Kalia Davis
Getty
49ers' defensive tackle Kalia Davis broke his hand in the team's Week 5 win over the Rams, but he may not miss much time
The San Francisco 49ers somehow managed to overcome a laundry list of injuries to pick up a 26-23 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football. And even though they won, the injuries just keep on piling up, as starting defensive tackle Kalia Davis was forced out of this game with a hand injury.
Davis has taken on a big role at the interior of the Niners’ defensive line, starting all five games so far this season. However, he has become the latest player hit by the injury bug in San Francisco, and while he’s going to miss some time, it sounds like he has managed to avoid the worst-case scenario when it comes to his injured hand.
Kalia Davis Suffers Broken Hand in 49ers’ Win Over Rams
#49ers DT Kalia Davis, part of an unheralded SF defensive front that continues to get pressure, will undergo surgery today to repair a broken hand, sources say.
Davis could miss as few as two games, and he's expected to return with a club. pic.twitter.com/XLdMro0Yi7
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 3, 2025
The Niners are perhaps the most beat-up team in the NFL right now, but that doesn’t seem to matter to them. In just this game alone, San Fran was without its starting quarterback (Brock Purdy), its top three wide receivers (Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall), their starting tight end (George Kittle), and a slew of key contributors on the defensive side of the ball.
Davis was just the latest guy to go down, and he’s played a sneaky important role on the 49ers‘ d-line through five games. He only has seven tackles, but two of those have been for a loss, and his ability to draw multiple blockers to him has opened lanes for his teammates, both in the run and pass game.
It was revealed that Davis broke his hand when he was forced out of the team’s win over the Rams, which is obviously going to require him to miss some time. However, it may not be a lengthy absence for Davis, as it was reported he could end up being back in just two weeks if everything goes according to plan when it comes to his injury rehab process.
49ers DT Kalia Davis, part of an unheralded SF defensive front that continues to get pressure, will undergo surgery today to repair a broken hand, sources say,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in a post on X. “Davis could miss as few as two games, and he’s expected to return with a club.”
49ers Set to Enjoy Some Time Off After Short Week
Kyle Shanahan
GettyHead coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers.
Winning on a short week is always tough to do, but it’s even more difficult when you are facing the sort of injury situation that the 49ers were dealing with heading into this one. The hits just keep on coming, but with an extra couple of days to rest before turning their attention to Week 6, the hope is that San Francisco will be healthier the next time it takes the field.
Things won’t be getting any easier in terms of opponents for the Niners, though, as they will take on the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. The Bucs are also littered with injuries, but like the 49ers, they have managed to keep on winning. Kickoff for this game is set for Oct. 12 at 4:25 p.m. ET, with San Francisco hoping to not be as shorthanded as it was against Los Angeles.