Fooch's Update: The 49ers announced Willis to IR, RB Alfonso Smith signed.
Fooch's Note: Site decorum is off
Mike Garafolo is reporting San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis is going to have season-ending surgery on his injured toe. Matt Maiocco said a source told him the team will place Willis on injured reserve. On Sunday, Jay Glazer reported the injury was serious and Willis would miss significant time, and this follow-up shows just how serious this is for the linebacker. We will wait for more reports, but this is obviously bad news.
The 49ers are currently starting Chris Borland and Michael Wilhoite at inside linebacker with Willis and NaVorro Bowman sidelined. Bowman could potentially return to practice this week, and the team has to get him back to practice no later than next week. Wilhoite has been solid enough, while Borland has emerged in fairly spectacular fashion the last two weeks.
If this surgery happens, the 49ers will place Willis on injured reserve, and that opens up a roster spot. The 49ers have Aldon Smith, Glenn Dorsey, and NaVorro Bowman all returning at some point or another, so they'll need the roster spot. We'll have plenty more on this, but for now, all I have to say is, screw you astroturf. Just screw you.