The San Francisco 49ers are not getting a break when it comes to injuries as the team could be very empty handed going into Week 13. With Blaine Gabbert under center, the 49ers have struggled to gain momentum as they prepare to enter rebuilding in 2016. Preparing to play the Chicago Bears, Gabbert could be relying on backup as Carlos Hyde and Garrett Celek will likely be missing in action.
Hyde is out again with a stress fracture in his foot and according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com, the 49ers are close to shutting him down. Head coach Jim Tomsula admits that the team is uncertain of the best path to take with the running back. As the season appears to be over for the 49ers, shutting him down could give him a better chance at healing then trying to rush him back on the field.
We're in a gray area there when it comes to Carlos and his foot," Tomsula said, via ESPN.com. "The healing and the injury, that's all part of the discussion. Again, for legal reasons, for all kinds of reasons, I'm not going to talk about the specifics of a guy's injury and things like that. We truly do leave that up to the doctors and the medical staff to monitor that and to stay on top of that, along with Carlos, and that's where that starts, and then we are informed. It's clearly two different things when it comes to an injury."
Without Hyde, Shaun Draughn prepares to start once again as he has been the workhorse back for the team. He managed just 51 yards on 15 carries for San Francisco while no one else saw a carry. San Francisco has Travaris Cadet also on the roster and he could make an impact on the field, but the team has barely used him since acquiring him after Reggie Bush and Mike Davis went down. For now it is the Draughn show.
The same can be said for Vance McDonald who steps into the starting tight end role. Celek is expected to miss Week 13 play as McDonald is a starter for fantasy owners. The tight end has quickly developed into one of Gabbert's favored targets along with Quinton Patton. Gabbert told the media that he likes the way McDonald can always get himself open against defenses.
"Yeah. He's doing a tremendous job and he's winning. He's beating guys in man coverage. He's finding the zones when they're in a zone coverage. He's playing great right now. Run blocking, pass blocking, catching the ball and making big plays as well," Gabbert said, via NinersNation.com.
Several players are battling for roles in the future of the 49ers. As the team prepares to make plenty of changes this offseason which could include a trade of Colin Kaepernick, playing well in the last five games of the year is critical. Celek and Draughn are both playing on expiring contracts while Gabbert and McDonald each have a year left. These last five games could really dictate their futures.