Los Angeles Rams: 4 things to watch in the NFC West for Week 4

The idea that the 49ers are effectively shuttered for 2018 may be a lot of hyperbole, but in today’s National Football League where it’s all offense all the time, having your starter done before the end of September is a significant blow.

With Jimmy Garoppolo done for the season, the Niners will look to a series of placeholders to take the snaps until 2019 and a healthy Jimmy G re-emerges. Until then, San Francisco is likely treading water.

This week, they get the Los Angeles Chargers in LA. That’s bad timing for the Niners, as the Bolts will look to rebound after a loss to the Rams. San Francisco, who has given up 24, 30, and 38 points in that order, could see its defense give up a lot more with Philip Rivers pulling the trigger at home.

This is a tough break for the 49ers. Whatever your feeling about Garoppolo, the organization looked to have turned a corner in the road back to respectability. Losing their starting quarterback for the next 13 games is a set back of epic proportions.

Fans in the Bay Area have another long season in front of them. In Week 4, the Niners are likely to move to 1-3 with little to look forward to except maybe the 2019 NFL Draft.