The San Francisco 49ers find themselves at 2-3 after a heartbreaking loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but the more pressing issue is the team’s growing list of injuries.
While the 49ers have been plagued by bad luck on the injury front this season, they’ve yet to make any significant roster moves to address these challenges.
Key players like safeties Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) and Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle) suffered injuries during the game, as did kicker Jake Moody. Moody’s ankle injury, which limited the team’s ability to attempt field goals, was particularly concerning.
It’s clear the 49ers aren’t just facing an injury crisis—they need reinforcements across the roster, including at kicker. Despite trying to power through with practice squad players, the team’s dip below .500 raises the urgency as they head into the final 12 games of the season.
At 2-3, San Francisco is now tied with the Cardinals and sits one game behind the Seattle Seahawks. Though Seattle’s surprising Week 5 loss to the New York Giants helped the 49ers, they cannot rely on other teams losing to improve their standing.
If the 49ers hope to keep their playoff chances alive, they must make some roster changes, especially with a tough stretch of games ahead.
Critical Stretch Ahead for San Francisco
Over the next six weeks, the 49ers face the Seahawks twice (Weeks 6 and 11), along with matchups against the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Following that, they take on the Buffalo Bills in a Sunday Night Football showdown.
The Chiefs, Cowboys, and Buccaneers are all playoff contenders, and the Seahawks are now leading the NFC West. For San Francisco to compete for a division title, they’ll need to win the majority of these games.
However, they’ll likely be without several key players during this critical stretch. In addition to running back Christian McCaffrey and defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, players like Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Yetur Gross-Matos are also sidelined.
While the team’s injuries aren’t entirely within their control, failing to navigate this stretch successfully could quickly end their playoff hopes.
49ers Miss Key Field Goal Due to Injury
With a 23-13 lead in the third quarter, the 49ers reached the red zone and had a chance to put the game out of reach. However, a false start by wide receiver Jauan Jennings and a sack on quarterback Brock Purdy set up a 4th and 23. The resulting field goal attempt would have been a manageable 42 yards, but with punter Mitch Wishnowsky subbing in for the injured Jake Moody, the 49ers opted against kicking.
The 49ers failed to convert the long fourth down, and Arizona responded with a touchdown drive. Had San Francisco been able to kick the field goal, the Cardinals’ later go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter would have required a touchdown instead of a field goal.
