5 49ers that should take a major step forward in 2020

The 49ers have a slew of players on their roster that need to make big jumps in 2020 if they’re going to make another Super Bowl run.

The 49ers returned largely the same roster from last season. Simply moving laterally won’t be enough if they want to make another jaunt back to the Super Bowl though.

With so many players coming back, another deep postseason run will require a handful of players to take significant steps forward from where they were a year ago.

Here are five players who will have to thrive in expanded roles if the 49ers are going to repeat last year’s success:

WR Kendrick Bourne

Bourne was remarkably consistent over the last two seasons, and fell into a productive role as a third receiver last year. Since 2018, Bourne has 72 receptions for 845 yards. Of his 72 catches, 53 have gone for either a first down or a touchdown. A go-to target to convert first downs and touchdowns is valuable, but the 49ers may need more from Bourne in 2020. With question marks all over the roster at that position and a truncated offseason, Bourne’s familiarity with the offense and his rapport with Garoppolo put him in line for his most productive year as a pro.

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6 49ers returning from injury could play key roles in 2020

The 49ers handled their injuries well, but they had a ton of good players finish the year on Injured Reserve.

The 49ers didn’t have great injury luck in 2019, but they dealt with their injuries thanks to the strong depth accumulated by the front office over the last three offseasons.

Going into 2020, San Francisco should get most of the players back who finished the 2019 campaign on Injured Reserve. Here are the six players who could help bolster the 49ers’ roster up returning from IR.

C Weston Richburg

The 49ers lost Richburg to a torn patellar tendon in their Week 14 win over the Saints. It looked initially like the kind of injury that could derail San Francisco’s season. He is a terrific pass blocker in the middle of the line who helps stabilize the interior alongside Laken Tomlinson and Mike Person. While backup Ben Garland did a fine job in Richburg’s stead, having their starter back will only solidify an already strong offensive line.

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49ers officially activate DL Kentavius Street, place DJ Jones on IR

Another 49ers injury forced DJ Jones to go on IR, which opened a roster spot for Kentavius Street.

The 49ers on Saturday made an expected defensive line swap official when they placed DJ Jones on Injured Reserve, and activated Kentavius Street off IR.

Street was eligible to return since he made the initial 53-man roster, then immediately went on IR following arthroscopic knee surgery.

The 49ers took the hulking defensive lineman with a fourth-round pick in the 2018 draft despite his torn ACL in a pre-draft workout. That injury forced him out all of last season. He was eligible to return after eight weeks, but the team waited until Week 14 to open his practice window.

Street was a productive player for four years at North Carolina State. He racked up 120 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and eight sacks along a very good Wolfpack defensive line.

Jones suffered a high ankle sprain against the Saints that will sideline him for the rest of the year. His placement on IR opened the roster spot for Street.

It won’t be easy to replace Jones’ production. He was putting together a tremendous third season. He had 23 tackles, four tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and two quarterback hits. Those were all career highs.

A thinning defensive line rotation means Street will likely see plenty of action in his NFL debut. Solomon Thomas and Sheldon Day are two candidates to line up at nose tackle, but Street can also play inside and should take some of Jones’ snaps.

49ers to place DL DJ Jones on IR

Another 49ers defensive lineman is set to go on IR, which is badly hurting their depth up front.

The 49ers’ once deep defensive line rotation is starting to dramatically thin out. Dee Ford is dealing with a hamstring injury that may keep him out for the rest of the regular season. Ronald Blair tore his ACL and is out for the year. Damontre Moore broke his arm and is out for the year. Now defensive tackle DJ Jones is due to have his season cut short by an ankle injury.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan told a Bay Area radio station that Jones is set to go on IR due to a high ankle sprain he suffered in the 49ers’ win over the Saints according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Jones would be the 15th player on IR assuming defensive lineman Kentavius Street is added to the 53-man roster. His practice window to return from a preseason knee injury has been open for two weeks, so a direct swap of roster spots between Jones and Street would make sense once San Francisco makes the move official.

The 49ers may have a hard time replacing Jones, who plays an integral run-stopping role on the defensive line. He’s posted 23 tackles, 2.0 sacks and four tackles for loss, all career-highs in a career-high 11 games in his third season. Jones also had a crucial forced fumble in the 49ers’ win over the Saints.

San Francisco’s defensive line depth was its calling card early in the season, but Jones’ departure would leave a pretty big hole in the 49ers’ rotation up front. How effectively they replace him will be a big factor in whether they make a deep postseason run.

