Injuries have continued to trouble the San Francisco 49ers. The 15–26 loss to the Houston Texans came with more bad news on the injury front. Starting linebacker Dee Winters went down. Now, with trade rumors heating up and San Francisco scrambling to stay stable, a familiar name has suddenly entered the picture.

As per NFL rumors, the 49ers might be eyeing the New Orleans Saints‘ defensive end Chase Young. He is expected to give this banged-up roster a serious boost. After all, Young isn’t new to the team or coach Kyle Shanahan’s strategies.

He spent the 2023-24 season with the team. The 49ers gave up their 2024 third-round compensatory pick to acquire the DE from the Washington Commanders.

He had 2.5 sacks with the 49ers and one in the 25–22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl game. He was supposed to be a great fit playing alongside defensive end Nick Bosa and meant to improve.

However, in March 2024, he joined the Saints. While he struggled with injuries again, Young managed to finish the season with 31 total tackles and 5.5 sacks. Earlier in March this year, the franchise offered him a three-year extension deal valued at $51 million.

He sustained an injury again that sidelined him for 3 games in the regular season. While he boasts an impressive resume, the concerning part is Young’s struggle with injuries. He also had injury troubles in the 2021-22 season.

Apart from the injuries, he could be a great boost for the roster. As for coach Shanahan, he is yet to make a decision.

“Nothing changes anything,” Shanahan told the reporters when asked about the trade, as per 49ers Webzone. There have been more names in the rumor mill. “It has to do with what’s available out there, and does it help us this year, does it help us next year. Usually, as things get closer, you get a little more idea on who’s real and who’s not, and we’ll evaluate that for the short term and long term.”

While he continues to consider the trade option, injuries have piled up on the 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers are struggling with injuries

It has been quite a while since Bosa went down with an injury, and the 49ers’ struggles on the field were obvious. While lineman Bryce Huff struggles with hamstring issues, linebacker Fred Warner is out for his torn ACL and ankle injury. And the list keeps getting long.

During the game, starting defensive tackle Jordan Elliott sustained an ankle injury during the third quarter and didn’t return. Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu got hurt during a scramble by Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud early in the fourth quarter. He was carted off the game due to his ankle injury and didn’t return. Linebacker Dee Winters left with a knee injury.

Fortunately, defensive lineman Alfred Collins, who exited the game early, was able to return. After the game, the coach shared more updates on the injuries.

“We’ll see. Hopefully not,” he said when asked about whether the injuries were serious enough to rule out the players for the next game against the New York Giants. “Two ankles didn’t look like highs, Dee Winters with his knee, just inflammation, things like that. So, hopefully he’ll be alright.”

While there’s hope for the injured players to return, making a trade before the November 4 deadline might not be a bad idea to strengthen the team. It remains to be seen what decision the 49ers make ahead of their Week 9 game.