The San Francisco 49ers haven’t been on the right side of injury luck in some time now under Kyle Shanahan. That variance feels like it’s been amplified in 2025 for all of the wrong reasons. Shanahan is no stranger to injuries at quarterback. His backup, Mac Jones, helped salvage the Niners’ season.
In Week 16, the 49ers will be the beneficiary against the Indianapolis Colts. Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in his right leg in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jones was already playing through what was reported to be a hairline fracture in his left fibula.
Jones beat out former first-round pick Anthony Richardson, who is currently on the injured reserve. Richardson suffered a broken orbital during warmups in Week 6. While Richardson is eligible to return from the IR, he has yet to be cleared to return to football activities. Jones’ injury could certainly accelerate the ramp-up.
That led to sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard playing for the first time when it mattered. Leonard went 18-for-29 for 145 yards and was fortunate not to throw three interceptions. It’s still a Shane Steichen offense with Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, and Tyler Warren with a quality offensive line. Still, the ceiling is inevitably lower with Leonard under center.
When Robert Saleh has gone against an inexperienced quarterback this season, the 49ers held the Saints scoreless for 1.5 quarters, the Falcons to score 10 points, the Giants to score 10 points before garbage time in the fourth quarter, and held both the Panthers and Browns to single-digits.
It’s not a must-win game for the 49ers, but getting the Colts with a rookie Day 3 quarterback, or Anthony Richardson, puts San Francisco in a position to leapfrog the Seahawks or the Rams when you look at the NFC playoff picture, as they still have to play each other.
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