5 defensive starters miss practice for 49ers

The 49ers have a slew of injury issues heading into a Week 15 showdown with the Falcons.

The 49ers were supposed to get healthy down the stretch. While that’s been mostly true on offense, their defense has been hit hard by injuries the last two weeks. Five starters from that side of the ball missed Wednesday’s practice, and there’s not a lot of optimism they’ll have any of them available Sunday.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday announced Dee Ford and Richard Sherman would both miss multiple games. Shanahan on Wednesday then indicated DJ Jones’ ankle injury is a “pretty significant one.” That would seem to indicate Jones will at least miss Sunday, though Shanahan didn’t rule him out.

Jaquiski Tartt remained out as he nurses a rib injury he suffered against the Ravens. He’s still day-to-day, and K’Waun Williams is in concussion protocol after sustaining one vs. the Saints.

Jullian Taylor is also out with an elbow injury. Shanahan said last week Taylor would miss multiple games.

Second-year defensive lineman Kentavius Street still hasn’t been activated after his practice window to return from IR opened last week. If the team deems him ready after this week of practice, he could be activated and see playing time right away with so many injuries along the defensive line.

Here’s the full practice report from Wednesday:

Did not participate

DE Dee Ford (quad, hamstring)
DT D.J. Jones (ankle)
CB Richard Sherman (hamstring)
S Jaquiski Tartt (ribs)
DT Jullian Taylor (elbow)
CB K’Waun Williams (concussion)

Limited participation

TE Garrett Celek (back)

Full participation

WR Dante Pettis (knee)

49ers defense gets another tough test vs. multi-faceted Saints offense

The 49ers defense has passed all of its tests this year, but Michael Thomas, Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara are a different type of challenge.

The 49ers defense is two-for-two in passing tests on their recent three-game stretch. They shut down Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, then held MVP-frontrunner Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to a season-low 20 points.

Now the tests keep coming against Drew Brees and the Saints. While New Orleans isn’t the offensive juggernaut they were in the earlier portion of the decade, they’re still top 10 in points scored, 13th in yards, and No. 6 in Football Outsiders’ DVOA.

The Saints’ defense is just as good as its offense, which means the 49ers will need to match them in what could be another low-scoring contest. Here are the six most important players for the 49ers defense Sunday:

LB Fred Warner

The reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Month seems to have a Pro Bowl spot locked up, and may wind up getting an All-Pro nod in his second season. Warner has elevated his game to a new level with Kwon Alexander out for the season, and he’s begun dominating against the run and in coverage. The Saints offense has two extremely talented playmakers in Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara, both of whom might wind up matched up with Warner. How Warner does in those matchups will play a significant role in getting stops for the San Francisco defense.

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49ers injury outlook continues trending up ahead of crucial showdown with Saints

Arik Armstead got a day off, while the 49ers health continues improving ahead of their showdown with the Saints.

The 49ers’ injury report from Thursday’s practice looks only slightly different than Wednesday’s. The only changes to it are positive on the injury front for San Francisco heading into their crucial Week 14 visit to New Orleans to take on the No. 1-seed Saints.

Wide receiver Dante Pettis missed practice Wednesday with a knee injury he suffered in practice leading up to the team’s Week 13 loss to the Ravens. He was inactive vs. Baltimore, but his return to practice Thursday could signal that the second-year receiver will be available vs. New Orleans.

A glaring difference was Arik Armstead’s absence Thursday after a full Wednesday practice. The team’s leader in sacks missed the session for a veteran’s day off. There was no injury, and there’s no doubt about his availability Sunday.

Defensive tackle DJ Jones also got a full session in after limited participation Wednesday. He sprained his ankle against the Ravens and was considered day-to-day to start the week. Thursday’s practice indicates Jones will be ready to play Sunday, although his status won’t be determined until after Friday’s practice.

Here’s the full participation report for Thursday:

Did not participate

DL Arik Armstead (non-injury related)
S Jaquiski Tartt (ribs)
DL Jullian Taylor (elbow)

Limited participation

DE Dee Ford (quad, hamstring)
CB Richard Sherman (knee)
TE George Kittle (knee, ankle)
WR Dante Pettis (knee)
OT Joe Staley (finger)

Full participation

DT D.J. Jones (ankle)
RB Matt Breida (ankle)
WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder)
WR Emmanuel Sanders (ribs)

Dee Ford returns to practice for 49ers

The 49ers are getting healthier just in time for the biggest game of the season.

