The 49ers have officially brought linebacker Patrick Willis’s season to an end.
Shortly after reports on Tuesday indicated that Willis would need season-ending toe surgery, the 49ers announced
The 49ers have gotten used to life without Willis in the last two weeks and they’ve learned that rookie Chris Borland is ready to play at the NFL level in the process. As well as Borland has played, it’s hard to imagine that the 49ers won’t miss a player with Willis’s as they try to make it back into the playoffs over the final seven weeks of the regular season.
Borland has been lining up next to Michael Wilhoite at inside linebacker and it looks like that will continue to be the case for at least a while longer with NaVorro Bowman still experiencing pain in his surgically repaired knee.
The 49ers also announced that they have signed running back Alfonso Smith. Smith played 42 games with the Cardinals over the last three seasons and was with the Niners during training camp.