The 49ers pulled out a big victory in defeating the division-leading St. Louis Rams 23-20, but it has come at a cost. Left tackle Joe Staley went down with an apparent ankle injury in the fourth quarter. Initially sideline reporter Chris Myers said Staley was not returning, but a few minutes later he was back on the field. The post-game report is not quite so rosy as it is being reported that Joe Staley has a fracture in his leg and is out 4-6 weeks.
Whether Staley ends up on the injured reserve list or not, it seems likely that backup offensive tackle Barry Sims will take his place in the starting lineup. Staley suffered an injury last season that resulted in Sims spending a sizable chunk of the season in the starting lineup. Sims played very well in relief and 49ers fans certainly will be hoping for something similar in the coming weeks.
Although it’s unlikely, a second option would be utilizing backup offensive tackle Alex Boone. Boone has been inactive every game this season but has shown signs in training camp of potentially turning into a solid offensive lineman. I doubt he’ll get the call, but he remains an option.