The San Francisco 49ers have a huge late-season test of their Super Bowl credentials on Christmas Day as they host the Baltimore Ravens in a game that pits the NFC's top seed against their AFC counterpart.

But right now it is a battle the Niners look set to enter with a decimated interior defensive line.

San Francisco was without both starting defensive tackles, Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave, for Sunday's Week 15 win over the Arizona Cardinals, which clinched a second successive NFC West title for the 49ers. Armstead missed a second straight game with foot and knee injuries, while Hargrave was out with a hamstring injury.

The 49ers' injury woes in the middle of the D-Line grew when Kalia Davis suffered an ankle injury in that game.

And, with Shanahan revealing on Monday that Davis would be out for a couple of weeks while offering no clarity on when Armstead and Hargrave will return, San Francisco looks extremely light in an area that has been re-established as a strength this season.

Kevin Givens and Javon Kinlaw are the only defensive tackles on the active roster who are definitively healthy. They started against Arizona, but the 49ers gave up 234 yards on the ground, the first time they have allowed at least 200 since 2017.

Going against a Ravens offense that leads the league with 62 explosive runs, the 49ers' attack has 61, San Francisco can ill-afford another below-par performance in that area.

San Francisco may, therefore, need to look outside the building for help on the defensive side of the trenches, where the Niners also have a fresh injury at defensive end. Clelin Ferrell is day to day with an ankle injury.

Also day to day is starting cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, who has a rib contusion. Lenoir has played a pivotal role this season manning both the outside and nickel corner spots. If he cannot go, then Ambry Thomas would likely start on the outside across from Charvarius Ward with Isaiah Oliver returning to starting slot role on nickel downs.

On offense, wide receiver Jauan Jennings is in the concussion protocol, but guard Spencer Burford is expected back from a knee injury.

As with Hargrave and Armstead, Shanahan could not offer any clear updates on running back Elijah Mitchell (knee), tight end Ross Dwelley (ankle) or linebacker Oren Burks (knee).

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