The San Francisco 49ers won their third-straight game on Sunday with a 34-26 win over the Vikings in Santa Clara, but the vital victory came at a cost.
Coach Kyle Shanahan has to deal with injuries to two of his best players, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and linebacker Fred Warner. Thankfully, they’re not long-term ailments, but Samuel will be out 1-2 weeks and Warner will miss San Francisco’s upcoming game against the Seahawks.
As 95.7 The Game’s Bonta Hill pointed out, this is a terrible time for San Francisco to lose key players such as Samuel and Warner because of those three-straight wins. The 49ers are right back in the playoff hunt at 6-5, and Shanahan will have to find answers on offense, where Samuel has done it all. The playmaker has more than 1,000 receiving yards already and has an incredible five rushing touchdowns, too.
And Warner is his big-money linebacker, leading a defense that has come on as of late. This is a prime week for Shanahan to show his worth and find a solution without Samuel, especially. In the end, this could result in the 49ers forcing other players to make plays, potentially improving their depth in time for a playoff run.