The San Francisco 49ers are reeling after a tough Week 2, with head coach Kyle Shanahan delivering grim injury updates on three key starters: fullback Kyle Juszczyk, wide receiver Jauan Jennings, and offensive lineman Ben Bartch. As the team prepares for their Week 3 home opener against the Arizona Cardinals, these injuries threaten to derail their early-season momentum and test the depth of an already battle-tested roster.
It wouldn’t be a normal day after a San Francisco 49ers game without some injuries popping up.
This is the usual norm for the 49ers, which sobers up the wins they achieve. On a conference call with reporters, head coach Kyle Shanahan provided alarming injury updates on three starters.
FB Kyle Juszczyk
Kyle Juszczyk, who exited in the middle of the game against the New Orleans Saints, is dealing with a concussion and will be in the concussion protocol this week.
Usually, players who are in the protocol don’t clear for the following games. It’s safe to say he won’t be available for the 49ers in their home opener against the Arizona Cardinals.
The 49ers were left scrambling when Juszczyk was ruled out for the game. They utilized 21 personnel (their favorite) on just 13.2 percent of snaps in their win over the Saints.
Once Juszczyk left, they didn’t utilize that personnel at all. Their 13.2 percent usage rate of 21 personnel was their lowest over the last two seasons, and across those 9 snaps, they averaged just 1.7 yards per play.
WR Jauan Jennings
Jauan Jennings was already injured going into Week 2 with a shoulder injury, but now he has an ankle injury. It’s probably a mild sprain as Shanahan listed him as day-to-day.
Expect him to be out and/or limited like he was in practice last week. The 49ers may consider sitting him out for this game to let all of his injuries heal substantially.
However, the Cardinals have a fairly strong secondary, specifically with rookie cornerback Will Johnson. The 49ers will need all the impactful receivers they can get for that game.
OL Ben Bartch
Last but not least is starting left guard Ben Bartch. It’s not surprising at all that he is dealing with an injury, nor is it surprising that he couldn’t finish the game against the Saints.
He’s nursing a high ankle sprain that he sustained late in the first quarter and will miss “awhile” per Shanahan. That means rookie Connor Colby will get the start moving forward.
Colby is a player whom I advocated recently for the 49ers to start over Bartch. It’s better to roll with the rookie for long-term benefits than it is with unreliable “glass man” Bartch.
Against the Saints, Colby helped settle the left side of the offensive line. The moment wasn’t too big for him. He held his own very well and should be the starter indefinitely.
The 49ers’ injury woes couldn’t come at a worse time. Facing a Cardinals team with a strong secondary and a knack for capitalizing on opponents’ weaknesses, San Francisco must quickly adapt. The absence of Juszczyk and potentially Jennings will force offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to rethink his play-calling, leaning more heavily on stars like Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel. Meanwhile, Colby’s emergence provides a silver lining, but the offensive line’s depth will be tested as the season progresses.
These injuries highlight a recurring issue for the 49ers: their wins often come at a steep cost. With key starters sidelined, the team’s depth and resilience will be critical in determining whether they can stay competitive in a loaded NFC West. As Shanahan and his staff scramble to adjust, the 49ers’ season hangs in the balance, with Week 3 shaping up as a pivotal moment in their campaign.