The San Francisco 49ers are going to be down a pass rusher for their Monday night showdown against the Carolina Panthers.
Defensive end RJ Beal was downgraded to out Sunday for San Francisco’s home showdown against the Panthers after he remained in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Beal has 10 tackles this season but left the Niners’ 41-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals after sustaining a concussion. He has played 22 percent of San Francisco’s defensive snaps this season.
The Niners (7-4) are in third place in NFC West but trail the first-place Los Angeles Rams by just two games with six to play. The Niners sit just a game ahead of the Panthers (6-5), who are charging hard for the last NFC wild-card berth.
Robert Beal Is Out Monday Night
Beal was listed as doubtful after sustaining a concussion in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday, and it was not realistic to expect him to play given the stringent nature of the protocol, even with an extra day of recovery ahead of the home game.
Beal has two tackles for loss this season, while mostly playing as a backup to starting defensive end Sam Okuayinonu. The fifth-round pick of the 2023 NFL Draft has just one sack and 32 tackles and one for loss in his three NFL seasons with the 49ers, while suiting up in just 23 games.
The 49ers Defense Is Dealing With Injuries
The San Francisco offense is getting healthier every week, since quarterback Brock Purdy and wide receive Ricky Pearsall each returned from injury last week.
But the 49ers defense continues to be ravaged by injuries, with Beal being the latest example. But outside of their EDGE rushers, the Niners are also down at least two linebackers, with Fred Warner unlikely to return this year and Tatum Bethune also ruled out for Monday night with an ankle injury.
Luke Gifford, who plays SAM backer, is going to be a game-time decision due to neck and hip injuries.
Monday Night Is A Huge Game For The 49ers
The Niners may be a touchdown favorite at home, but they will need to play well to beat the Panthers. Carolina can pull even with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers atop the NFC South, and earn the tiebreaker over the 49ers in the wild-card chase, with a victory in Santa Clara.
The Panthers are 3-3 away from Bank of America Stadium this year but have won three straight on the road, including a last-second win over the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 2 and an OT win over the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium last Sunday.
Carolina is 4-2 in its past six games and has been stingy this season defensively, allowing just 22.6 points-against per game.
Still, the Panthers are coached by offensive-minded Los Angeles native Dave Canales, who spent more than a decade with the Niners’ divisional rival, the Seattle Seahawks. The Panthers have topped 30 points three times this year, including last weekend.
Rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan is coming off an eight-catch, 130-yard performance against the Falcons, and led by veteran running back Rico Dowdle (833 yards), the Panthers rank ninth in rushing yards per game (127.1).
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