The 49ers’ defensive line is being held together by duct tape and a few players who suddenly have to do a lot more than planned.
Entering Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco’s front is in flux because of the injuries piling up across the group. The result is a depth chart that feels unsettled from top to bottom, with the team still sorting out who is available and who can actually handle a start.
On the interior, Odighizuwa has gone from a helpful offseason addition to the one piece the 49ers can really trust. He was supposed to round out the line. Instead, he has become its anchor.
Halton, a fourth-round rookie, is set to make his second career start in Week 3. He’s undersized, and while there is some pass-rush ability there, run defense remains a problem.
The 49ers also brought in Jones this week after the injuries to CJ West and James Thompson, along with Alfred Collins. Thompson has not officially been placed on IR, but he will not play this week.
Valdez or Givens - and possibly both - could be elevated this weekend to help fill out the rotation.
On the edge, White has been forced into a much bigger role than anyone expected. He has moved from rotational rusher to the only real dependable option San Francisco has there. Even with that jump in responsibility, he has posted two pressures and two run stops on 62 snaps in Week 2.
Height showed improvement in Week 2 after a rough NFL debut, but now he is dealing with a broken hand. He may be able to play through it, but he would be limited, which is a lot to ask from a rookie who was already having his share of issues.
Kareem has three pressures through two weeks. He was signed at the end of training camp and played 71 snaps last year.
Okoronkwo has gone from a practice squad call-up to someone who could be starting if Height is unavailable. The speed rusher has three pressures on 34 snaps.
The two players signed in the past couple of weeks would need to be elevated if Height cannot go.
If Height is active, the 49ers could line up with Height and White on the outside and Halton and Odighizuwa inside.
In Other News...
49ers Suddenly Face A Nick Bosa Problem At The Worst Time
Nick Bosas name landing on the injury report with a calf issue is the sort of development that can change the mood around a team in a hurry. For a 49ers defense built around his ability to wreck games off the edge, any concern involving Bosa immediately carries extra weight, and the timing only adds to the unease.
The early buzz from NBC Sports Bay Areas Jennifer Lee Chan and other insiders has only sharpened the concern, with the possibility that the injury could cost him more than a week. There is still no official confirmation on the full extent of the issue, though, and Kyle Shanahan is expected to speak soon, which should bring the first real clarity on just how serious this problem might be. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Suddenly Have A Bigger Nick Bosa Problem Than Arizona
Nick Bosas latest setback leaves the 49ers facing more than just a one-game absence against Arizona. The star pass rusher was officially ruled out because of a calf injury he suffered in practice, and the outlook is now stretching beyond this weekend. San Francisco is still weighing whether to put him on injured reserve, a decision that would signal a longer detour for one of the leagues most important defenders.
The bigger concern is the broader health picture around Bosa, whose knee has been watched since training camp. What started as routine maintenance has now turned into another week-to-week question for a team that counts on him to shape games at the line of scrimmage. For a 49ers defense built around pressure up front, the timing makes the absence feel larger than the Cardinals matchup itself. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Week 3 Injury Picture Centers On Two Crucial Veterans
The 49ers Week 3 injury picture is starting to come into focus, and it carries a familiar kind of weight for a team trying to keep its defense in rhythm. San Francisco and Arizona both put out their injury reports ahead of the matchup, with some players working back into practice while others stayed on the sideline, leaving the final availability list unsettled with one more practice still to come.
What stands out most is how much attention the 49ers linebacker group continues to draw from the other side. Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett and head coach Mike LaFleur both singled out the duo for the way they play, a sign that San Franciscos front seven still commands respect even as the injury report adds a layer of uncertainty heading into the weekend. [Read more 🡒]