SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers have placed defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos on injured reserve after he re-injured his hamstring during practice.
Gross-Matos initially injured his hamstring in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams and missed the next three games. Although he returned to practice for the first time on Thursday, he suffered the injury again and will now miss at least the next four games while on injured reserve.
This season, Gross-Matos has yet to record a sack in five games but ranks fifth on the team with nine quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
The 49ers are facing a significant hit to their defensive line, already without star defensive end Nick Bosa, who is out for the season with a knee injury, and defensive end Bryce Huff, who is missing his second straight game with a hamstring injury.
San Francisco currently ranks last in the NFL with an average of just 1.13 sacks per game and has managed only five sacks in the past six games since Bosa’s injury. The defensive linemen available on the roster for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants have combined for just three sacks so far this season.
To bolster the defensive line rotation, the 49ers acquired Keion White in a trade from New England this week and signed Clelin Ferrell to the practice squad. Ferrell was promoted to the active roster on Saturday and is eligible to play against the Giants.
On the offensive side, the 49ers promoted offensive lineman Nick Zakelj from the practice squad for Sunday’s game and activated offensive lineman Spencer Burford from injured reserve. Burford suffered a knee injury in Week 2 against New Orleans and had been serving as the backup tackle before his injury. He may be available to play guard this week, with starting left guard Ben Bartch still sidelined by an ankle injury. Seventh-round rookie Connor Colby has been starting in Bartch’s place.