49ers Will Limp Through Playoff Push Without Versatile Patrick Willis

November 11, 2014   ·   Sean Tomlinson   ·   Jump to comments

Injuries often require crutches, but for a team, they can’t be a crutch. That applies to every team, even the San Francisco 49ers as they prepare to play the remainder of this season without middle linebacker Patrick Willis, whose turf toe problem will require season-ending surgery.
Nope, injuries can’t be the sole reason for failure. But they can definitely make an already steep playoff mountain climb seem like a jagged rock death.
To my knowledge, Willis isn’t a mountain climber, though that wouldn’t be the least bit surprising. He is, however, quite skilled as both a run-stuffing linebacker and a shutdown presence in coverage up the middle.
And now, after missing three games (Willis has been out a month, including the 49ers’ Week 8 bye) with a muscle strain in the big toe of his left foot, he’s set to miss seven more.
The latest blow to a 49ers defense that’s been sucker punched repeatedly by breaks, rips and strains was...

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