Sep 11, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan looks on before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
49ers' Kyle Shanahan Delivers Concerning Week 4 Update on Key Linebacker 1
San Francisco 49ers are up to a flying start going up 3-0 at the beginning of their season standing above Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks in their division.
But still Kyle Shanahan can’t really relax as 49ers are dealing with multiple injuries at the same time. They have new injury concern now as their linebacker Jaden Dugger joins the list.
Starting linebacker joins the list of 49ers injury concern
The 49ers drafted him in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the 154th overall pick. In his rookie season, he already got three starts and made tackles in the first three games of the season. Just when the franchise was turning to trust him, Jaden Dugger added himself into the list of the injuries.
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Linebacker Jaden Dugger during the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Football Media Day. Friday, Aug. 1, 2025.
Dugger suffered a shoulder injury during Thursday’s practice leading up to the Week 4 game against the Denver Broncos. The injury happened in the same practice session where practice-squad receiver Dante Pettis also got hurt.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the shoulder injury the next day. Dugger was limited in Friday’s practice and did not fully participate. The team listed him as questionable on the final injury report.
Dugger had been healthy and contributing early in the season. His possible absence comes at a bad time because the linebacker group is already thin. Veteran linebacker Dre Greenlaw is also dealing with an injury, so the team may need other players to step up if Dugger cannot play on Sunday.
Kyle Shanahan’s worry intensifies due to added injuries
The 49ers are dealing with a long list of injuries this season, and the defensive line and linebacker positions have been hit especially hard. Three important defensive players have been ruled out for the Broncos game. Star defensive end Nick Bosa is out with a knee and calf injury and is expected to miss multiple weeks. Defensive tackle James Thompson Jr. is out with an ankle injury. Rookie defensive end Mykel Williams is also out with a knee injury. Losing these players weakens the pass rush and the interior defensive line.
Several other players are listed as questionable. Wide receiver Mike Evans has a rib injury and will be a game-time decision. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw has a quadriceps injury. Defensive end Keion White has a hamstring injury. Jaden Dugger is also questionable with his shoulder injury.
The 49ers enter the Broncos game with a depleted defense. The absence of Bosa and the uncertainty around Dugger, Greenlaw, and others put extra pressure on the remaining players and the coaching staff.
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