Projected starting defensive tackle Alfred Collins was lost for the season before Week 1 after suffering a patellar tendon tear. His replacement, C.J. West, recently suffered a bone chip in his knee and was placed on injured reserve, though he is expected to return later this season.
James Thompson Jr. is also dealing with a high-ankle sprain, further complicating the 49ers' situation along the defensive line.
49ers general manager John Lynch joined Bay Area radio station KNBR on Thursday morning and was asked how much stress the mounting injuries—which the 49ers seem to deal with every season—have put on the team.
"Well, it has, but I think you prepare for these things," Lynch said. "We knew we were going to be playing more five-down fronts with [defensive coordinator] Raheem [Morris], so that means more defensive tackles on the field. So I don't want to say you're equipped. I mean, anytime you lose a guy like Alfred Collins, a lot of people had a lot to say about the way Alfred was playing or wasn't playing in preseason. We saw that same trajectory last year, and halfway through his rookie year, Alfred was one of the best players playing for us on defense. He was an impactful player, so that hurts, losing him for the season.
"Losing C.J. West hurts, but I will tell you, our practice squad's three deep, and they're guys we really like. So, I think we add Naquan, but we also have opportunities for guys like Sebastian Valdez, Kevin Givens, who's been around here for a long time. McKinnley Jackson's another guy we picked up.
"So I think our scouting staff's done a really nice job throughout the year of knowing that that's a spot we have to have some depth. I think we're equipped for it."
Lynch added that the injuries create opportunities for the 49ers' depth players to step up and contribute. He believes the team is well-equipped to absorb the early-season losses.
"You hate to see guys go out, but you equip yourself for it, and I do think we kind of had a luxury that we are deep there," Lynch said. "We added to it with Naquan, and we'll roll it out there, and guys have got to get the job done."
The injuries have forced the 49ers to dig deeper into their defensive tackle depth earlier than anticipated. With several players now facing expanded roles, San Francisco will find out how well they've prepared the defensive line as it is tested over the coming weeks.
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