The hits keep coming for the 49ers. San Francisco will be down another starting tackle going into their Week 6 game against the Rams in Los Angeles. Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Wednesday right tackle Mike McGlinchey suffered a knee injury that’ll require arthroscopic surgery. He’s expected to miss four-to-six weeks.
McGlinchey has started all 20 games the 49ers have played since they took him No. 9 overall in last year’s draft. He joins left tackle Joe Staley among a growing group of injured 49ers starters. They’re accompanied by fullback Kyle Juszczyk (knee) and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (foot) on a list of players expected to miss significant time.
Backup tackle Daniel Brunskill will get the start in McGlinchey’s stead. Brunskill was a college tight end at San Diego State who converted to tackle for his final season. He was signed to the Falcons practice squad out of college, then played for the San Diego Fleet in the Alliance of American Football.
Brunskill worked his way onto the roster with a strong preseason where he also spent time at guard. He’s yet to start in a regular season game, and his only game action came in Week 3 when McGlinchey had an equipment issue that kept him out for two plays, then late in Week 5 when McGlinchey’s knee injury first cropped up.
San Francisco’s tackle depth was already tested when Staley went down, and now it’s being pushed to its limits with the McGlinchey injury. Justin Skule has filled in nicely at left tackle, but Brunskill’s insertion into the lineup will likely mean veteran journeyman Sam Young, who’s been inactive in two games since re-signing with the club after Staley’s injury, will suit up Sunday in Los Angeles.
The 49ers have weathered the injury storm to this point thanks to improved depth, but starting a pair of backup tackles will make for some very difficult adjustments for the offense.
