Another 49ers defensive player is headed to the injured reserve list.
The team announced Arik Armstead’s season is over with a shoulder injury.
A first round pick in 2015, Armstead’s first two seasons in the NFL have yielded very little results. He’s posted 34 tackles and 4.5 sacks since joining the 49ers.
“I’ve got to take my health into consideration,” Armstead told reporters in the locker room Tuesday.
Translation: It’s not worth it to keep playing for this sorry defense while my shoulder injury is still nagging. The 49ers are on pace to allow the second-most points all-time, and the third-most rushing yards. Why would Armstead want to be a part of that?
Armstead joins NaVorro Bowman, Ray-Ray Armstrong, Will Redmond, Chris Davis, Thad Lewis, Bruce Ellington and Eric Rogers on the injured reserve list.
It’s too early to call Armstead a bust, but defensive line play is not a strength of this football team. Trent Baalke has used his last two first round picks on defensive linemen. If Myles Garrett slips to the 49ers in the draft, the team will have to consider selecting him. At the very least, expect the 49ers to draft more defensive linemen in 2017. That’s not a good look.
The 49ers claimed defensive lineman Chris Jones from the Dolphins to take Armstead’s place.