Few in the NFL are as accustomed to being hit by a swathe of injuries than the 49ers. 

The injury bug impacted the Niners in a significant way this week, with several starters being sidelined. Tight end George Kittle is out with an adductor injury, linebacker Dre Greenlaw left Thursday's joint practice with the Raiders with a hamstring injury while defensive end Drake Jackson remains out with the same issue.

Yet the most significant injury is one that will severely impact the special teams. It was revealed wide receiver and starting returner Ray-Ray McCloud suffered a broken wrist in Tuesday's practice and will be out for eight weeks.

McCloud will, therefore, likely be unavailable for the 49ers' first four games of the regular season. 

His injury throws the question of who will return kicks for the Niners into doubt. Rookies Ronnie Bell and D'Shawn Jamison each have experience returning kicks in college. On top of that it opens up a spot on the receiver depth chart for the first quarter of the season.

With his special teams upside and speed that makes him a threat on downfield routes and with the ball in his hands in space, McCloud was a near-certainty to make the 53.

Him being out of the picture creates an opportunity for Bell and the likes of Chris Conley, Willie Snead IV, Tay Martin and Isaiah Winstead.

The injuries to Kittle, Greenlaw and Jackson are obviously more minor but may prevent them from featuring in the second preseason game, which is usually the exhibition contest in which the starters are given brief playing time, against the Broncos next week.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan has already essentially confirmed his starters will not be risked in Sunday's preseason opener versus the Raiders.

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