49ers offensive line shuffle was extensive on Saturday vs. Rams

The San Francisco 49ers have lost numerous players to injury, and while every team is dealing with it, the 49ers have seen their offensive line in particular shuffled up extensively. On Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams, we saw an extensive reshuffling that will carry over to Week 17 in some ways.

The team placed Daniel Kilgore on injured reserve, and Joe Staley remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. Zane Beadles came in to play center after Kilgore got hurt the previous week, and the 49ers had him start on Saturday against the Rams. Beadles started the season at left guard, then moved to left tackle with Staley’s injury. While he has not been great in his work, his versatility has provided the 49ers at least with a body they can move around.

With Beadles at center, second year tackle Trent Brown moved over to left tackle, and rookie John Theus moved in at right tackle. It was a rough day for Theus, with Pro Football Focus marking him down for allowing a QB hit and five hurries, and giving up eight "clean tackles" in run blocking. Brown seemed to have a solid day, with PFF marking him down for one hurry allowed in 48 pass blocking snaps.

At one point, Joshua Garnett left the game with a finger injury. He was gone for three snaps, and Alex Balducci made his NFL debut at right guard. Garnett eventually returned, and the 49ers closed out the game with the offensive line from snap one.

We don’t have word yet on Staley’s status for Week 17, but given his lack of practice this past week, I see no reason for him to play this week unless he has had a significant recovery. And even then, with this being the final game of the season, why risk a nasty issue with the hamstring?

Here is the full offensive snap count from Week 16 (gamebook PDF).