San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers: Options for Replacing Inside Linebacker NaVorro Bowman

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The San Francisco 49ers won’t have an easy task trying to replicate the production of linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who will miss the rest of 2016 with an Achilles tear. How will the Niners try to shore up his spot?

The short answer is this — it’s impossible for the San Francisco 49ers to adequately replace linebacker NaVorro Bowman.

In case you missed it, Bowman suffered a left Achilles tear during the Niners’ 24-17 Week 4 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He’ll miss the rest of the season.

Bowman’s absence prompts the question — how will the 49ers make up the difference?

It’s not going to be an easy fix. San Francisco already lost its other starting inside linebacker, Ray-Ray Armstrong, to a pectoral injury earlier this season. While he could feasibly return before season’s end, the Niners have a gap they need to plug now.

San Francisco has Michael Wilhoite, Nick Bellore, Shayne Skov and Gerald Hodges as its other options for the position.

Wilhoite is the one linebacker capable of playing both the WILL and MIKE positions, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him assume starting duties alongside Hodges.

But the situation is far from ideal. Following a poor showing in 2015, Wilhoite has also seen his snap count drop in defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil’s defense. And he’s posted a 41.9 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus, which ranks last among all Niners inside linebackers.

San Francisco also has Skov, who was promoted to the 53-man roster following Armstrong’s injury. It’s possible he’ll see an increased role. But Bellore was the player who eventually took over for Bowman.

So that might be the route as well.

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Irregardless, San Francisco is going to be vulnerable up the middle for the rest of the season. The defense is already allowing a league-high 140.5 rushing yards in 2016. Losing Bowman won’t help that standing at all.

The Niners may comb the waiver wire and try to pick up someone from the scrap heap. Although it’s hard to envision the results being much different.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of ESPN.com, Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.

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