The San Francisco 49ers engaged in an epic battle with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night and came out with their first loss of the year. The Niners will surely try to move past the tough defeat when they face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11. Unfortunately, they could be without two of their top playmakers.
Tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders both missed Wednesday's practice, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Kittle is dealing with knee and ankle injuries while Sanders suffered a rib injury on Monday.
Playing without both weapons was devastating for the Niners on Monday night. Kittle was inactive going into the game against Seattle, while Sanders was removed early in the second quarter.
San Francisco proceeded with a mixture of Deebo Samuel, Kendrick Bourne and Dante Pettis at receiver. The trio disappointed, dropping passes in crucial moments late in the game. If the two are out for Week 11's tilt, the 49ers could be in trouble, despite the Cardinals possessing a reeling defense.
Despite the potential lack of playmakers, head coach Kyle Shanahan should find a way to win this game. Arizona hasn't been able to cover consistently. On the year, they allow 287 passing yards per game, good for 31st in the NFL.
Look past the aerial attack, and you'll find another exploitable weakness for the Niners. The Cardinals are allowing 126 rushing yards per game, another figure that puts them in the bottom half of the league.
San Francisco fields the second-best ground game in the league. The rushing attack has indeed slowed down in recent weeks, but the Cardinals offer the perfect opportunity for a get-right game. If both Kittle and Sanders are out, expect Shanahan and Co. to rely on the ground-and-pound.
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