49ers lose offensive lineman Nick Zakelj for rest of 2023 season
The San Francisco 49ers have been dealt another injury blow on the offensive line, losing a backup on the interior for the remainder of the season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed in his Wednesday press conference that Nick Zakelj will require surgery on a torn biceps muscle and will miss the rest of the campaign. […]
The San Francisco 49ers have been dealt another injury blow on the offensive line, losing a backup on the interior for the remainder of the season.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed in his Wednesday press conference that Nick Zakelj will require surgery on a torn biceps muscle and will miss the rest of the campaign.
Zakelj suffered the injury during San Francisco's Week 10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, meaning the Niners will now need to sign a player or promote a member of the practice squad to fill the void left by the 2022 sixth-round pick, who can play guard and center.
"It wasn’t just like your normal tear," Shanahan explained. "It was a little one that was high, complained about it all day, we sent him in and it had a slight tear, got a couple opinions and they said it’s only going to get worse so we have to do surgery."
With Zakelj placed on injured reserve, only four members of the 2022 draft remain on the active roster: starting quarterback Brock Purdy, right guard Spencer Burford, backup running back Tyrion Davis-Price and defensive tackle Kalia Davis. The latter has yet to play a regular-season game in his brief career.
Top pick Drake Jackson is on short-term IR with a knee issue and Danny Gray and Samuel Womack III are still working their way back from injuries that have kept them on the sideline.
The 49ers have several potential replacements for Zakelj on the practice squad, including rookie center Corey Luciano and recently signed rookie guard Henry Byrd.
They also have Ilm Manning, the rookie tackle out of Hawaii who impressed in preseason and is seen as a better long-term fit at guard. He was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals before the season but was cut in October and promptly re-signed by San Francisco.
Jesse Davis is another potential fill-in on the practice squad, the former Miami Dolphins lineman brings guard-tackle versatility and 72 starts of experience that could give him the edge in the discussion.
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