The San Francisco 49ers’ ever-growing list of players out for the season because of injury added at least three more Monday, with the offensive line bearing the brunt of coach Kyle Shanahan’s updates.
One day after his team was eliminated from postseason contention, Shanahan announced that left tackle Trent Williams (left ankle), left guard Aaron Banks (right MCL) and backup tackle Jaylon Moore (quad) will miss the team’s final two games.
Banks and Moore suffered their injuries in Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins, while Williams has been out since a Nov. 17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
As recently as last week, Williams was seen using a scooter to keep his left ankle elevated as he maneuvered around the locker room.
“(He) hasn’t been able to improve enough to get him out there,” Shanahan said. “We don’t see that happening enough in these two weeks, especially the situation we’re in.”
That trio of players ruled out for the season could be expanded to a quartet or quintet depending on the status of linebacker Dre Greenlaw (calf/Achilles) and offensive lineman Spencer Burford (calf). Greenlaw departed the Miami game after just four plays because of right calf soreness.
Greenlaw underwent further testing, the initial results of which didn’t indicate anything more than soreness, according to Shanahan.
But given Greenlaw’s series of stops and starts since he returned from a torn left Achilles against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 12, it might be in his best interest to shut it down for the rest of the season.
“My gut is most likely that he’ll end up being shut down,” Shanahan said. “But I’ve got to wait to talk to Dre on that and we’ll still make sure to see exactly how he is doing because right now, we just have it as just soreness. But that’ll definitely be a decision that I’ll leave up to Dre, depending on what his health is.”
Burford has been the Niners’ top backup on the interior, but the attrition at tackle forced him into the game Sunday on the left side in place of Moore.
Shanahan said Burford was also dealing with calf soreness but was still undergoing testing Monday afternoon to determine the severity.
Regardless, the 49ers will need to make some additional roster moves just to get by on the offensive line.
Nick Zakelj replaced Banks against the Dolphins and likely would be first up Monday night against the Detroit Lions, while left tackle will depend on Burford’s recovery and if recently signed lineman Austen Pleasants can get up to speed. The Niners added him to the roster Saturday.
“When you get to these points where you’re down pretty low on it, you got to get five guys out there, so we’d have to make the decision on some possible guards too,” Shanahan said.
“So, hopefully we’ll get some good news on Burford, but if not, we’ll probably have to add some people from other people’s practice squads. I’m sure we’ve been working on that already, but it’s a little too early to say.”
One player who could be back against the Lions is rookie running back Isaac Guerendo. Guerendo didn’t play against the Dolphins because of a hamstring injury. Shanahan said Guerendo is expected to resume practicing when the team returns to the field Thursday.
