Injury Report: 49ers And Chiefs Both Dealing With Multiple Injuries
By Jerrell Richardson
What a difference a week makes. Just last week, the 49ers appeared on the road to a healthy Week 5. However, both Davis’s are back on the injured list, as well as two key defensive players, so as they have all year, San Francisco has to game plan around their injuries. The Chiefs though are in the same boat, and will have much of the same concerns as the 49ers this Sunday. At this point, both teams can just hope that those who will suit up are healthy enough to not be a liability, and not have a major impact on the final score.
Anthony And Vernon Out Again
The bad news for San Francisco is that Vernon Davis and Anthony Davis appear to be out for this important matchup. The good news is that both have missed games this season, and the team has experience playing without them. The injury to Davis becomes magnified as his normal replacement, Vance McDonald also appears to be out for this game. In their absence the team will again look to Derek Carrier to fill the void. Carrier has had mixed results so the team will need him to bring his A game to pick up the slack.
Safeties Banged Up
Defensively San Francisco is better off, but they do two members of their secondary on this week’s report. Both starting safeties, Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea are injured but were able to participate in most of practice and will be on the field Sunday. It also helps that Bethea has a bad ankle, and Reid a tight hamstring. These are two injuries that will loosen up and shouldn’t be a problem in game for either safety.
Gore, Crabtree and Lee Just Fine
Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, and Andy Lee were all full participants in practice and in the grand scheme of things are not really injured. The only one who is actually irreplaceable is Andy Lee whose right ankle injury is not his plant foot so should not be a problem.
San Francisco 49ers Injury Report
Did Not Participate In Practice:
CB Tramaine Brock (toe), TE Vernon Davis (back), T Anthony Davis (knee, ankle).
Limited In Practice:
S Antoine Bethea (ankle), DE Tony Jerod-Eddie (shoulder), C Marcus Martin (knee), TE Vance McDonald (knee), S Eric Reid (hamstring).
Full Participation In Practice:
RB Frank Gore (back), WR Michael Crabtree (foot), DE Justin Smith (not injury related), P Andy Lee (right ankle).
Starters Only
The Chiefs have to be unhappy with their injury report, as every single player listed is a starter. While it appears as though wide receiver Donnie Avery is the only one who won’t play, just the fact that five starters are not 100% isn’t something to be ignored. While Donnie Avery is not the catalyst of the offense Jamal Charles is. The Kansas City star running back is getting over a bad ankle, but looked pretty healthy a week ago and proved that his is back to being a threat with the ball in his hands. Even less than full strength, he is a problem.
The bigger concern for Kansas City though has to be their defense. Both of their starting cornerbacks are gimpy, and while they both expect to play, unlike the 49er secondary, it’s the Chiefs cornerbacks, Marcus Cooper who has a bad knee and Sean Smith’s groin are not 100%, and these are certainly injuries that could hinder their ability to cover the 49er receivers.
Tamba Hali, like Cooper has a bad knee, so might be slowed a bit, but has plenty of strength to make up for it, and will look to put a wrench in the 49ers plans to run or throw the ball.
Kansas City Chiefs
Did Not Participate In Practice:
WR Donnie Avery (groin), S Eric Berry (ankle).
Limited In Practice:
RB Jamal Charles (ankle), LB Tamba Hali (knee), CB Marcus Cooper (knee), CB Sean Smith (groin).
Full Participation In Practice:
RB De’Anthony Thomas (hamstring), LB Frank Zombo (hamstring).
For more 49ers news and updates, visit 49ers Central.
Jerrell Richardson is a Bay Area native who due to a college career at San Diego State University has grown an appreciation for all things sports related in California. His heart will always remain in San Francisco though where he currently resides and covers everything from the San Francisco 49ers and Giants to the San Jose Sharks and California Bears Baseball team. Jerrell is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
