The San Francisco 49ers’ offensive line situation took a significant hit during Sunday’s game, leaving the team with, essentially, third-string players stepping in at left tackle and left guard. These unexpected injuries have placed a huge burden on the team’s offensive line, but what’s even more concerning is that things could potentially worsen in time for next week’s critical matchup against the Detroit Lions.

Despite the chaos surrounding his offensive line, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is unwavering in his commitment to quarterback Brock Purdy, insisting that the offensive line’s issues will not change the team’s approach to the young quarterback. Shanahan spoke candidly during a conference call with Bay Area reporters on Monday, acknowledging the team’s struggles while reaffirming their commitment to moving forward.

“People deal with that throughout the year on other weeks too,” Shanahan explained. “We’ve got a football team. We’ve got to go out, and we’ve got two games here, and we’ve got to see what guys we can put out there, and whatever we do, we’re going to put a game plan together to, as best as we can, give us a chance to win.”

For Brock Purdy, this is more than just another week in the NFL. The quarterback is now just two games away from becoming eligible to negotiate a potentially lucrative long-term contract with the 49ers. As a player who was drafted as the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy has played on a minimum contract, but his stellar play has put him in line to become one of the highest-paid players in the league when the offseason arrives.

However, with the 49ers’ offensive line in such disarray, many might wonder if Shanahan should consider taking steps to protect Purdy and avoid unnecessary harm, especially with the quarterback’s future with the team at stake.

“No, I’m not thinking that way,” Shanahan responded firmly when asked if he was considering protecting Purdy from potential injury due to the offensive line’s struggles.

Adding further concern to the already mounting injury issues, All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams will be sitting out the final two games of the 2024 season due to an ankle injury. Williams, who has been a mainstay on the 49ers’ offensive line and an 11-time Pro Bowl player, has not seen action since the team’s game against the Seattle Seahawks on October 17.

Williams’ replacement, Jaylon Moore, was also sidelined after suffering a quadriceps strain during Sunday’s game, leaving the 49ers without any experienced depth at left tackle. The situation was further compounded by Spencer Burford’s calf injury, with the team uncertain whether he would be available for their Week 17 clash with the Detroit Lions. To make matters worse, left guard Aaron Banks was also injured, sustaining a sprain to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee when running back Patrick Taylor was tackled into him in the fourth quarter.

In an effort to fill the gaps, the 49ers turned to Nick Zakelj at left guard, but normally, Burford would have stepped into that role. However, Burford had already been thrust into action at left tackle, highlighting just how deep the team’s injury problems run. The only other offensive lineman available for Sunday’s game was newly acquired tackle Austen Pleasants, who has only seen limited NFL action over the past four seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, and the 49ers.

The situation leaves the 49ers in a tough spot as they try to figure out how to navigate the remainder of the season with a patchwork offensive line. Shanahan’s confidence in his team’s ability to adapt and make do with the players available is clear, but the severity of these injuries presents a real challenge, especially with such high stakes against teams like the Lions in the final stretch of the regular season. The coming weeks will undoubtedly test the resilience of both the team’s offensive line and the players stepping up to fill crucial roles. For Brock Purdy, the pressure to perform is higher than ever, but the 49ers’ ability to protect him and give him a solid foundation to work with will be key to their playoff hopes and future success.