The sight of rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton writhing in pain brought nearly the entire 49ers roster onto the field. Among those rushing to his side was 38-year-old left tackle Trent Williams, a fellow Oklahoma alum who shares a close bond with Halton. Williams helped the rookie back to his feet after his left ankle buckled under him. The medical staff placed Halton on the cart, and took him away with an air cast supporting his ankle.

It is a big blow for San Francisco, as the fourth-round pick had quickly become an important part of the defensive line in his first NFL season. And head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed this. 

“He’s played at a very high level as a rookie,” Shanahan said. “We’re going to miss him a lot and look forward to getting him back next year. I know the guys love him, too. He’s an awesome guy.”

Here’s what happened: The injury happened with just 4:03 left in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium while playing against the Las Vegas Raiders. San Francisco was leading when defensive end Keion White rolled into Halton’s left foot and ankle. Halton’s ankle immediately buckled, and he fell to the ground in serious pain. That was just unfortunate.

Eight games into his rookie season, Halton had already made a name for himself in San Francisco. His play had put him among the team’s most promising young players, while his outgoing personality and energy on the field had made him a hit with the veterans in the locker room, including Nick Bosa, and Williams. The latter spoke to Halton before he left the stadium.

“Obviously he’s hurt right now and distraught,” Williams said. “We’re just trying to comfort him and let him know that this isn’t the end-all be-all. It’s more of a speedbump. Take a silver lining, it could have been an ACL, it could have been something else. I know it might be tough to get back this year, but he should be back to himself shortly after.”

Bosa, who has experienced a torn ACL and calf issue, understands how painful injuries can be, along with the mental strength it takes to bounce back. 

“It’s really tough,” Bosa told the media. “He’s a personality that kind of elevates everybody, brings that young energy to the room. It’s going to be a long road for him. But he’s young, and that injury, guys come back 100 percent from, so that’s not really the issue. It’s just obviously missing a year. It sucks. I’ve been there.”

When will Halton return?

There is no confirmed public update on his recovery timeline or whether he will need surgery. For now, it seems like his season is done.

Halton’s injury hurts San Francisco because he had already made a strong impact in his first NFL season. The 49ers selected him in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft after his time at Oklahoma. The 22-year-old quickly earned the trust of the coaching staff.

One of his biggest moments came in the 49ers’ Week 5 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Gracen Halton forced and recovered a fumble in the end zone to score a touchdown. That play helped San Francisco take a lead.

But Halton’s value went beyond his numbers. His energy and personality had also made him popular among his teammates. So, Halton’s absence will hurt the team in more ways than one. The 49ers lost a young defensive player who already earned the respect of the entire locker room.

Who can replace Gracen Halton?

The 49ers have a few options to fill Halton’s spot, but replacing his impact will not be easy. The team recently added veteran defensive tackle DeForest Buckner after acquiring him from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick. Buckner joined Osa Odighizuwa on the defensive line and started against the Raiders.

According to reports, Sebastian Valdez and undrafted rookie James Thompson Jr. could get more playing time after Halton’s injury.

CJ West is another option. However, he is currently on injured reserve because of a knee injury. Shanahan had said that West was close to returning to practice. His return could give the defensive line some much-needed help.

The bigger problem is that San Francisco has already lost several defensive linemen to injuries. Alfred Collins, Andrew Farmer II, Mikail Kamara, and Sam Okuayinonu have also been dealing with injured reserve situations. Now, with Gracen Halton out for the season, the remaining defensive tackles will have to take on more responsibility.

49ers face more injury concerns ahead of crucial trade deadline

Gracen Halton was not the only San Francisco defender who left Sunday’s game with an injury. Both starting cornerbacks, Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green, also had to leave the game.

Green hurt his back after landing awkwardly while completing an interception in the fourth quarter. Lenoir suffered a foot injury near the end of the contest. It goes without saying that coach Shanahan was concerned.

“Hoping they’re all right,” Shanahan said. “It wasn’t said that they were hurt for next week or anything, but we’re not sure when it’s a back and a foot. We’ve got to find out more tomorrow.”

The situation could become a bigger problem if either cornerback misses the next game. By the end of Sunday’s contest, the 49ers had only two healthy cornerbacks left: Upton Stout and rookie Ephesians Prysock.

Veteran cornerback Nate Hobbs could also return soon. He is getting closer to coming back from injured reserve after dealing with an adductor injury.

The latest injuries, however, have come at a crucial time for the 49ers. The NFL trade deadline is approaching on Tuesday at 4 PM ET.

The NFL trade deadline

San Francisco improved to 7-1 after beating the Raiders and remains at the top of the NFC West. However, its growing injury list could make the rest of the season more difficult.

The team has already brought back Buckner, but it could still look for more help at defensive tackle, cornerback, and wide receiver. The team was looking at possible moves before the deadline.

“When it comes down to it, how many guys are really available?” Shanahan said. “How many teams go through with it? It’s not like free agency, but we’ve already made one big [trade], and hopefully, there will be options, and those options will make sense for us. I know we’re working hard at it.”

The 49ers have made a strong start to the season with a 7-1 record despite several injury problems. But losing Halton is another major setback for their defense. With the Cowboys up next, San Francisco will need its remaining defensive players to step up while the team looks for possible reinforcements before the trade deadline.