© Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Sunday night is rightly billed to be a classic matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. That billing will remain true despite the litany of injuries on both sides, which might just favor the 49ers.
Jullian Taylor tears ACL
Taylor just could not get back healthy. Right when it seemed like he’d turned a corner in his recovery from a right elbow ligament issue (sustained on the third-to-last play against the Baltimore Ravens) and returned to practice for the first time since suffering that injury, he tore his right ACL. It’s the opposite knee of the one which Taylor has had injuries in the past.
Rather than put Taylor on injured reserve when he suffered that elbow injury, the 49ers made the somewhat puzzling choice of keeping Taylor on the roster. The alternative was to shelve Taylor and promote practice squad defensive lineman Kevin Givens who performed well in the preseason.
The 49ers clearly believed Taylor would make it back from his injury and understandably viewed him as better than Givens, but the team’s hand was forced with Taylor’s ACL. Givens was promoted in his stead, and now gives the 49ers the potential to have eight active defensive linemen for the first time since Baltimore. Dee Ford remains out as expected, and his return is hoped for in the playoffs.
Seahawks hurting too
The Seahawks lost all three of their running backs — Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise — for the season along with starting left tackle Duane Brown. Wide receiver Malik Turner was ruled out with a concussion. Backup center Ethan Pocic and starting free safety Quandre Diggs are both questionable. While starting left guard Mike Iupati did not practice this week, he is expected to play according to The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta.
Seahawks rule out Duane Brown and Malik Turner for Sunday. List Ethan Pocic and Quandre Diggs as questionable. That's it. Everyone else expected to be able to play.
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) December 27, 2019
The backfield injuries saw veterans Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin re-signed for Seattle. Both, listed first and second in the depth chart, respectively, figure to play a decent amount of snaps despite neither having played a down this season.
Like the 49ers lost Weston Richburg, the Seahawks also lost their starting center in Justin Britt earlier in the season and will have center Joey Hunt start on Sunday (he was limited Thursday and did not practice Wednesday, while Pocic was limited on Wednesday and Thursday – both practiced Friday).
Other notes: Tartt doubtful, Person questionable
- Jaquiski Tartt was limited in all three days of practice this week, and is listed as doubtful as he recovers from a fractured rib. Marcell Harris has taken over the strong safety role in his stead, and Tarvarius Moore, who the team has used only as a backup free safety, rather than employing as a strong safety option, is out of concussion protocol and is expected to play, along with Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) and Deebo Samuel (shoulder).
- Mike Person remains questionable with a neck injury just as he was last week when he sat out and missed a game after playing in 30 straight. Daniel Brunskill will likely remain at right guard if he is out.
- Jadeveon Clowney was limited in all three of the Seahawks’ practices this week, but is expected to start.