Hmm...
1) Missed our best WR Michael Crabtree for all but the last few games.
2) Our starting Nose Tackle (Ian Williams) has been on IR since the second week of the season.
3) Our third WR Mario Manningham has just been put on IR.
4) Our starting FB (and third leading pass receiver) has just been put on IR.
5) We lost our starting Pro Bowl guard (Mike Iupati) for 5 games.
6) Our nickleback has been on IR the entire season.
7) Vernon Davis has been injured in three key games that all ended as losses with the passing game struggling.
8) Patrick Willis had a broken hand earlier in the year.
9) Our Pro Bowl tackle (Joe Staley) has been injured in several games this year.
Yeah, definitely been avoiding the injuries.
1- He got hurt at the beginning of PRE-SEASON. You had plenty of time to maneuver. Oh, 2 words: RANDALL COBB.
2- JOHNNY JOLLY, besides, you plug in former #5 overall pick Glen Dorsey into his spot.
3- Third WR. Kapernick threw half his passes to Crabtree (whom he has back now) last year, plus added Boldin.
4- He just caught dump-off passes, and nobody needs a FB anymore. That's NOT an important position.
5- 5 games oooh. Try losing your starting OT's who also could have Pro Bowl potential if healthy, for FULL SEASONS. The two starting OT's for us should be backups, if not for torn ACL's. Hip dislocations, and double breaks of the leg.
6- Our nickelback was our best CB last year, Casey Hayward, and he also has been on IR the entire season
7- Your TE missed a few games? Oh how sad. Ours broke his neck on a helmet-aimed hit, and is on IR after having neck surgery, and his career is in doubt, you know, like how All-Pro safety Nick Collins' career abruptly ended 2 seasons ago.
8) I see Willis out there looking just fine.
9) Staley screamed in pain late one primetime game this year in scrub time... and he played the next week.
Your most important players on your roster, in order, IMO are:
QB Kaepernick
DE Justin Smith
ILB Bowman
TE Davis
ILB Willis
OT Staley
WR Crabtree
OT Davis
OLB Aldon Smith
WR Boldin
OG Iupati
S Reid
RB Gore
CB Rogers
That's about 15 guys there, and magically, ALL ARE HEALTHY & AVAILABLE to play Sunday. Wow. Yeah, lotta injury problems on that team?
Have you heard of Clay Matthews? How about Bryan Bulaga? Nick Perry? Those are 3 first round picks in the last 5 seasons OUT.
Also, Derek Sherrod, the 2011 first round pick, broke his leg in 2 places and has missed almost all of both seasons in the NFL... he's back but just a shell of his former self and has not gotten back yet at OT... but he might have to soon if another OT go down.
Jermichael Finley being out is like Vernon Davis being out. Last year, Kaepernick didn't even go to Davis much.
Anyway, take away Vernon Davis (Finley), Aldon Smith (Matthews), either of your ILB's (Brad Jones), and chip a bone in Ahmad Brooks (Nick Perry).
Also, tear the ACL of Staley (Bulaga), and break RT Anthony Davis' leg (Sherrod), and then we'll call it pretty even.
Don't forget Nick Collins.
Oh, and try playing 8 games without Kaepernick. There's no Alex Smith behind him this year.
And try having to use your #3 and #4 QBs to start in successive weeks.
Yeah, poor Niners have had to deal with a lot of injuries eh?
We have the cheese, San Fran famous for their whine. Perfect mix.
S Whitner