Thursday morning began for the 49ers with the confirmation of another absence. Interesting news and admissions of poor performance followed.
Listen to Jake's hit with Steiny and Guru starting at the 2:12:00 mark
Guerendo and injuries
ESPN’s Adam Schefter began the day by confirming what appeared likely: Isaac Guerendo will not play this week with a hamstring injury.
Guerendo joins Trent Williams as confirmed absences for this week. Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that Williams’ season is likely over. Guerendo, meanwhile, missed almost all of training camp with a hamstring injury, a recurring problem for him in his young career.
Also of note Thursday was the non-participation of Nick Bosa in practice. He was a limited participant Wednesday, but did not practice Thursday. He was seen in uniform, jogging into the team's weight room at the start of practice.
Maliek Collins was the fourth absentee, missing a second-straight day with an illness. The following players were all limited:
- LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles, knee)
- T Jaylon Moore (hip)
- S Malik Mustapha (chest)
- OL Nick Zakelj (illness)
Ambry Thomas' odd journey
The 49ers spent a roster spot on cutdown day to retain Ambry Thomas after a fractured forearm. It's one of the reasons they lost Jarrett Kingston, a player who would absolutely be worth a look at left guard right about now. Kingston went to the Carolina Panthers.
As a notable aside, San Francisco opted for Kingston at pick no. 215 over Arkansas' Beaux Limmer, who the Rams selected at pick no. 217. Limmer has started at center nearly all year for Los Angeles. The 49ers had both players close on their board, but opted for Kingston.
Thomas, meanwhile, was waived this past weekly, oddly. He would have been incorporated into the 49ers' compensatory formula, and there was not clear incentive to be rid of him. He was claimed, like Samuel Womack III, by the Indianapolis Colts.
But Thomas is floating in the wind. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, he failed his physical. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said that the 49ers cleared him a month ago, and predicted he'd pass his next physical. It's an odd situation that is unresolved.
O-line not good enough
The 49ers' offensive line play this season has been underwhelming at best this season. Offensive line coach/run game coordinator Chris Foerster is someone who has expressed his enjoyment with the process, of coaching players to better results.
The results have been mixed. Dominick Puni has been a revelation. Colton McKivitz has quietly had an above-average year. And Jaylon Moore has impressed in Trent Williams' stead.
But Aaron Banks has clearly regressed. Jake Brendel has been inconsistent, and had some very ugly moments. In that light, I asked Foerster what his view of the progression of the group was.
“I think we're like the team," Foerster said. "We're not good enough. At six and eight, there's no excuses, no hiding behind it... I would argue the case before we went to Green Bay, I thought that we were playing pretty good football and every player I could say on a grade sheet was grading out better, even though the record didn't show it.
"Went to Green Bay, didn't play well. Then we played a snow game, which was fun for us up front but it’s hard to measure that. And the games since then, Chicago was okay and then this game last week was not up to par. And so, we've had too many games of late that aren't good enough and we need to continue to work to improve these last three. And I think we can. I think on a whole, regardless of what the record ends up being at the end of the season, we could have a more productive season this year."
What is absolutely evident is the 49ers need to make additions on their offensive line heading into next season. And Foerster, who represented the 49ers' draft philosophy early on — they would rather have skill position players in early rounds rather than offensive linemen — could be worth re-evaluating.