49ers vs. Falcons: Injuries to Play a Key Role for San Francisco

The San Francisco 49ers will be without some key players in Week 15 as they visit the Atlanta Falcons. Who will be the next men up for the Niners?

Week 15 will test an already thin San Francisco 49ers team’s depth, as the Niners visit the Atlanta Falcons.

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The Niners lost starting center Daniel Kilgore (leg) and tight end Vance McDonald (shoulder) to season-ending injured reserve, and they’ll be gone for the year. Additionally, other injuries will force other players to climb the depth chart.

None of this bodes well for a 1-12 49ers team trying to end the franchise’s worst losing streak in its history.

And here’s the full list, courtesy of the team’s website.

While these losses certainly hurt the team’s chances, at least they open up the door for other players to see if they’ll be worth keeping around beyond 2016.

For a team looking hard at it’s future, perhaps this isn’t a bad thing.

So who has to step up for San Francisco? Let’s take a look.

OL Zane Beadles, Andrew Tiller & Marcus Martin

With Staley and Kilgore out, offensive guard Zane Beadles bumps over to the left tackle spot. And Marcus Martin takes over at center.

Oct 16, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Zane Beadles (68) blocks Buffalo Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander (57) during the first half at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Guard Andrew Tiller, who probably should be starting anyway, likely assumes the left guard spot.

Tiller, as discussed in the linked post, has put up better Pro Football Focus numbers than Beadles this season. And yet Beadles hasn’t missed a start. Nevertheless, the Niners will get a much closer look to see if Tiller is going to be an essential part of their future plans.

The same can be said of Martin, who has largely been a disappointment since being drafted in 2014.

Oct 16, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) runs the ball against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

WR Quinton Patton

Patton is finishing up the final season of his four-year rookie deal. With No. 1 receiver Torrey Smith (concussion) out, Patton should see more looks in Atlanta.

He’s developed a bit of a rapport with quarterback Colin Kaepernick this year. But Patton is just another player on the fringe of returning to San Francisco in 2017.

A strong finish might justify the Niners re-signing him this offseason. Yet the wide receiver position is considered one of the weakest of many weak spots on San Francisco’s roster.

So it’s hard to consider the odds not being stacked against Patton’s return next year.

TEs Garrett Celek & Blake Bell

With McDonald out for the rest of the year, backup tight ends Garrett Celek and Blake Bell now get a chance to rise to the occasion.

Celek isn’t going anywhere, thanks to his lengthy contract extension signed last offseason. But Bell, the second-year pro out of Oklahoma, hasn’t exactly done much to ensure he’ll be a long-term fixture of the offense.

Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; 49ers tight end Blake Bell (84) looks on from the sideline during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

With head coach Chip Kelly not using fullbacks, Bell should see a regular increase in snaps over the rest of the season.

These will go a long way in determining whether or not he’s merely another 49ers draft bust or a potential riser, who merely needed a couple years’ worth of maturation to contribute adequately enough at the next level.