A bad season is getting worse for the 49ers, as starting safety Antoine Bethea is out for the year.
Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area reports that the 49ers are placing Bethea on season-ending injured reserve. Bethea, who has started every game of every season for the last eight years, hurt his shoulder last night against the Seahawks. Adding insult to injury, Bethea was flagged for facemasking on what turned out to be the last play of his season.
With the roster spot the Bethea move opens up, the 49ers are putting wide receiver Jerome Simpson on the 53-player roster. The 49ers had been expected to make that move today, as this is the last day for which the 49ers get a roster exemption for Simpson, who was suspended for the first six games of the year.
Simpson hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2013, but the 49ers are hoping he’ll provide a big-play threat in their passing game. They’re going to need more from their passing offense, as the loss of Bethea is a big blow to their passing defense.
