Sunday’s season-closing lineup for the injury-ravaged 49ers will include yet another change from its Week 1 look, with running back Carlos Hyde becoming the latest to go exit with a season-ending injury.
Hyde had the medial collateral ligament in his left knee severely sprained in Saturday’s win at Los Angeles, a league source said. ESPN first reported the MCL injury Sunday, characterizing it as a tear.
Here is how the 49ers offensive and defensive starting lineups look from their Week 1 win over the Rams to the projected units for Sunday’s home finale against the Seattle Seahawks:
Week 1 Offense
QB Blaine Gabbert: Benched after going 1-4, inactive past two games.
RB Hyde: Came up 12 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard season.
WR Torrey Smith: Injured reserve, concussion (Dec. 11).
WR Quinton Patton: Injured reserve, foot (Dec. 18).
WR Jeremy Kerley: Has caught team-high 58 of 108 passes targeted his way.
TE Vance McDonald: Injured reserve, shoulder (Dec. 11).
LT Joe Staley: Streak of 92 consecutive starts ended with hamstring injury in Week 14.
LG Zane Beadles: Started first 12 games there, moved to left tackle and then center.
C Daniel Kilgore: Injured reserve, hamstring (Dec. 11).
RG Andrew Tiller: Plugged into role just before opener when Anthony Davis wavered. (Sidebar: Davis deleted a Tweet from Sunday night in which he said he misses football but doesn’t want to play for CEO Jed York, GM Trent Baalke or offensive line coach Pat Flaherty because “they’re all full of (expletive).”)
RT Trent Brown: Started first 14 games there, moved to left tackle last game.
* * *
Week 17 Offense (projected)
QB Colin Kaepernick: Was 0-9 as starter before last-minute heroics to beat Rams.
RB Shaun Draughn: Has more receiving yards (195) than rushing yards (155).
WR Jeremy Kerley: Has set career-high with 58 receptions (no TDs since Week 10).
WR Rod Streater: Caught TDs in past two games, including in last minute at LA.
WR Chris Harper: Started at LA, has only 10 catches this season.
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TE Garrett Celek: Has played in every game, totaled career-high 28 receptions
LT Trent Brown: Fared OK in his starting debut there last game with Staley still hurt.
LG Andrew Tiller: Figures to make third straight start, eighth overall this year.
C Zane Beadles: This year’s only free-agent pickup has brought versatility, leadership.
RG Joshua Garnett: Stanford product will have started final 11 games as rookie.
RT John Theus: Inactive his first 12 games, he figures to make second straight start.
* * *
Week 1 Defense
LDT DeForest Buckner: Top draft pick has six sacks, merits rookie-of-year votes.
NT Mike Purcell: Started first five games before retreating to bench.
RDT Quinton Dial: Started 11 games along line despite knee, elbow, neck injuries.
LOLB Ahmad Brooks: Shares team lead in sacks (6), has started every game.
ILB NaVorro Bowman: Injured reserve, Achilles (Oct. 2).
ILB Gerald Hodges: Has started 11 games in up-and-down season.
ROLB Eli Harold: Has three sacks in 12 starts as Aaron Lynch’s replacement.
LCB Tramaine Brock: Poised to start all 16 games for first time in seven-year career.
RCB Jimmie Ward: Injured reserve, shoulder (Dec. 18).
FS Eric Reid: Injured reserve, biceps (Nov. 20).
SS Antoine Bethea: Has started ever game after missing last nine games of 2015.
* * *
Week 17 Defense (projected)
LDT DeForest Buckner: Trent Baalke hit on this first-round pick at No. 7 overall.
NT Chris Jones: This waiver-wire find has helped defensive resurgence of late.
RDT Quinton Dial: He had a key tackle amid Saturday’s fourth-quarter comeback.
LOLB Ahmad Brooks: He could be playing in final game of his nine-year tenure.
ILB Michael Wilhoite: This will be his sixth start as fill-in for other injured LBs.
ILB Gerald Hodges: Made 13 tackles in LA after not suiting up previous game.
ROLB Eli Harold: Will he start of will Aaron Lynch, who’s past an ankle injury?
LCB Tramaine Brock: His first interception of season came on Saturday’s first drive.
RCB Rashard Robinson: His first interception of career came on Saturday’s last drive.
FS Jaquiski Tartt: Has missed too many tackles since replacing Reid at this spot.
SS Antoine Bethea: He could be playing final game of his three-year tenure here.
Note: The only starters in the same positions in Weeks 1 and 17 likely will be Kerley, Buckner, Brooks, Dial, Hodges, Harold, Brock and Bethea.
