Injuries defined the 49ers’ 2019 season in a way that wouldn’t allow them to contend with the NFL’s top teams. Their 2019 offseason will be all about how they bounce back from those injuries.
While San Francisco dealt with injured players on their roster all last year, that didn’t stop them from acquiring players coming off injuries in the offseason. Between their returning players, and their offseason acquisitions, the 49ers should have several players returning from injury that’ll have a chance to have a significant impact this season.
Here are the five that stand out:
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
The 49ers’ 2018 season ostensibly ended when Garoppolo went down with a torn ACL late in a Week 3 loss to the Chiefs. Now it looks like he’s on track to start the 2019 season and put San Francisco back on track to compete for a playoff spot. A brutal schedule and some question marks on the roster may keep them from landing in the postseason this year, but they have a legitimate shot as long as Garoppolo is under center. Additional time to learn the ins and outs of the offense should help the 49ers’ signal caller get back to the form he ended the 2017 season in when the team rattled off five straight victories to end the year.
CB Jason Verrett
Verrett was a Pro Bowler for the Chargers in his lone healthy season. The problem is he’s been in the league since 2014 and played only 25 games, including 14 during his Pro Bowl campaign in 2015. He missed all of 2018 with a torn Achilles which doesn’t bode well for his chances to make an immediate impact with his new team. On the other hand, the 49ers’ cornerback depth chart is not deep, and Verrett is probably the best among them when he’s healthy. San Francisco badly needs some elevated play from their cornerbacks this season, and even if Verrett doesn’t start all 16 games, having him in the mix competing for a job should help. A full, Pro Bowl season from Verrett instantly gives the 49ers a playoff-caliber defense.
LB Kwon Alexander
It wasn’t long after the legal tampering period opened that the 49ers and Alexander agreed to terms on a deal that made the former Buccaneer one of the highest-paid linebackers in football. The risk factor of offering such a deal was increased because Alexander tore his ACL in late October last season. That means he may not be ready for the start of the 2019 regular season. However, Alexander should have a significant impact in San Francisco’s linebacking corps even if he misses a few games. His athleticism and physical style of play should pair nicely in the middle of the field with second-year linebacker Fred Warner. Having another fast linebacker who can cover should aid the 49ers in the turnover department, which is perhaps the area they most need to improve this season.
RB Jerick McKinnon
Losing McKinnon to a torn ACL a week before the start of the season turned out to be an omen for the injury-filled season to come. McKinnon may wind up missing a little time to start the year depending on how comfortable he feels on the surgically repaired ligament, but it stands to reason that he steps into a crowded 49ers backfield and immediately earns touches. He was head coach Kyle Shanahan’s first choice in free agency a year ago, and his multifaceted skill set as a receiver and runner should make him a dangerous weapon. His last full season in 2017 he had 570 yards on 150 carries, and 51 catches for 421 yards. As long as he can move freely, McKinnon should be a major piece of the 49ers’ offense in 2019.
DE Nick Bosa
This is cheating a little since Bosa will be a rookie, but he did miss virtually all of his final year in college because of groin and core muscle injuries. The core muscle needed to be surgically repaired and hasn’t hampered Bosa through any pre-draft workouts. He should be a full go during training camp, and an impact playmaker on the edge in the regular season. The 49ers desperately need players to push the pocket from the outside, and Bosa can do that while also setting the edge against the run. There aren’t many scenarios where this year’s No. 2 overall pick isn’t on the field, and it’s not out of the realm of possibilities that he immediately becomes San Francisco’s best pass rusher.