The 49ers are getting healthier just in time for a vital four-game stretch that will determine their playoff fate. San Francisco practiced Wednesday in Florida in preparation for their Week 14 game in New Orleans, and got some good injury news from several key players. Perhaps the biggest note from the Wednesday injury report was the return of defensive end Dee Ford, who’s been nursing a hamstring injury that’s forced him out of the last two games.

Ford was a limited participant, along with defensive tackle DJ Jones and cornerback Richard Sherman. Jones and Sherman were both considered day-to-day following injuries sustained in the team’s Week 13 loss in Baltimore. Jones sprained his ankle, and Sherman sprained his knee.

Getting a nearly full slate of starters back in time to take on the NFC’s No. 1-seed would be a nice boost for the 49ers. Their margin for error moving forward is razor thin with a first-round bye hanging in the balance to end the year.

Here’s Wednesday’s full injury report:

Did not participate

WR Dante Pettis (knee)
S Jaquiski Tartt (ribs)
DT Jullian Taylor (elbow)

Limited participation

TE George Kittle (knee, ankle)
OT Joe Staley (finger)
DE Dee Ford (quad, hamstring)
DT D.J. Jones (ankle)
CB Richard Sherman (knee)

Full participation

RB Matt Breida (ankle)
WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder)
WR Emmanuel Sanders (ribs)

49ers optimistic Matt Breida, Joe Staley, Dee Ford can return vs. Saints

The 49ers should be relatively healthy with several key players returning from injury vs. the Saints.

The 49ers’ Week 14 showdown in New Orleans against the Saints could wind up playing a significant role in how the postseason shakes out. A win for San Francisco may be the difference between whether the NFC goes through the Bay Area or New Orleans.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan is optimistic about the team’s health going into that contest. He expects running back Matt Breida, left tackle Joe Staley and defensive end Dee Ford to all return against New Orleans. Shanahan does not anticipate the return of wide receiver Dante Pettis, who injured his knee in practice leading up to the Baltimore game.

“I’m holding out hope on all of them,” Shanahan said. “I’m definitely more optimistic about Breida, Ford and Staley. I would be surprised to get Pettis back. None of them are for sure, though. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get three of the four.”

Breida hurt his ankle in Week 10 against Seattle and the team shut him down after he played on an ankle injury for most of last season. He’s been out the last three games, and missed the contest in Baltimore despite practicing all week.

Staley also returned to practice last week after sustaining a hand injury against the Seahawks. He missed three games after he had surgery to repair a fractured, dislocated finger. That game against Seattle was his first since breaking his fibula in Week 2 vs. the Bengals. He’s played in just three games all season.

Ford missed the last two games against the Packers and Ravens after he injured his hamstring chasing down Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray in their second meeting in Week 11. He hasn’t practiced at all the last two weeks.

Several key 49ers will be day-to-day after getting hurt Sunday. DJ Jones is nursing an ankle sprain. Richard Sherman is dealing with a knee sprain, and Jaquiski Tartt has a fractured rib. Shanahan didn’t offer any word on their potential availability, although we’ll find out more Wednesday when the team has its first practice of the week.

The only player who’ll for sure miss significant time is defensive lineman Jullian Taylor. He hurt ligaments in his elbow and will be out at least two weeks according to Shanahan.

No tough decisions in 49ers inactives vs. Cardinals

The 49ers have so many injuries that they didn’t have any choices with their list of inactives.

The 49ers coaching staff didn’t have any tough decisions when it came to their seven inactive players Sunday.

Here’s the list officially submitted by the team prior to Sunday’s game:

OT Joe Staley
QB CJ Beathard
TE George Kittle
RB Matt Breida
K Robbie Gould
LB Azeez Al-Shaair
DT DJ Jones

Really the list was all but confirmed late Saturday morning when the 49ers announced Al-Shaair was downgraded to ‘out’ with a concussion. He joined Staley and Jones as the three players officially out. With Beathard a regular inactive as the third quarterback, there were only three inactive spots left.

Those three spots were the only question marks, and they were officially filled Sunday with Kittle, Breida and Gould – the three players the 49ers labeled ‘doubtful’ leading up to the game.

One silver lining is the absence of Ahkello Witherspoon’s name on the inactive list for the first time since Week 5. He sprained his foot in the Week 3 win over the Steelers and hasn’t played since. Witherspoon was supposed to be back Monday vs. Seattle, but had a setback and was forced to delay his return date.