49ers Injury Fallout: 2025’s Tough Year and What 2026 Holds

Adjusted Games Lost Remains in Top Five

San Francisco finished the 2025 season among the NFL’s five most injured clubs when measured by adjusted games lost (AGL). The 49ers posted 115 AGL, a step up from the 141.2 tally the previous year. FTN noted that its AGL metric, which weighs starter and key‑reserve absences and accounts for “questionable” status, still cannot fully capture the impact of losing elite talent. The gap between 2024 and 2025 shows a modest improvement, yet the team’s injury profile remains above the league median.

Key All‑Pros Missing and Position‑Group Struggles

The 2025 roster was hit hard by the absence of three All‑Pros: Nick Bosa, George Kittle and Fred Warner. All three missed substantial time, a loss the article says is impossible to quantify because the 49ers built their identity around these players. Position‑group breakdowns highlight the depth problem: edge rushers absorbed 28.5 AGL (the NFL’s highest), while wide receivers lagged with 27.1 AGL, second only to Tampa Bay. Such concentrated losses forced the Niners to rely on third‑stringers and free agents at critical spots.

Preseason Injuries Forced Roster Moves

August injuries that fell outside the AGL calculation left San Francisco short‑handed. Dominick Puni’s preseason ailment lingered into the first month and a half of the season, and Mac Jones missed time after spraining his ankle. Additional personnel—Jaco Cowing, Trent Taylor, Corey Kiner, Jordan James and Patrick Taylor—missed training camp and early games. The depth void prompted trades for Brian Robinson and Skyy Moore to shore up running back and receiving depth.

Impact on the Field: Wins Despite the Toll

Despite the roster trauma, the 49ers posted a 12‑6 regular‑season record and earned a playoff victory. They went 5‑3 with Mac Jones under center and 7‑3 when both Bosa and Warner were on the injured reserve list. Brock Purdy missed eight starts, and several draft picks—the first, third, fourth and fifth rounds—missed large chunks of the season. Even the defense, anchored by young players like Garret Wallow and Sam Okuayinonu, held the eventual Super Bowl runner‑up Philadelphia to just 15 points in a playoff upset.

Looking Ahead: Free‑Agent Additions and Hope for Health

San Francisco’s off‑season moves signal an effort to reset the injury ledger. The team signed veteran wideout Mike Evans and De’Zhaun Stribling for receiving depth, and added defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who arrives with a clean health history. These additions aim to give the Niners more reliable backups at the positions that suffered the highest AGL totals in 2025. The article suggests the 49ers are positioning themselves to be healthier in 2026, though recent luck has been elusive.

Historical Context and Future Outlook

The 49ers’ recent injury woes extend back several years, predating the tenure of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, who arrived in 2017. While preseason projections have been upbeat, the team’s injury central tendency historically pulls it toward above‑average loss figures. If recent free‑agent signings and a healthier roster can shift that average, the 2026 season may mark a return to the kind of consistency that defined the 49ers’ earlier championship runs.