This has been a disaster of a season for the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers. Injuries continue to decimate the roster and shuffle the depth chart. The team will push forward without quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and tight end George Kittle, both of whom were lost during Sunday's 37-27 defeat against the Seattle Seahawks.
The 49ers fell to 4-4 and remain at the bottom of the NFC West standings. Their Super Bowl hopes are probably over as the team tries to regroup with the healthy players that remain and fight for a playoff spot. Up next are the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers (5-2) on Thursday night.
The mounting injuries may be too much to overcome, and you might think that would result in a significant drop in power rankings. That wasn't the case this week, though, as San Francisco remains about where it was last week.
Below is a sample of some of the more prominent power rankings around the web and where San Francisco currently stands within each.
Sports Illustrated
Current Ranking: 14
Previous rank: 13
"The upcoming NFC Championship Game rematch is not what we anticipated when the schedule came out. The 49ers' injury woes continue with both QB Jimmy Garoppolo and TE George Kittle both sidelined indefinitely with injuries sustained in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss." — Jenny Vrentas
Current Ranking: 15
Previous rank: 15
"The biggest point of optimism for the Niners should be that they're bound to have better injury luck at some point, but based on how it's going, that can't be counted on. What can be is a coaching staff that has found ways to cover up for many of the warts that the injuries have exposed. That's not always the case, as Sunday's ugly loss to Seattle would attest, but it's been enough to keep the Niners in the mix. They also will get a mini-bye after a Thursday night game this week, and their actual bye is just a few weeks off. That rest is much-needed as the Niners eagerly await reinforcements." — Nick Wagoner
USA Today
Current Ranking: 15
Previous rank: 15
"It may seem like virtually all of their key players are sidelined, but San Francisco has time to heal given it plays once in 24 days following this week's Thursday night date with Green Bay." — Nate Davis
Bleacher Report
Current Ranking: 17
Previous rank: 16
"The San Francisco 49ers have a quarterback problem. Since returning from a high ankle sprain, Jimmy Garoppolo hasn't played especially well. He certainly didn't in Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks, passing for only 84 yards and an interception before exiting the game after aggravating that same ankle in the second half. ... Garoppolo wasn't the only offensive player to leave the game early, either. Tight end George Kittle and running back Tevin Coleman also didn't make it to the end of the game. ... That leaves the Niners precariously short-handed for Thursday night's tilt with the Green Bay Packers. And San Francisco's season rapidly circling the drain." — NFL Staff
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 17
Previous rank: 15
"They couldn't get much of anything going on offense against the Seahawks until it was too late. Now they have to play without Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle. When do the injuries end?" — Pete Prisco
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 17
Previous rank: 13
"A devastating Sunday for the manic 49ers, who were blown out by the rival Seahawks and lost both Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle to injuries. Garoppolo suffered a high ankle sprain and Kittle has a small fracture in his foot -- both stars are expected to miss multiple weeks. A hobbled Garoppolo was off his game before exiting on Sunday, unable to move the ball consistently against an undermanned Seattle defense that entered action allowing close to 500 yards per game. A short week is a worst-case scenario for San Francisco, which will not be close to full strength for a difficult Thursday Night Football matchup against the Packers." — Dan Hanzus
