49ers spending a league-leading $86 million on players on injured reserve

The San Francisco 49ers own one of the most injury-ravaged rosters in the NFL. That won't come as a surprise to most of the team's fans. The Niners currently have 18 players on injured reserve, which tops the league.

According to Spotrac.com, the 49ers have a league-leading $86.1 million worth of salary cap space tied up by players sitting on injured reserve. That is nearly 43 percent of the team's salary-cap space.

Which NFL team sits at No. 2 on the list? That would be the Dallas Cowboys, who have $52.4 million of salary-cap space tied up in players on injured reserve. That is a significant drop in money from the top spot to the runner-up.

Top 5 teams by current cap money on IR

1. San Francisco 49ers, 18 players, $86.1 million
2. Dallas Cowboys, 11 players, $52.4 million
3. Denver Broncos, 11 players, $46.2 million
4. Cincinnati Bengals, 10 players, $45.9 million
5. Tennessee Titans, 11 players, $41.4 million

Below is a list of the 49ers players currently sitting on injured reserve, along with their injury.

• DE Ziggy Ansah, biceps
• DE Nick Bosa, ACL
• S Johnathan Cyprien, hamstring
• DE Dee Ford, back
• OL Ben Garland, calf strain
• QB Jimmy Garoppolo, high-ankle sprain
• RB JaMycal Hasty, broken collarbone
• WR Jalen Hurd, ACL
• WR Jauan Jennings, hamstring
• TE George Kittle, foot
• S Jared Mayden, quad strain
• RB Raheem Mostert, high-ankle sprain
• LB Mark Nzeocha, quad
• CB Richard Sherman, calf
• S Jaquiski Tartt, turf toe
• DL Solomon Thomas. ACL
• WR Chris Thompson, unknown
• RB Jeff Wilson Jr., high-ankle sprain

Three of those players — cornerback Richard Sherman and running backs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. — have been getting some work in practice and could return soon. That would shave off $11.4 million from the 49ers' sum of money being spent on players sitting on injured reserve.

When Sherman is ready to play and is completely healthy, he will slide back into his starting role. Until then, the 49ers have been fortunate to have Jason Verrett playing so well.

"If Sherm's back there and back to himself fully a hundred percent, we'll get him out there fully," head coach Kyle Shanahan said earlier this week. "I'm glad we got him in a week before the break we had here, just so we could get him acclimated a little bit. ... When Sherm's ready to go, he'll be back to his spot, but in no hurry to do that. We've got a number of guys who have been playing well while he's been out, and we don't mind easing him back in either."

Other players, like quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and tight end George Kittle, have a chance to return this season. Of course, that is assuming the 49ers have anything to play for during their final few games. Garoppolo could return from his high-ankle sprain as soon as Week 15.

"I'm really holding out hope that Jimmy can get back and play some games with us," Shanahan said last week. "I'm hoping that we can change a little bit of our outcomes. So, when he does come back, and hopefully a few other people are coming back for a reason, but Jimmy did have a real bad ankle injury. It's very good that he didn't have to have surgery because that's what gives him a chance."