Despite numerous injuries to key personnel, the San Francisco 49ers continue to push through as the 2020 season progress. The team has suffered devastating blows on both sides of the football this season regarding injuries. The injury bug to their impact players started on September 25 when Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas both suffered torn ACL injuries that would cause them to miss the season’s remainder.
The injuries would continue to mount as players such as Kwon Alexander, Richard Sherman, Jimmie Ward, and Raheem Mostert would spend time on the injured list. Regardless of what has occurred with the 49ers, Head Coach Kyle Shanahan has inserted players that have allowed the team to remain in playoff contention. The 49ers currently have a record of 4-3 and are fourth place in the NFC West division. If you remove the Miami Dolphins’ loss, the 49ers have lived up to their Super Bowl expectations so far.
Their other two losses against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Arizona Cardinals were by a combined total of nine points. The team has inserted players to step into important positions on the team and contribute. The 49ers rushing attack is an important element of what makes them so successful on offense. Raheem Mostert was the featured back in San Francisco’s vaunted rushing attack.
At the moment, he has been in and out of the line up due to injuries that have occurred during the season. Mostert was placed on the injured reserves list after suffering a high ankle sprain in the Week 6 game against the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers ground game has not missed a beat as they continue to fight for supremacy in the NFC West. Coach Shanahan can insert any running back into his scheme, and they would contribute immediately.
An example of that was shown in the matchup versus the New England Patriots. Running back Jeff Wilson rushed for 112 yards and three touchdown scores en route to the 49ers defeating the Patriots 33-6. However, Wilson would be added to San Francisco’s long list of injuries when he suffered a high ankle sprain. On the bright side, tailback Tevin Coleman is projected to return in Week 8. Coleman’s fellow teammate Raheem Mostert could return in Week 10.
Despite the injuries that continue to occur, there is continuity at the team’s most important element of their offense: the running back position. On the football’s defensive side, it continues to be one of the league’s best units. They are currently ranked fifth in the league in total defense by only allowing 309.6 yards per game. The achievements on defense are being accomplished without players such as Nick Bosa, Solomon Thomas, Jimmie Ward, Richard Sherman, and Dee Ford not being in the majority of the season.
In the future, the 49ers will face even greater challenges than what they endured at the beginning of the season. Their next three games will be against the Seahawks, Packers, and the Saints. By that time, the team should have a bulk of their core players returning from injury.
The three matchups mentioned are winnable; however, each opponent presents a different challenge that the Niners will have to overcome. Any other franchise that would have gone through what the Niners are experiencing right now may have cracked under pressure and given up on their season. Kyle Shanahan has this team right where it needs to be.
