Latest 49ers injury woes places another starter in peril of not facing Rams

We know that the NFL schedulers did not do the LA Rams any favors in the month of September. After putting the team on the road to open the season on the road to face the Detroit Lions, travel to the desert to face the Arizona Cardinals in oppressive heat. Then, the team must return home the following week to host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3. And like it or not, the 49ers fans have a way of showing up en masse to the point that even playing a game at SoFi Stadium very much resembles a road game for the Rams.

That just seems, a bit mean-spirited by schedulers who had plenty of other opportunities to place the 49ers on the schedule. But, perhaps not all hope is lost after all. Since the Rams face the 49ers in Week 3, there has been some cause for concern with the number of injured players who are expected to be healthy enough to start the 2024 NFL season, but whose injuries are categorized as week-to-week, and may not allow enough time to truly be prepared to play at 100 percent.

And with the Lions in Week 1, the Cardinals in Week 2, and the 49ers in Week 3, this could become very complicated very quickly.

While I do not cheer for any player injuries, I would be remiss if I did not point out how injuries to players on future opponents' rosters may impact the scheduled game with the Rams. One such player whose future in rather uncertain in San Francisco 49ers feature running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey has been extremely versatile and productive in the 49ers offense, not only on the ground but as a receiver as well.

If current reports about his recent calf injury are accurate, he may be unable to suit up to face the Rams in Week 3.

Even as McCaffrey's absence alone is enough to cripple any NFL team's offense, his injury is not the only problem that the 49ers face right now. If you have not been asleep for the past month or so, you know that WR Brandon Aiyuk has not been participating with the 49ers activities. He has been showing up, which allows him to avoid any penalties for not showing up. But his insistence that the team either meet his asking price or trade him has been a significant distraction to the team.

Even now, reports continue to pour in that NFL teams are entering or withdrawing actively pursuing a trade with the 49ers for Aiyuk. And reports have become so popular that even novice NFL 'Insiders' have become emboldened to proclaim that a deal is imminent. Should that trade take place, the 49ers passing attack will no longer boast Brandon Aiyuk to face the Rams in Week 2.

But that is just one challenge.

The bigger hold out is veteran left tackle Trent Williams who is not even showing up for the 49ers training camp. His absence could prove to be the more damaging, as he is clearly considered to be the cornerstone of the 49ers offensive line, and therefore their entire offense.

But if you are tracking the latest roster information about the 49ers, you can see that they have a pretty significant number of player currently battling injuries. And that could prove to be a problem for their team if it remains the case for several weeks:

The Rams roster has been impacted by injuries to five offensive linemen, two defensive backs, and one tight end already. And DB Derion Kendrick is lost for the 2024 NFL season, while TE Tyler Higbee is likely lost for the first four game of 2024 at a minimum, .

The Rams are simply not the only NFL team facing challenges this season. They are not even the only NFC West Divisional team to face significant roster challenges right now. The 49ers clearly have their hands full of matters too.

And just as a reminder, it is the Rams, and not the 49ers, who claimed victory the last time these two teams faced one another. Perhaps it will be the Rams, and not the 49ers, who string together a winning streak this season.

Thanks for reading.