SANTA CLARA — The 49ers had a spirited practice in front of 25,319 fans Saturday at Levi’s Stadium, but the team was dealt some bad injury news in the process.
Starting WILL linebacker Malcolm Smith went down with a chest injury, and Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers fear the injury could be serious. Smith left to undergo an MRI.
UPDATE: Smith is out for the season.
Rough blow: #49ers veteran LB Malcolm Smith is out for the season with a torn pec, sources say. The MRI revealed the news.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 5, 2017
“That would be a big one for us,” NaVorro Bowman said. “We’ve really been (communicating) about offenses, and what they try to do to us. That would be a loss. Let’s hope not.”
Signed as a free agent away from the Oakland Raiders, Smith has been a pleasant surprise in training camp. Lining up next to NaVorro Bowman, the 28-year-old has been solid against the run and the pass. Smith had success playing in Seattle’s defensive scheme from 2011-14, where he was coached by current defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Smith was as close to a penciled in starter as you could get.
Luckily for the 49ers, they have their most exiting player waiting in the wings. Smith’s injury would clear a path for Reuben Foster to enter the starting lineup. The No. 31 overall pick has been an interception machine to start training camp. The 49ers have been using him as a blitzer and he’s thumped a couple of ball carriers.
“Reuben will definitely come downhill and smack you,” Bowman said.
“Reuben, he has a lot of flash plays,” Saled said earlier in training camp. “The best way I can explain with Reuben is he’ll get his opportunity when he absolutely, absolutely deserves it. The credit really goes to the backers in that room also, that they also deserve every opportunity that they’re getting as well as him. As a group, we’re just trying to work through it and make sure that we do our best to evaluate and give them all an equal opportunity to be evaluated.”
Foster won’t be handed the spot, though. The team also has faith in Ray-Ray Armstrong, a converted safety former GM Trent Baalke gave a contract extension in December. Armstrong has been a standout in coverage during training camp. He missed most of 2016 with a chest injury.
The 49ers also have Brock Coyle and newly signed Jayson Dimanche at the inside linebacking position.
What the 49ers likely will do is platoon Armstrong and Foster together. But the more plays Foster starts making, the harder it will become to pull him off the field.