The 49ers' Injury Avalanche: How San Francisco Leads the NFL in Lost Production
If you’ve been tracking the 2025 NFL season, one team’s injury woes stand out like a sore thumb - and that’s putting it mildly. No roster has been hit harder, more often, or more painfully than the San Francisco 49ers. From stars to role players, the Niners have been decimated, and the numbers back it up: they’ve lost more potential production to injury than any other team in the league through Week 13.
Let’s break down what that actually means - and why it matters.
49ers Lead the League in “Points Lost” to Injury
According to Total Points - a metric that estimates a player’s on-field value based on their last 17 games - the 49ers have lost 156 Total Points due to injury this season, with 206 games missed across the roster. That’s the most of any team in both categories.
To put that in perspective, the next closest team in value lost is the Arizona Cardinals at 151 points - and they’ve had 29 fewer games missed.
This isn’t just about quantity. It’s about the quality of players missing time.
San Francisco hasn’t just lost bodies; they’ve lost key contributors on both sides of the ball. The list reads like a Pro Bowl roster:
- Brandon Aiyuk was already expected to miss significant time heading into the season.
- Nick Bosa, the defensive anchor, has missed time.
- George Kittle, the heart of the offense, sidelined.
- Fred Warner, the quarterback of the defense, out.
- Brock Purdy, the team’s starting quarterback, injured.
- Ricky Pearsall, a rising weapon, unavailable.
- Ben Bartch, a key piece on the offensive line, also out.
That’s a brutal string of absences - and it’s no wonder the 49ers have struggled to find consistency.
Measuring the Fallout: Where Other Teams Stack Up
While San Francisco tops the chart, they’re not alone in the injury trenches. Here’s how some of the other teams have fared:
- Cardinals (151 points lost): Kyler Murray’s absence stings, but Jacoby Brissett has kept the ship afloat. Still, James Conner’s injury has had a bigger-than-expected impact on their offensive rhythm.
- Bengals (142 points lost): Cincinnati’s overall games missed are lower, but Joe Burrow’s injury alone has torpedoed their offensive potential. Without that, they’d be in the healthier half of the league.
- Commanders (136 points lost): Rookie QB Jayden Daniels has had a stop-and-start season, and the team has also been without Terry McLaurin, Austin Ekeler, Will Harris, and Deatrich Wise at various points.
- Chargers (109 points lost): Injuries to both starting tackles - Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt - have disrupted the offensive line from the jump.
It’s hard to build rhythm when your bookends keep rotating.
Volume vs. Value: Lions and Bears Lead in Games Missed
Interestingly, the Lions (226 games missed) and Bears (240) have the highest number of total games missed due to injury, but they rank just 14th and 15th in points lost, respectively. That suggests they’ve avoided injuries to their most impactful players - until recently.
Detroit’s recent injuries to Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown could shift that narrative in the weeks ahead.
The Healthiest Teams Are Winning
On the flip side, the Patriots and Rams are the healthiest teams in the league when it comes to lost production. They’ve each lost only 25 and 35 Total Points, respectively - and that’s showing up in the win column.
In fact, the five teams with the fewest Total Points lost to injury - the Patriots, Rams, Browns, Eagles, and Broncos - have a combined record of 41-20. Compare that to the 24-37 record of the five most injury-riddled teams, and the correlation is hard to ignore. Health isn’t just a luxury - it’s a competitive advantage.
The Bottom Line
Injuries are part of the game, but the 2025 49ers are dealing with a level of attrition that’s hard to overcome. When you lose your quarterback, your top pass-catcher, your best defender, and multiple starters across the board, it’s not just about depth - it’s about survival.
San Francisco still has the talent to compete when healthy, but the challenge now is staying afloat long enough to get their stars back. Until then, every win they scratch out is a testament to coaching, culture, and resilience - because right now, no team is being tested more than the Niners.