49ers' latest injury news increases urgency to make free agent move

The San Francisco 49ers' situation on the interior of the defensive line got worse on Wednesday as they placed defensive tackle Kalia Davis on injured reserve.

Davis suffered an ankle injury in the 49ers' 45-29 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, which clinched a second successive NFC West title.

It was just the third game of Davis' pro career, the start of which was delayed by his recovery from an ACL tear that he suffered in his final year in college at UCF.

Davis had solidified himself as part of the defensive line rotation, playing 54 snaps in those three games as the 49ers were hit by injuries to starters Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave.

But he now must endure more frustration after once again being sidelined and, with uncertainty as to when Armstead and Hargrave will return, the 49ers may be forced to make a free agent addition on the defensive side of the trenches.

Last year, the 49ers looked at adding veteran Ndamukong Suh to the D-Line. Suh went on to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles but is once again a free agent.

Kyle Shanahan was asked on Monday if the 49ers had discussed adding Suh given their recent spate of injuries at defensive tackle.

He replied: "Not yet. I’m not ruling out anything. We have guys on our practice squad as you guys see that we used last week. But, that stuff we also aren’t exactly sure when Hargrave and Armstead are coming back. 

"We do know they have chances this week. So, there’s a lot of variables that are playing together that we’ll be discussing here the rest of the day, tomorrow. Even if we don’t make a move in any area, that’ll probably be continuing throughout the year."

The best-case scenario for the 49ers is that both Armstead and Hargrave are healthy for the massive test of facing the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.

Even if that does came to pass, the 49ers' depth behind that duo looks shaky after the Cardinals ran for 234 yards with Javon Kinlaw, Kevin Givens and Davis manning the interior defensive line.

Armstead and Hargrave would put the 49ers in a substantially better position to defend the Ravens' dynamic rushing attack. However, with their depth now decreased, the 49ers would be wise to make a move for the longer term of the playoffs to ensure they are more suitably equipped to cope when they are not on the field.