Chris Long injury could cost him both 49ers-Rams games

The nightmare start to the St. Louis Rams season continued on Wednesday as Jeff Fisher announced that defensive lineman Chris Long would need ankle surgery. Fisher said Long was expected to miss a few weeks, but Adam Schefter followed that up by reporting Long could miss 8-10 weeks, and Albert Breer reported the Rams were considering using their IR with return designation option.

If they use the return designation, he would have to miss at least eight weeks. That would keep him out of both 49ers-Rams games. The 49ers travel to face the Rams on Monday Night Football in Week 6, and then host the Rams in Week 9. The 49ers offensive line will hopefully have both Anthony Davis and Alex Boone back in the starting lineup by that point.

The Rams reportedly will replace Long with Will Hayes, while Alex Carrington and Ethan Westbrooks could also get some playing time. Unfortunately we will not get to see Long go up against the 49ers tackles. Those have been fun battles in recent years. The Rams defensive line still has the talent to be fearsome, but losing Long is a huge blow.