The 49ers added linebacker Desmond Bishop to the roster this week and it looks like they’re going to need him as they close out the season.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Tuesday that “it would be a stretch right now” for rookie linebacker Chris Borland to play in either of the two remaining games. Borland injured his ankle against the Seahawks last weekend and it looks like he’ll join Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman as inside linebackers to see their seasons cut short or wiped out altogether because of injury.
The final two games hold no playoff implications for the Niners, but they probably wouldn’t have remained in the mix as long as they did without Borland’s contributions. The third-round pick started the last eight games with the two veteran starters on the shelf and had at least 13 tackles in five of his starts. He also picked off two passes in a 16-10 victory over the Giants and generally looked like a player who could have gone a lot earlier in the draft than he wound up going.
Bishop joins Michael Wilhoite and Nick Moody as inside linebacker options for the 49ers the rest of the way.