In a season that has spiraled out of control, the San Francisco 49ers received more devastating news on the injury front Monday. Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that the team is shutting down three key offensive linemen – left tackle Trent Williams, left guard Aaron Banks, and backup tackle Jaylon Moore – for the remainder of the season.
The losses are a brutal blow for a 49ers team that had its slim playoff hopes officially extinguished with a loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Now at 5-10 and firmly out of contention, San Francisco will limp to the finish line severely shorthanded up front.
Williams’ Season Over
The shutting down of Trent Williams is the headliner of the bunch. The perennial Pro Bowl left tackle hasn’t played since suffering an ankle injury against the Seahawks on November 17th. There was some hope he could return for the final few games, but Shanahan confirmed that won’t be the case.
“[Williams] hasn’t been able to improve enough to get him out there,” Shanahan said. “We don’t see that happening enough in these two weeks, especially the situation we’re in.”
Banks, Moore Also Done
Aaron Banks and Jaylon Moore both suffered injuries in the loss to the Dolphins. Banks, the starting left guard, hurt his right MCL. Moore, who was filling in for Williams at left tackle, injured his quad.
Their losses further decimate an offensive line that has been ravaged by injuries all season long. The 49ers have struggled to field a consistent starting five and now will be forced to dig even deeper into their depth for the final two meaningless games.
Greenlaw, Burford in Limbo
Shanahan also provided updates on Dre Greenlaw and Spencer Burford. Greenlaw, the starting linebacker, re-aggravated a calf injury and Shanahan said his “gut” is that Greenlaw will be shut down as well. Burford, a rookie who has been a versatile backup on the line, is dealing with a calf issue of his own that could keep him out.
“When you get to these points where you’re down pretty low on [offensive linemen], you got to get five guys out there,” Shanahan said, alluding to having to potentially sign players off other teams’ practice squads just to field a full line.
49ers Limp to Finish Line
With nothing left to play for, the 49ers now face the challenge of simply making it through the final two weeks of this nightmare season relatively unscathed. The decimated offensive line will make that task even tougher.
For a team that had Super Bowl aspirations entering the year, this is about as dismal an ending as you could imagine. The injuries have been relentless and proved too much to overcome. All the Niners can do now is try to get to the offseason in one piece and regroup for what they hope will be a much healthier and successful 2025 campaign.
