The San Francisco 49ers entered Thursday’s showdown versus the Los Angeles Rams quite short-handed due to injury. They were without quarterback Brock Purdy, wide receivers Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk, defensive end Nick Bosa and tight end George Kittle.
In the second half, the Niners’ health took a turn for the worse.
Defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos, who is a reliable depth piece for them, went down with a hamstring injury, while linebacker Dee Winters suffered a shoulder ailment. According to the 49ers’ official X (formerly Twitter) account, Gross-Matos will not return to the field, while Winters was declared questionable to return.
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Fortunately for San Francisco, it was reported during the game’s broadcast that Winters had been examined in the locker room and then returned to the field.
Winters has had a strong start to the 2025 season. As a starting off the ball linebacker, he recorded 32 total tackles (24 solo), three tackles for loss and two passes defended in the first four games of the season. He seems to be proving himself to be an adequate replacement for Dre Greenlaw, who departed in the offseason as a free agent.
Gross-Matos is in his sixth season in the NFL and his second with the Niners. He recorded four sacks, seven quarterback hits and six tackles for loss last season despite playing in just 11 games. If he has to miss any more time, it would be a sizable loss, given the season-ending ACL tear Bosa suffered in Week 3.
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The 49ers got out to a 14-0 lead in the first half and led 17-7 at halftime on Thursday thanks to some big production from wideout Kendrick Bourne. But Los Angeles fought back and was able to tie the game at 20 in the fourth quarter.
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