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49ers Healthy As They Have Been All Year, Jacksonville Not So Lucky

By Jerrell Richardson

49ers

It's week 8, and San Francisco has no injuries affecting their active roster. This is a surprise considering the nature of the sport combined with their style of play. However the fact remains that not a single 49er has a legitimate injury concern this week. Justin Smith has been held out of certain activities all year long in an attempt to preserve the veteran defensive tackle, so his name will continue to appear on this report, but this is more about his age then any real shoulder problem.

Smith's fellow defensive tackles, Ray McDonald and Glenn Dorsey, are dealing with recently sustained injuries, but both have played well while dealing with them, and both will be available come Sunday. The 49ers do have options though with the recently activated Quinton Dial who can step in if needed.

On the offensive side of the ball, the 49ers are in even better shape. Jon Baldwin is sick and not injured, while Alex Boone and Anthony Davis are banged up, but not enough to really hinder their ability to win the fight in the trenches. Like McDonald and Dorsey, Boone and Davis have been playing for weeks with these so called injuries and have seen no decrease in their play; in fact the running game has really come alive as of late. They may not be 100 percent, but as a team, the 49ers are as close as you are going to get this deep in the season.

San Francisco 49ers

Limited In Practice:

  • Jon Baldwin (Wide Receiver): Illness
  • Alex Boone (Guard): Shoulder
  • Anthony Davis (Tackle): Shoulder
  • Glenn Dorsey (Defensive Tackle): Hamstring
  • Ray McDonald (Defensive Tackle): Biceps
  • Carlos Rogers (Cornerback): Knee
  • Justin Smith (Defensive Tackle): Shoulder

Jacksonville Jaguars

Did Not Participate In Practice

  • Roy Miller (Defensive Tackle): Shoulder

Limited In Practice

  • Russell Allen (Linebacker): Ribs
  • Justin Blackmon (Wide Receiver): Hamstring
  • Dwayne Gratz (Cornerback): Ankle
  • Sen'derrick Marks (Defensive Tackle): Knee
  • Cecil Shorts (Wide Receiver): Shoulder

Full Practice

  • Andre Branch (Defensive End): Knee
  • Stephen Burton (Wide Receiver): Concussion
  • Johnathan Cyprien (Safety): Calf
  • Blaine Gabbert (Quarterback): Hamstring
  • Brad Meester (Center): Not injury related
  • Jeremy Mincey (Defensive End): Concussion
  • Ace Sanders (Wide Receiver): Concussion

Jaguars Injuries Will Come In Play

The Jaguars have (almost) twice the amount of players then San Francisco on their injury report, however it's not quite as bad as it seems. Seven of the 13 did participate in full practice this week, and full practice means they are just fine. So even with some notable names, none bigger than Blaine Gabbert, the full practice part of the injury report can be ignored. Unfortunately for Jacksonville, what can't be ignored is that pretty much every wide receiver, including their two main targets, are all in danger of missing the game, or at the very least being slowed by an injury.

The good news for Jaguar fans is that Cecil Shorts injury is his shoulder. While uncomfortable, and he might have to withstand a few hits from Eric Reid. Shorts can still run routes, get open and catch the ball. Shorts leads the team in receptions, and his presence will be needed. The bad news is that the team's biggest threat, Justin Blackmon was also limited in practice due to a hamstring injury. Blackmon still has his size, but with a hurt hamstring he will lose his explosiveness and will be just a step slower. He is still better than most, but will make the job of the San Francisco secondary's a little more manageable.

Behind Shorts and Blackmon on the depth chart are Stephen Burton and Ace Sanders, both of whom are getting over concussions. They were full participants in practice, but will have several off field tests that will ultimately determine if they play Sunday. In the worst case scenario, the Jaguars could be without their top four receivers, facing the sixth ranked pass defense in the NFL. Not a good matchup for the Jaguars. 

Defensively Jacksonville could also be without several starters, even though Roy Miller, whose shoulder has kept him out of practice all week, appears the only likely candidate to sit this one out. Linebacker Russell Allen is dealing with bruised ribs and Sen'Derrick Marks has a bad knee, but their injuries should not keep them off the field.

Advantage 49ers

As if the Jaguars needed anything else working against them, they are the more injured of the two teams. Jacksonville's top receivers are all dealing with some sort of injury and their defense is also far from healthy. Even if all the Jaguars players listed on the injury report strap it up this week, they are playing a run heavy, physical 49er team that is going to look to dominate them physically. While it's not an impossible task, it's not going to be easy for the Jaguars to hold up for four quarters.

For more 49ers news and updates, visit 49ers Central.

Jerrell Richardson is a Bay Area native who due to a college career at San Diego State University has grown an appreciation for all things sports related in California. His heart will always remain in San Francisco though where he currently resides and covers everything from the San Francisco 49ers and Giants to the San Jose Sharks and California Bears Baseball team. Jerrell is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.

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