Talk about a one-two punch.
The San Francisco 49ers have lost quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and tight end George Kittle, possibly for the rest of the season, dealing a devastating blow to their playoff hopes.
Forget the Super Bowl hangover that routinely afflicts the NFL's runner-up. The 49ers haven't necessarily played poorly yet they have been ravaged by injuries.
Garoppolo suffered his second high-ankle sprain of the season in Sunday's loss at Seattle, and Kittle left the game with a suspected broken foot, although X-rays proved negative. Garoppolo and Kittle, both of whom missed two games earlier this season, were the team's 18th and 19th players put on injured reserve.
That would constitute bad news at any point in the season, but especially with the team playing host to 5-2 Green Bay on Thursday night. The Packers are looking to bounce back after Sunday's home loss to one-win Minnesota.
San Francisco's list of walking wounded isn't a roll call of scrubs, either. Every one of the team's best skill-position players have spent time on injured reserve this season, including running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman, and receiver Deebo Samuel. Also on injured reserve are defensive stars Nick Bosa, Solomon Thomas and Richard Sherman.
Green Bay at San Francisco is a rematch of last season's NFC championship game, when Mostert ran for 220 yards and four touchdowns. But now, the 49ers ground game falls to Jerick McKinnon and undrafted rookie JaMycal Hasty. Quite a comedown.
