The San Francisco 49ers walk away with a win against the Carolina Panthers. After two wins in a row, their record improves to 3-2, the best in the NFC West. Despite a 37-15 win, there were a number of potentially devastating injuries. The 49ers are no strangers to injuries, already having multiple this season. With a chance of season-ending devastating injuries, where do the 49ers go from here?
Weeks 1-4 of Devastating Injuries
Trey Lance
The most notable injury of the season has been 49ers quarterback Trey Lance. The young quarterback went down in week two of the NFL Season against the Seattle Seahawks. Luckily for the 49ers, Jimmy Garoppolo was there ready to take his spot leading the team. According to ESPN, Lance had 15 completions out of 31 attempts for 194 passing yards this year. Since Lance’s devastating injury, the team has gone 3-1 and hoping to continue to improve.
Elijah Mitchell
49ers running back, Elijah Mitchell went down with a knee injury in week one of the NFL season. In 2021, Mitchell rushed for 963 yards and had 137 receiving yards. This year, according to ESPN, Mitchell ran for only 41 yards. Veteran Jeff Wilson Jr has done well taking on the mantle of running back, but the team currently has a lack of depth.
Other running backs on the roster have also faced devastating injuries such as the rookie, Ty Davis-Price. The 49ers recently signed Tevin Coleman to the roster, who scored two touchdowns against the Panthers. Mitchell, as one of the multiple players to face devastating injuries, is a tough loss for the team. The recently added depth with Coleman should help the 49ers overcome who they are missing.
Trent Williams
Left tackle Trent Williams is a big miss for the 49ers. After facing an ankle injury against the Denver Broncos, the left tackle position has been weak. Colton Mckivits, who filled in for Williams, also suffered an MCL sprain against the Rams in week four. This has put more pressure on Garoppolo with less time to throw. The added pressure is detrimental to the flow of the 49ers’ offense.
Williams did travel with the 49ers, who have back-to-back east coast games. He was seen jogging on the sidelines before the game against Carolina according to a tweet by Matt Barrows. This could signify there is a slight chance Williams returns for their game against the Atlanta Falcons, which is key, noting the multiple devastating injuries.
Devastating Injuries vs Panthers
Nick Bosa
The significance of this injury is not yet known; however, 49ers star defensive end Nick Bosa was ruled out of the Carolina game with a groin injury. Following the win, head coach Kyle Shanahan did state he believes it was just tightness and nothing too serious. Having a strong lead against the Panthers, it is possible that the team left Bosa out as a precaution.
The 49ers did well without Bosa, only allowing the Panthers 15 points. Bosa remained on the sideline throughout and did not appear to be in a lot of pain. The hope remains that he returns against the Falcons next weekend.
Jimmie Ward
49ers captain and Safety, Jimmie Ward, made his 2022 debut against the Carolina Panthers. Ward began his season on the injured reserve. Finally getting his start, the 49ers lined him up as a linebacker to begin the game, and was next seen on the sideline. It was then reported Ward has a broken hand. While San Francisco has done well at the safety position this season, the return of Ward was exciting for everyone, and it seems the wait will be longer. There is no timetable yet, but with a lack of depth, the team may need to look at their practice squad or other free agents for help.
Emmanuel Mosely
49ers cornerback Emmanuel Mosley may have suffered one of the most devastating injuries. While more tests will be completed in the next 24 hours, it is believed Mosely has a torn ACL. The 49ers’ secondary went from being amongst the worst in the league in 2021 to one of the best this season. Mosely even had a pick-six in the game against the Panthers. The cornerback will be greatly missed by the team and fans.
There are a couple of young cornerbacks on the roster, such as Ambry Thomas, the team will hope Thomas can step up. The 49ers are also able to elevate veteran cornerback Jason Varrett from the injured reserve. Varrett has suffered many injuries but is solid when healthy.
Robbie Gould
One of the worst scenarios that can happen to a team is not having a kicker. Veteran Robbie Gould had to tackle a Carolina player on two kick returns in a row. On the second tackle, Gould suffered a knee contusion. While there is no timetable yet, the team will most likely need to work out kickers before their game against the Falcons. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky took the remainder of field goals, missing one extra point and making another. It is safe to say Wishnowsky should stick to punting and avoid taking field goals.
The 49ers will stay on the east coast this week and then head to Atlanta to face the Falcons on Sunday. The team will also hope for no more devastating injuries.
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