Wrong Kind of Breakout: Trent Williams tests positive as the 49ers COVID-19/Reserve list grows.
Between the impending COVID-19 breakout across the NFL, and the 49ers IR list, the 49ers may not even be able to finish the season.
Santa Clara - It was inevitable. With the NFL’s weak COVID-19 protocols instated at the beginning of the season, in addition to their lack of commitment to a separate bubble or in-house bubbles, it was inevitable. These widely criticized protocols seemed to have been working at the beginning of the season, but now… not anymore, to say the least. Seemingly matching with the rest of the United States, the NFL has seen a breakout across their ranks in the NFL, and sadly, the 49ers, who have had such bad luck to the point that their MRI truck broke down, and a sewage pipe in the stadium parking lot broke… did not catch a break either.
Confirmed positive tests among NFL players and staff have increased alongside the rise in community spread across the country. A total of 108 tests have returned positive in the past two testing periods, compared to 146 in the previous 11 periods.
If you have not been living under a rock, you know how easy it is to spread COVID-19, an extremely contagious disease. Common sense would suggest that the DL and OL are likeliest to also have COVID19, meaning the 49ers, once again, lose players at their most key positions.
The NFL has considered drastic changes including adding an 18th week to create a buffer, adding yet another playoff team, and more. But it’s become painfully clear that asking players to follow measures after the fact, is not, and never was going to work. Preventive measures, not reactionary measures.
Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports the league could have a 16-team playoff tournament. Eight teams from each conference would make the postseason, with four division champions and four wild-card teams in each conference.
No team would receive a bye in the first round of the postseason. The first-round playoff pairings would pit 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6 and 4 vs. 5 in each conference.
COVID-19 is not a lethal disease to young athletes, but it will impact them. COVID-19 is said to limit lung function, which is a massive issue for athletes who obviously need their full lung function. Soreness, aches, more… point is, this is not something to be taken lightly, especially for Trent Williams - who is a cancer survivor and falls in a high risk category because of it. He has said he feels fine at the moment, but obviously, his status for Sunday’s game vs. the Los Angeles Rams is in doubt.
The absolute worst case - there are rumblings of a season postponement, or even cancellation. This would be extremely drastic, but just know - these are rumors.
Around The NFL
The 49ers waived Takkarist McKinley, and unsurprisingly, the Raiders claimed Takkarist McKinley off waivers. Third time is a charm?
The Raiders also added Vic Beasley to their practice squad, accumulating talented pass rushers and former Falcons. Beasley is a former NFL sack leader who has thoroughly disappointed since. They are desperately looking for pass rush help as they push for the playoffs.
The 49ers also cut Kiko Alonso, the veteran LB who is still rehabbing from an ACL injury. Not surprising, he was never expected to suit up.
The Ravens also closed their team facility following multiple positives - two have been confirmed as JK Dobbins and Mark Ingram. Gus Edwards fantasy owners, rejoice.
The Bears are expected to make a decision on their QB controversy, and right now, odds favor that Mitchell Trubisky gets his job back from Nick Foles who has looked terrible over the past couple weeks.
Vikings WR Adam Thielen was also placed on their reserve/COVID-19 list. Eddie Jackson of the Bears, arguably a top 5 FS in the league, was also placed on the COVID-19 list.
The Bills’ Tommy Sweeney has been ruled out for the rest of the season, following a diagnosis of myocarditis, a reported result of his COVID-19 diagnosis. He joins Ryquell Armstead as the two players who have been ruled out due to COVID-19 complications.
And the biggest news, Joe Burrow, this year’s #1 overall pick, Heisman award winner, and hero of Baton Rouge tore his ACL, MCL, and sustained structural damage to his knee on Sunday following a hit to his knee. Burrow is out for the season, and although he is young and his career is not in doubt, this is a Bridgewater-esque injury. Déjà vu for Bengals fans, who had the same happen years ago to their former franchise QB, Carson Palmer. Burrow was performing very well in his rookie season.
Along with Arik Armstead who tested positive directly after last week’s game against the Saints, it’s clear that there has been some sort of spread in the NFL. We now await updates on Brandon Aiyuk, Javon Kinlaw, and more. The two 1st round picks were the best 49ers players on the field against the Saints, Kinlaw needs these reps or he’s going to enter next year and have to hit the ground running.
The real question for the 49ers becomes this: do they swallow their pride and give up completely on this season… or do they try to make a run for the 7th (and possibly 8th) wildcard. As much as we would love to see this team in the playoffs again, with how generationally stacked next year’s draft class looks to be, it becomes a tough decision.
But that does not even matter - because due to this COVID-19 mini-outbreak that the 49ers have, they have an estimated 41 players active on the roster at the moment. Simply put, that’s not enough to compete in the NFL, especially over the next few weeks in which the 49ers take on the Rams and Bills. They get two easy games against Washington and Dallas, but Dallas just had an impressive win against Minnesota yesterday. And Washington, with their already elite DL and seemingly a resurgent Alex Smith, are not to be downplayed either. The 49ers are just one game ahead of both, unbelievably. These games, as long as the 49ers get Weston Richburg, Richard Sherman, Raheem Mostert, and Deebo Samuel among others back - these games should be favorable for the 49ers. But that is it. After those two, they close out the season against Arizona, and against the Seattle Seahawks at home. Four out of the six remaining games the 49ers play are against current playoff teams.
The bigger question becomes, of course, the QB situation. Jimmy Garoppolo’s injury is projected to give him two final weeks this season, Arizona and Seattle. Those games will have about zero meaning behind them in all likelihood, unlike last year. But they will almost certainly make or break Garoppolo’s future with the 49ers. If Garoppolo comes out and plays great to end the season, the 49ers will hesitate with regards to the draft rumors swirling. If he plays bad, that might seal the deal.
There’s a reason that George Kittle, who is reportedly already running - has all but been ruled out for next season, whereas the window is still a tad bit open for Garoppolo to return in a lost season. The 49ers need these games for evaluation, and the most important decision that this front office will make approaches this offseason. Keep Garoppolo long-term and resign only a few free agents, or move on in a QB-rich draft and pay the projected 10 starters that are hitting free agency with the money freed up.
Those two games? Essential. Even if meaningless in terms of the team, Garoppolo’s performance could make or break his future, even if not a fair scenario to the 29 year old. As previously said, Garoppolo’s play, albeit underwhelming but still not terrible, is not the biggest problem. The biggest problem remains his salary and health in a year where the 49ers need to extend Fred Warner, resign a top three left tackle in Trent Williams, and at least try to keep any of their DBs - every single 49ers corner, and Jaquiski Tartt hit free agency this spring.
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There will be no tank. We will have a gallant run to just make (or just miss) the Wildcard round, and then our hopes will be dashed by some shitty team that we hate.