49ers to place DL Jullian Taylor on IR, activate DL Kevin Givens

The 49ers’ defensive line was hit with another injury.

The 49ers’ defensive line depth took another hit just as it was getting ready to improve. Defensive lineman Jullian Taylor was due to return Sunday vs. the Seahawks after missing the last three games with an elbow injury, but he tore his ACL on Thursday and will go on injured reserve according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Taylor’s move to IR will open a roster spot for undrafted rookie defensive lineman Kevin Givens, who’s spent the year on the 49ers’ practice squad. Givens had a nice preseason after signing with the club in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of Penn State.

Givens played for three years with the Nittany Lions and had 83 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in 36 games. He should make his NFL debut Sunday on a depleted 49ers defensive line.

Taylor will join Ronald Blair, Damontre Moore and DJ Jones among defensive linemen on the 49ers’ IR. Dee Ford is also out Sunday while he nurses a hamstring injury.

Taylor hasn’t had a ton of action since joining the 49ers as a seventh-round pick out of Temple in last year’s draft. He played in six games as a rookie and saw time in six games before his injury this season. Taylor was good in limited snaps this year with nine tackles, four tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

Defensive line depth has been a huge problem for the 49ers late in the season, but if Givens can pick up where he left off in the preseason and offer a handful of effective snaps, it would be a huge boost for San Francisco’s banged up defensive front.

Jaquiski Tartt back in practice for first time since Week 13

The 49ers may get healthier in time for their biggest regular season game in nearly a decade.

The 49ers didn’t release an official injury report for Tuesday’s practice, but one key defender was back on the field for the 49ers. Reporters on site at the team facility noted strong safety Jaquiski Tartt was in a blue non-contact jersey during the open portion of the team’s practice.

Tuesday was Tartt’s first practice since breaking a rib in the 49ers’ Week 13 loss to the Ravens. There was no word on the extent of his participation since the 49ers didn’t have to release a participation report.

San Francisco has badly missed Tartt in the secondary. His ability to play both safety spots at a high level allows the 49ers to do things in coverage they can’t do with Marcell Harris in the game. Tartt is also in his fifth season while Harris has only seen limited action in two years.

There are bigger issues with the 49ers’ defense than just their safety play, but the loss to the Falcons came as a direct result of a mixup with Harris, and they’ve given up 35.3 points and 291 passing yards per game in Tartt’s absence.

It’s not a guarantee that Tartt suits up against the Seahawks, but his return to the lineup would provide much-needed help at a key position for a struggling pass defense.

49ers escape Rams game with no major injuries

The 49ers may be a bit healthier going into Week 17.

The 49ers on Sunday got another win when head coach Kyle Shanahan provided an injury update after the team’s 34-31 win over the Rams on Saturday.

Shanahan said reserve safety and special teams ace Tarvarius Moore sustained a concussion, but that was the only new injury for a club that’s already banged up. The 49ers’ head coach also said right guard would remain questionable in Week 17 after missing Saturday with a neck injury.

He also announced that strong safety Jaquiski Tartt could be back in practice this week after missing the last two with a rib injury. He’s yet to practice since suffering his injury in Week 14 vs. the Ravens.

Defensive end Dee Ford will remain out with a hamstring injury, although that’s not a huge surprise since he was expected to miss three-plus weeks after leaving the Saints game with that ailment.

It sounds like getting Tartt back in time for a must-win game in Seattle is the best-case scenario for San Francisco. Their pass defense has struggled badly in his absence, so getting him back for the Seahawks game could make a huge difference.

Knocking off the Seahawks and getting a first-round bye is paramount for a team as injured as the 49ers, and getting a week off could be the difference between having Ford and Person in their first playoff game and not.

49ers hit hard by injuries after Saints game

The 49ers got a slew of bad injury news from head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday announced a slew of injuries to key starters.

Center Weston Richburg is out for the season with a torn patellar tendon. Dee Ford and Richard Sherman will both miss multiple weeks with hamstring injuries.

Richburg was carted off in the second half of the team’s win in New Orleans after getting his leg caught underneath him on a third down run play. Shanahan wasn’t optimistic in his postgame press conference after Richburg left the locker room on crutches.

The 49ers signed Richburg last offseason and he played through painful knee and quad injuries that both required offseason surgery. He bounced back with a terrific 2019 campaign before his injury Sunday.

Ben Garland will likely replace Richburg as the starting center. He signed with San Francisco in the offseason after two years in Denver and three in Seattle. He has seven starts across his six seasons.

Ford was dealing with a hamstring injury prior to Sunday’s game in New Orleans. He aggravated it early in the game and did not return. His absence will mean more time on the edge for Arik Armstead and Jeremiah Valoaga.

Sherman was banged up a couple times, but came up with a hamstring issue late in the fourth quarter and didn’t enter the game on the Saints’ final offensive possession. Emmanuel Moseley will likely step into the starting cornerback spot across from Ahkello Witherspoon.

Cornerback K’Waun Williams exited late with a concussion and is in concussion protocol. If he can’t go Sunday against the Falcons, DJ Reed would probably be the starting nickel corner.

Safety Jaquiski Tartt is still day-to-day with a rib injury. He was out for Sunday’s game, and defensive tackle DJ Jones is nursing an ankle sprain.

The 49ers need to get healthy over these next few weeks, and suddenly the first-round playoff bye feels more important than ever. San Francisco can secure a first-round bye if they win their final three games. That extra week off could be the difference between having players like Sherman and Ford for the first playoff game, and not having them.

