Injuries are part of football. But injuries to big-name players or those starting to move up the roster can derail a team’s season — and that’s something the 49ers are trying to avoid.
San Francisco was expected to be one of the NFC leaders this season. Injuries began to crop up in the preseason, and the first injury list came to a head when the 49ers faced off against the New York Jets in Week 1. Despite reports that he would play, star running back Christian McCaffrey was subbed an hour and a half before kickoff.
Since then, the injuries have only mounted for San Francisco. As the 49ers head into their Week 8 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, let’s take a look back at the injuries they’ve dealt with so far this season.
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49ers 2024 injury timeline
2024 preseason
Dre Greenlaw
The 49ers went up against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl and they added injury to insult.
Quarterback Dre Greenlaw was preparing to take the field, jumping and trying to pull himself up when he tore his Achilles. He hasn’t played yet this season, let alone the rest of the game. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he has a chance to return by Week 12.
Elijah Mitchell
Mitchell was the addition to McCaffrey. In the preseason, Mitchell worked through a hip injury. Then he got injured other suffered a hamstring injury and was subsequently ruled out until the end of the regular season.
Drake Jackson
Jackson was a promising rookie taken in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He came back in 2023 after tearing his patellar tendon, but suffered a major setback last January. Jackson played in 23 games, tallying six sacks and an interception.
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2024 regular season
Christian McCaffrey
McCaffrey was a limited practice participant in Week 1 before the game against the Jets. He was listed with an Achilles injury. McCaffrey has since been placed on injured reserve and visited specialists in Germany. Barring any setbacks, there is optimism he can play in Week 10 after San Francisco’s bye week.
from @GMFB: For now #49ers Star WR Brandon Ayuk is out #49ers There could be two key skill players on Sunday night. pic.twitter.com/YXawbbzl1i
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 25, 2024
Javon Hargrave
Hargrave is the veteran leader of San Francisco’s defensive line. He would start if healthy, and the Niners certainly lost seven sacks from last season. Hargrave suffered a triceps injury early in the season and is on ICU.
Talanoa Hufanga
Hufanga played in 10 games last season, but was still tied for third on the team. After two games into this season, he suffered a wrist injury and was placed on IR. There’s hope he could return in Week 11, but it’s his .
Matthew Wright
Wright was signed to take over for the injured Jake Moody. He took over the playmaking duties, but then fumbled on the rebound. On his way to the catch, he suffered a shoulder injury that forced him on the IR. Wright only played in one game, but made all three of his field goal attempts and all three of his extra points.
Dibo Samuel
Samuel suffered a calf injury early in the season and had to miss a game. He was active in San Francisco’s Week 7 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but played little snap. Samuel got sick and it turned out to be pneumonia. He was seen on the sidelines using an oxygen mask and rushed to the hospital.
Jake Moody
Moody has played in five games this season. The starting kicker suffered an ankle injury in Week 5. That caused him to miss Weeks 6, 7 and 8. He is expected to return after San Francisco’s Week 9 bye.
Jawan Jennings
Injuries at wide receiver continued, and after taking over for the injured Samuels, Jennings is now dealing with his own injury. He suffered a groin injury in Week 6 that caused him to miss the Week 7 game against Kansas City. Jennings did not practice to start Week 8 and could return after the bye week.
Jordan Mason
Mason filled in for McCaffrey and played well. Through seven games, the backup has rushed for 667 yards and three touchdowns. He suffered a broken shoulder in Week 6, which caused him to miss Week 7 against Kansas City. Mason is expected to return in Week 8.
Brandon Ayuk
Ayuk is the latest major injury for the 49ers. He was the epitome of stability when his teammates were dropping like flies around him. During the game, Aiyuk fell down so hard that the trainers had to help him. He was diagnosed with a torn ACL and PCL and his season was over.