If you thought the Niners’ injury issues couldn’t get worse before the team’s astonishing loss to the Rams, think again. A decimated red and gold squad limped into SoFi Stadium, then literally and figuratively limped out. Things couldn’t be going much worse for the defending NFC champions.
In a conference call with reporters on Monday afternoon, head coach Kyle Shanahan delivered somber updates from one of the worst regular season losses of his tenure. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave suffered a torn tricep that will keep him out for the remainder of the 2024 season. Hargrave was a centerpiece in the middle of a top heavy defensive line. The Niners will have to flex their depth and or make a trade for some impact pieces in the interior in order to make up for the loss of Hargrave.
49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga, who made his first appearance since tearing his ACL in November of last year, joined Murph and Markus as the 49ers player of the week on Tuesday morning. He discussed his journey rehabbing his knee, what he learned about himself, the brutal Rams’ loss, and how the defense will respond to missing key pieces like Hargrave.
Check out the full Talanoa Hufanga interview here below.
Drops
Any one of about seven plays that went the Rams’ way late in Sunday’s game would have swayed the result had they gone in the 49ers favor. It wasn’t the only reason they lost the game, but the pivotal Ronnie Bell drop that would have set the 49ers up for a simple game winning field goal sticks out among the rest. Bell’s role going forward is certainly in question, but his unfortunate mishap revealed yet another layer of sterling leadership fro, his young quarterback. Brock Purdy has his guy’s back. He also shouted out Jauan Jennings with glowing praise after Jennings had a career day with 11 catches for 175 yards and three touchdowns.
Guten Tag, Christian McCaffrey
The Hargrave injury news is brutal, but there’s no player that means more to the 49ers chances at winning a Super Bowl than Christian McCaffrey. That’s why the latest development in the concerning saga regarding his calf and Achilles tendon is especially eyebrow raising. McCaffrey, currently on short term IR, traveled to Germany over the weekend to seek external treatment. Not only is he physically far from the playing field, until there’s tangible good news, Niner fans should brace for more bad news from McCaffrey.
Murph and Markus opined about his 2024 availability on Tuesday’s morning show.
San Francisco hosts the New England Patriots on Sunday, a game that is just about as must win as a September contest can be.