The San Francisco 49ers probably lost Thursday night's game against the Green Bay Packers long before a single player stepped onto the football field. To say that the team was undermanned would be an understatement. Already devastated by injuries, the 49ers lost three more offensive players just a day before kickoff. They were left tackle Trent Williams and wide receivers Kendrick Bourne and Brandon Aiyuk, who all landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list this week.
Deebo Samuel also landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list but had already been ruled out for the game due to a hamstring injury.
There was an interesting fact being thrown around before the game, which was a rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game. Of all the 49ers players who touched the football during the team's dominating win over the Packers in that last meeting, none were available on Thursday night.
No Jimmy Garoppolo, Raheem Mostert, Deebo Samuel, or George Kittle, to name a few.
The 49ers aren't looking for excuses, though. This was the hand which they were dealt. This year has been filled with uncertainty, and the unexpected is the new norm.
Linebacker Fred Warner spoke with reporters after the loss and was asked how much fight is left in this now 4-5 San Francisco squad.
"Speaking for myself, it's all the way there," Warner responded. "I don't care what the situation is. I told the guys after the game that we've just got to look ourselves in the mirror. It doesn't matter who's down, who's on COVID. I mean, it's a wild year."
Warner believes the 49ers still have enough talent to compete. The team just has to find a way to put it all together.
"Obviously, it's the most injuries throughout the entire NFL that we've seen," Warner continued, "but with the guys we have, I think we've still got a lot of great football players on our team. And I think we've just got to get back to work, and we'll make sure we're competing at a high level come next game."
That next game will be on November 15 against the New Orleans Saints. The 49ers hope to steal a win, regroup after the bye week, and get back on track for the final six games of the season.
"It doesn't matter who's out there and who ain't," defensive tackle D.J. Jones said after the game. "Whoever we have, we expect to win. We've just got to put that one behind us and get ready for New Orleans."