49ers’ Armstead Benched Amid Lingering Leg Concerns
Former Top 10 pick Arik Armstead has been dealing with an injury that has hampered him this season. The San Francisco 49ers are a bit worried as the team enters the final stages of the 2023 season. The Niners shut Armstead out of their big Christmas Day game against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
The decision sparked a debate between the media and head coach Kyle Shanahan. “Yes, we care,” Shanahan said via the 49ers’ net zone. The 49ers head coach asked if they were worried if his injury was a long-term problem.
“We think he’ll get a chance every week, but I’d say it’s a little more leg than knee, which is a little bit of a distraction. I’m just hoping the pain goes away,” Shanahan admitted. When healthy, Armstead proved to be the league’s most effective defensive lineman.
He has been a mainstay for the 49ers since the team drafted him after a successful college career at the University of Oregon. Armstead helped lead the Ducks to the final of the 2014 College Football Playoff, the opening game of the playoffs. Since arriving in San Francisco, Armstead has 33.5 sacks, 177 tackles and three forced fumbles in 116 career games. He has 7.0 career sacks in the playoffs and 27 combined tackles.
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