Defensive Musical Chairs: Who Could Step in for the 49ers Injured Players?

Week 5’s dominate performance over the Carolina Panthers came at a steep price for the 49ers, losing multiple players on the defensive side of the ball.

By seven o’clock eastern time, San Francisco had lost Nick Bosa, Jimmie Ward, Emmanuel Moseley and Robbie Gould to different injuries. The worst being Moseley, suffering a torn ACL in the closing minutes Sunday, effectively ending his season as it was getting going.

A lot of speculation has been cast on the playing surface itself as the culprit for the injuries. The Panther’s field, Bank of America Stadium, uses artificial turf instead of natural grass, raising the question: Why are football fields different across the NFL?

“The thing that just confuses me is if you’re not going to mandate grass, then why aren’t turf fields the exact same turf so guys get used to playing on the same turf everywhere? But every field has a different turf,” 49ers tight end George Kittle said in the locker room postgame. “And so you’re playing on a different surface.  NBA guys don’t play on different wood, what are we doing? Hockey guys don’t play on different ices all the time. It’s ice. So I just wish we played on a surface that was similar every single week in, week out so your body won’t just be dealing with different, crappy turf.”

Kittle has a point, but what’s done is done as defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans now faces a challenge to replace key members of the defense ahead of the team’s Week 6 trip to the Atlanta Falcons.

Let’s take a look at who could fill in at key positions for the 49ers.

Nick Bosa

The All-Pro defensive end pulled up at halftime complaining of a “tight” groin, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Bosa tried to play through it but seemed clearly bothered by the injury, forcing him to miss most of the third quarter, and eventually the rest of the game.

While his status for Week 6 is unclear at this time, the injury will be closely monitoring in advance to their second age of this road trip.

Despite the injury, the Bosa Bear is leading the league in pressures, 31, and sacks, 6, through the first five weeks. A number that could change if he misses multiple weeks, the loss is gigantic for the red & gold.

Thankfully, the 49ers biggest strength is on the defensive line, registering 21 pressures and six sacks with Bosa out half the game Sunday.

Defensive Pressures, Week 5, PFF:

1. Charles Omenihu, 5 (!!)
2. Drake Jackson, 3
3. Samson Ebukam, 3

The #49ers' defense generated 21 pressures and 6 sacks in a game where Nick Bosa didn't play a half. Such a deep defensive line, starting with Omenihu who played so well.

— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) October 10, 2022

Using a combination of DEs Charles Omenihu, Samson Ebukam and rookie Drake Jackson, San Francisco should be able to get by without their star pass rusher for the time being. Omenihu had the biggest impact in the trenches Sunday, getting one TFL, one sack and two quarterback hits on Baker Mayfield.

Veterans like Kemoko Turay and Hassan Ridgeway can also help on the defensive line, proving why this area of the game is the deepest on the red & gold’s roster.

Emmanuel Moseley

The most devastating of all the injuries Sunday was when cornerback Emmanuel Moseley clutched his knee in agony late in the fourth quarter.

His injury occurred going up for a pass break-up on a deep ball against WR DJ Moore, landing awkwardly on the turf before rolling around on the ground in pain. Moseley was able to walk off the field with help of trainers, noticeably limping along the sideline afterwards.

Shanahan stated postgame that the team feared a torn ACL for “E-Man”, confirming the news Monday morning with an MRI. He will now have knee surgery as his 2022 season is officially over.

Moseley, 26, is set to be a free agent in 2023 and was in line for a massive contract extension after his performances the first few weeks. His pick-six interception in the second quarter set the tone for the 49ers out of the break.

“Seeing E-Man go down, it almost felt like Trey Lance too. Those are like both of my guys… Sending prayers to him because he’s definitely a man of great character,” a somber Talanoa Hufanga said Sunday.

With Moseley out for the season, who could fill in alongside top corner Chavarius Ward?

49ers have many possibilities in their CB shuffle with Moseley hurt.

