunday.
“Kevin had a good training camp,” Shanahan said. “He was close to making our roster. He worked all year to get better.
He’s been waiting for this opportunity, and he got it yesterday.”
Tartt unlikely to play: Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt likely will miss his fifth straight game Sunday because of broken ribs he suffered Dec. 1 in a loss at Baltimore.
Tartt, who returned to practice on a limited basis this week, is officially doubtful.
Asked Friday how he was feeling, Tartt smiled: “Feeling good, mentally.”
Tartt was noncommittal when asked if he would return for the 49ers’ first playoff game.
“I’m just honestly taking it day by day,” Tartt said. “I could wake up Sunday and would be able to be on the field.”
For the Seahawks, safety Quandre Diggs (ankle) is questionable. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (core muscle) and cornerback Shaquill Griffin (hamstring), each of whom has missed the past two games, were not listed on their final injury report.
Gould honored: Kicker Robbie Gould was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after he made a 33yard, gamewinning field goal in a 3431 win over the Rams. Gould also made a 26yard kick and all four of his extrapoint attempts.
Eric Branch covers the 49ers for The San Francisco Chronicle.