Houston – The 49ers’ injury list keeps growing, and their 26–15 loss to the Houston Texans Sunday only made matters worse. San Francisco once again struggled to stay healthy, with several key defenders leaving the game and not returning.
Defensive linemen Jordan Elliott (ankle) and Sam Okuayinonu (ankle), along with linebacker Dee Winters, all exited with injuries and scheduled to be day-to-day. The setbacks continue to test a unit that has been dominant since the return of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
“We dropped a guy in man coverage on that 50-yard checkdown,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. “We can’t hug up on the quarterback, we’ve got to stay on our man in coverage. On several of our pressure calls, we just didn’t get home. He got the ball out quick, I think he completed about five slants in the game. On their 30-yard touchdown, it was straight man coverage. He just won the one-on-one matchup and ran away from our guy. Those were the biggest plays that hurt us with the explosives.”
Despite their defensive resurgence under Saleh, the 49ers’ season has been defined by attrition. With yet another wave of injuries, San Francisco’s defense is being stretched thin as the team searches for stability and health heading into the second half of the season.
Mac Jones and the 49ers’ offense continued to struggle, but George Kittle had the kind of game fans have been waiting for. Kittle caught four receptions for a season-high 43 yards and one touchdown, marking his second touchdown of the season and the 47th of his career. Tight end Jake Tonges added a 2-yard touchdown reception, the fourth of his career.
“There were definitely some mental errors,” Shanahan said of quarterback Mac Jones. “Not necessarily more than usual, but in a game like that, every play carries a lot of weight. With the limited number of plays we had, any mistake was going to stand out and be magnified.”
San Francisco’s defense remained strong despite offensive woes. Defensive back Deommodore Lenoir recorded three tackles and an interception off Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, his first pick of the season and seventh of his career. Linebacker Tatum Bethune posted a career-high 14 tackles, the most by a 49ers player in a single game since Fred Warner recorded 15 against the Rams on December 12, 2024.
“What happens when you have six or seven injured guys who aren’t on IR and can’t play, said Shanahan. “Hopefully we get some of them back soon, but if not, we have to figure out how to make it work, or it could end up costing someone else a roster spot. That’s what we’re dealing with every week. The number of guys who are hurt but not on IR creates a roster issue, and we’re just trying to see how it plays out day-to-day.”
Next week, the 49ers will travel to New York to take on the Giants. Defensive lineman Bryce Huff who has been explosive and offensive lineman Jake Brendel were both inactive this week, and Shanahan said there’s no guarantee either will be ready to return in time for the matchup.
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