-Straight swap to Jason Verrett, who's in the bullpen
-A look at younger options — Ambry Thomas, Deommodore Lenoir, Samuel Womack III — while Verrett takes his time
-Don't forget reliable ol' Dontae Johnson

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) October 10, 2022

The easiest answer would be activating veteran CB Jason Verrett off the PUP list for Week 6.

Verrett is still coming back from an ACL tear Week 1 of the 2021 season, officially practicing for the first time this season last Wednesday. With a big hole to fill, many speculate if now is the time to bring back a former pro0-bolwer of Verrett’s caliber.

“Yeah, he would’ve gone if we went full-speed,” Shanahan said regarding the corner’s DNP last Friday. “He’s just trying so hard to get back and get reps and we did all walkthroughs. We wanted to get him a full workout on the side instead of just walking through.”

If JV its not ready to go Week 6, utility defensive backs like Deommodore Lenoir, Ambry Thomas or rookie Samuel Womack III could be used in more advanced roles moving forward.

Lenoir has been the most impressive of the three, playing nickelback the last few weeks. He was beat on a few plays Sunday, but finished the contest with eight combined tackles.

Jimmie Ward

It was a short comeback for the secondary captain of the 49ers as safety Jimmie Ward suffered a broken hand early in the first quarter against the Panthers.

Ward had just been activated off the injured reserve after suffering a significant hamstring injury during the preseason. Coming out for one play Sunday, he lined up as the wide linebacker, rushing the backfield before getting his hand trapped between linemen trying to tackle the running back.

He was removed from the game and ruled out shortly afterwards.

Another blow to the 49ers secondary but luckily the team has gotten by without him so far this season, with Hufanga an Tashaun Gipson Sr. ranking among the best safeties in the league. The former had another stellar performance in Week 5, racking up five combined tackles, one sack and a huge pass breakup on WR Shi Smith.

“Many people thought he was just a box safety, but his coverage skills are better than he ever got credit for…”

Talanoa Hufanga can do it all.😤 #49ers pic.twitter.com/bbRz3jtL9B

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) October 10, 2022

Gipson added four tackles and a half sack to the team’s performance.

Through five weeks, Ryans’s defense ranks first in most advanced metrics, the most impressive being first in points and passing yards allowed. We”ll see what Ward’s timeline looks like moving forward (possibly playing with a club on his hand next week) but San Francisco should manage just fine against Atlanta.

Robbie Gould

The weirdest of all the injuries Sunday, the 49ers kicker suffered a knee contusion in the second half that eventually ruled him out for most of the fourth quarter.

His injury occurred on two separate kick returns, with Panthers KR Raheem Blackshear getting loose along the sideline for big returns. naturally, the last line of defense is the kicker (i.e. Gould) to stop the return man from reaching the endzone. A 39-year-old Gould did just that coming up with two huge tackles to halt the Panthers.

Unfortunately those tackles were more like roadblocks for Blackshear, running over the 49ers kicker both times. The second time proved disastrous as Gould came off the field with a noticeable limp in his knee. The 49ers ruled him out shortly after.

Taking his place was punter Mitch Wishnowsky in the fourth quarter, missing one extra point try wide left before barley sinking the following one.

49ers kicker Robbie Gould is out with an injury, so punter Mitch Wishnowsky attempted the PAT.

It didn't go well 😬pic.twitter.com/1JoTHwKgRD

— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 (@sportingnews) October 9, 2022

Safe to say that the 49ers will not be using their punter on field goals.

Congratulations to Mitch Wishnowsky. Kyle Shanahan could live without seeing him kick a field goal or extra point ever again

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) October 9, 2022

Shanahan hinted at a minor injury for Gould but his status for Week 6 is still undetermined at this time. If the veteran does miss time, expect the red & gold to go searching for a replacement this week, former Indianapolis Colts kicker Rodrigo Blankenship comes to mind.

 

Follow @AmilianoFragoso

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