The good news: the 49ers remain atop the NFC West following their Sunday defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The bad news: injuries have taken a heavy toll, potentially complicating their path down the stretch.
Fred Warner, the heart of the 49ers' defense, suffered a dislocated and fractured ankle that will require season-ending surgery. His loss comes on top of Nick Bosa's season-ending ACL injury, leaving San Francisco without two of its defensive anchors.
With both the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks winning their Week 6 matchups, three teams in the NFC West now share a 4-2 record. San Francisco retains a slight edge thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker, but the road ahead remains challenging.
The 49ers will need to navigate the remainder of the season while overcoming critical personnel losses in one of the league's tightest division races, where three of the four teams would currently make the playoffs if the season ended today.
NFC playoff picture (After Week 6)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1)*
- Green Bay Packers (3-1-1)*
- San Francisco 49ers (4-2)*
- Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)*
- Seattle Seahawks (4-2)
- Detroit Lions (4-2)
- Los Angeles Rams (4-2)
* Division leaders
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