The San Francisco 49ers' defensive line absorbed yet another punishing hit on Thursday night, as edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos limped off the field midway through their hard-fought win over the Los Angeles Rams. Gross-Matos, a key piece in the team's pass-rush rotation, appeared to tweak his hamstring while pursuing a play in the second quarter. Trainers immediately swarmed him, and he didn't return, leaving the Niners to scramble without one of their more reliable contributors.
Indeed, this isn't the first time Gross-Matos has tested the 49ers' depth this season. The 27-year-old, who signed a two-year, $18 million deal with San Francisco back in March 2024 after four seasons with the Carolina Panthers, had been showing flashes of the potential that made him a second-round pick in 2020. Last year, he notched 4.5 sacks and earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 14, proving he could thrive in Robert Saleh's aggressive scheme. However, injuries have dogged him—recall his knee issue that sidelined him for the season opener against the Jets, or the October 2024 placement on IR that wiped out much of his campaign.
Moreover, the timing couldn't be worse for a 49ers squad already battered along the front. With Nick Bosa nursing a nagging shoulder and Leonard Floyd questionable after a recent tweak, Gross-Matos's absence exposes vulnerabilities that head coach Kyle Shanahan has been quick to downplay but can't fully mask. In the Rams game, the defense held firm enough for a 28-24 victory, but the effort felt gritty, almost desperate at times. Analysts are already whispering about how this could derail San Francisco's Super Bowl aspirations if Gross-Matos misses significant time—hamstrings, after all, love to linger.
Still, the Niners have a history of resilience, piecing together rotations from undrafted gems and practice-squad call-ups. Yet, as the bye week approaches, questions swirl about whether this latest setback signals deeper issues in player management or just the brutal luck of the NFL grind.
Expected return timeline remains unclear, but early reports suggest at least a few weeks on the shelf. One wonders if the 49ers can weather this storm without compromising their NFC West lead.