Injury Report A Good Sign 49ers Will Be Ready For Green Bay
The San Francisco 49ers released their injury report Friday, revealing that only two players were held out of practice. Although both are rather significant, neither will spell trouble for the 49ers on Sunday. The two players, Ted Ginn Jr., who is listed as questionable due to a ankle injury and Brandon Jacobs, who is listed as questionable due to a knee injury, have someone more then capable of filling their roles, should they be unable to suit up. Both players will likely fly with the team and be a game time decision. With or without them, San Francisco will essentially be full strength for their Regular Season Opener against the Green Bay Packers.
As evident by 19 receptions in 2011, Ted Ginn Jr. does not figure to play a huge role in the passing attack this year, but his speed is second to none, and thus he is useful on the occasional end around, and more then earns his worth in the return game. San Francisco excelled last year on Special Teams and a lot of that had to do with Ginn. He had both a punt and kickoff returned for touchdowns, and was responsible for setting the offense up with multiple short fields, leading to at least a field goal. In his place will be Kyle Williams, who has looked good in the preseason and has something to prove after his nightmare of a game in last years NFC Championship loss.
There is no denying that there would be a drop off in the return game, but Williams is more then capable of filling Ginn's speedy shoes. Williams will show the team and fans exactly what he is made of, as everyone will be holding their breaths and watching to see how he responds, at least for the first few times he handles a punt. The main thing though is for him to not try and prove too much. A quiet game is not necessarily a bad thing from Williams.
Brandon Jacobs would be missed even less as Frank Gore, Anthony Dixon and even Kendall Hunter are more then capable of running between the tackles. Jacobs was signed to save wear on tear on Frank Gore as the season progresses so his absence is not really an issue in week 1. If Jacobs is unable to play then it would only mean he would take another week to get healthy before making his regular season 49er debut, which seems the logical decision with the dept that the team has at the running back position.
An uneventful injury report is exactly what the 49ers need, especially this week. Not only is it the season opener, but it's against a team whom some figure to be the class of the NFC. There will be the first game jitters but with a full lineup it will be a good measuring stick to see how the two teams stack up. San Francisco was very limited in their preseason preview of their new look offense and it will all be displayed on Sunday along with the defense that was so impressive last year. The game against Green Bay will be what many thought was going to be the NFC Championship matchup last year, and what may be a preview for this year's. Win or lose the 49ers will hope to leave the game as they entered it, healthy.
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Jerrell Richardson is a sports fanatic who grew up in the Bay Area experiencing both the ups and downs of local sports. He attended college at San Diego State University and has had the ability to witness every major sports team in the state of California in person. His work can be found on Examiner.com