Jaquiski Tartt ruled out, Joe Staley, 2 WRs questionable vs. Saints

The 49ers will get a slew of starters back vs. New Orleans.

The 49ers will have to deal with Drew Brees and the Saints without a member of the secondary. Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt on Friday was officially ruled out with a broken rib he suffered in last week’s loss to the Ravens. Defensive tackle Jullian Taylor was also ruled out.

Second-year safety Marcell Harris played well filling in for Tartt when the starter went down in Baltimore. Harris’ strip and fumble recovery on Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson swung the tide of the game briefly in the 49ers’ favor. Harris will start in Tartt’s stead against the Saints.

Taylor injured his elbow and was expected to be ruled out for Week 14 and Week 15. His status beyond the next couple weeks is uncertain.

The good news on the 49ers’ injury report was the players missing from it. Offensive tackle Joe Staley is officially questionable after limited practices all week. He’s still working his way back from finger surgery. Defensive end Dee Ford, defensive tackle DJ Jones and running back Matt Breida should all play against New Orleans.

There was optimism from head coach Kyle Shanahan that those three would be good to go against the Saints, and a week of practice validated that positivity. All three were full participants in Friday’s practice and will be ready to go Sunday.

Shanahan was less optimistic about wide receiver Dante Pettis returning from a knee injury. He’s officially questionable, alongside fellow wide receiver Marquise Goodwin. Goodwin was a late add to the status report with knee and foot injuries.

Defensive lineman Kentavius Street still hasn’t been activated off Injured Reserve, although his practice window did open. He can still be added to the roster Saturday if the team believes he’s ready to make his NFL debut.

Here’s the full status report:

Out

S Jaquiski Tartt (ribs)
DL Jullian Taylor (elbow)

Questionable

WR Dante Pettis (knee)
WR Marquise Goodwin (knee, foot)
OT Joe Staley (finger)

Rookie WR Jalen Hurd not ready to return to practice yet

The 49ers receiving corps will need to wait longer if rookie WR Jalen Hurd is the answer to their woes.

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Monday night exposed some of the flaws in the 49ers’ receiving corps. They need help at that spot, but reinforcements may have to wait. Third-year slot receiver Trent Taylor is on Injured Reserve with a foot injury, but setbacks have pushed him out of real contention to return in 2019. Rookie wide receiver Jalen Hurd, who’s on IR with a back injury, is eligible to return leading up to Week 11, but head coach Kyle Shanahan said that’s not likely to happen.

Shanahan on Tuesday told reporters attending a conference call that Hurd was checked out last week and didn’t meet enough requirements to get back on the field per Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee. The door for Hurd to play in his first NFL season is still ajar though.

That provides a glimmer of hope that the receiving corps could get some much-needed help from the rookie with a diverse skill set.

Hurd is still learning the position after transitioning from running back in his final two years of college, but he was very effective in limited preseason action with a pair of touchdown receptions in his debut. He hurt his back in the lead up to Week 2 of the preseason, then left the second game after just 10 snaps. He’s been out since.

The 49ers on Monday saw nine dropped passes by their receivers, including one that led to an interception, and multiple others that could’ve been picked off after getting tipped in the air by receivers. It was an abysmal showing from a group that had an opportunity step up with George Kittle ruled out before the game, and veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders exiting in the second quarter.

Hurd is a big-bodied slot option who gives San Francisco a physicality they don’t presently have at the position. He’d be a big help for a receiving corps that needs it, but they’ll have to wait at least another week to get the rookie in uniform at practice.

List of injured 49ers grows, Ronald Blair out for season

The 49ers took a beating Monday night against the Seahawks.

The 49ers suffered more losses than the one on the scoreboard Monday night. Their list of injured players grew following the knock-down, drag-out fight with the Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Tuesday updated reporters on a conference call about the new ailments affecting the 49ers.

Defensive lineman Ronald Blair, who exited the game in the second half following a sack of Russell Wilson, tore his ACL and is out for the season. There’s no official word on a roster move to replace Blair yet. Jeremiah Valoaga is the only defensive end on the practice squad, but San Francisco could look for alternate solutions on the free agent market as well.

Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders left the game in the second quarter, and was ruled out early in the second half with a rib injury. Shanahan said Sanders is day-to-day with a rib cartilage issue, and his status for Sunday against the Cardinals is up in the air. The 49ers’ passing attack suffered greatly once Sanders exited the game.

Offensive tackle Joe Staley, in his first game since breaking his fibula in Week 2, dislocated his finger and may need surgery that would keep him out a few weeks. His replacement, Justin Skule was inactive Monday night, but could be put back in at left tackle if Staley misses any time.

Defensive tackle DJ Jones also left in the second quarter and was ruled out early in the second half. He’s dealing with a groin injury and is day-to-day according to Shanahan. Jones was having a nice year at defensive tackle, and had a sack Monday night, then injured himself chasing Russell Wilson to the sideline.

NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday morning that running back Matt Breida could also miss time after re-aggravating an ankle injury Monday night. He left in the second half after rushing 10 times for 18 yards. While Breida battled through an ankle injury last year, the 49ers could take precautions to ensure he’s fully healthy before returning and sit him at least against the Cardinals on Sunday.

Shanahan said George Kittle and Robbie Gould both remain day-to-day. Kittle is working through knee and ankle injuries, while Gould is recovering from a quad strain. Their statuses for Week 11 are both unknown.

San Francisco looked like they’d be getting healthy just in time for the most difficult portion of the schedule, but Monday’s game sent them in the opposite direction.