Final 49ers injury report for Week 15, at Cardinals
A huge part of the defensive success the San Francisco 49ers have enjoyed in 2023 has been the defensive tackle partnership between Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave. On Sunday, the Niners will be without both as they look to clinch the NFC West title with a road win over the Arizona Cardinals. Armstead missed out […]
A huge part of the defensive success the San Francisco 49ers have enjoyed in 2023 has been the defensive tackle partnership between Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave.
On Sunday, the Niners will be without both as they look to clinch the NFC West title with a road win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Armstead missed out last Sunday with foot and knee injuries as San Francisco completed a season sweep of the Seattle Seahawks to move to 10-3. Hargrave suffered a hamstring injury in that contest and the Niners will be undermanned in the middle of the defensive line for a game that is trickier than the Cardinals 10-3 record suggests.
49ers injury report
Injury report observations
Neither Armstead nor Hargrave practiced all week, though the latter was seen working on a side field. With a massive Week 16 game against the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day, there is little motivation for the 49ers to risk Hargrave. Javon Kinlaw and Kevin Givens each performed well against the Seahawks and will likely start with Hargrave and Armstead out.
Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who injured his groin on the first series versus Seattle, at least has a chance to play. He is listed as questionable despite spending the week working on a side field.
If Ward cannot go, Ambry Thomas will start on the outside across from Deommodore Lenoir on all downs with Isaiah Oliver in the slot. The 49ers' usual arrangement is for Ward and Lenoir to start on base downs with the latter kicking inside on nickel downs with Thomas taking his place outside. San Francisco has more depth at corner this week, with rookie corner Darrell Luter Jr. returning from a hamstring issue.
While the 49ers will be without their starting SAM linebacker on base downs, Oren Burks, WILL linebacker Dre Greenlaw's partnership with Fred Warner looks set to continue unaffected by hip and ankle issues. Greenlaw returned to practice on Friday and is questionable. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles is set to step in for Burks.
On the offensive line, the 49ers look likely to have both starting guards available after Aaron Banks returned from a hip injury that kept him out of Thursday's practice.
However, usual starting right guard Spencer Burford could be replaced by Jon Feliciano despite practicing for successive days following a knee injury. Veteran Feliciano impressed greatly in Burford's absence against the Seahawks.
Elijah Mitchell will not be running behind any of the 49ers' top three guards, though. San Francisco's No. 2 running back continues to be bothered by a knee issue and is out.
49ers get double practice boost as they look to clinch division
Two starters were back in the mix.
