Entering a Week 9 “Thursday Night Football” game against the Packers, the 49ers have about $80 million in cap hit tied up with players currently on Injured Reserve. The IR list has more hope in 2020 than in some seasons, because players on the list can come back after missing three weeks. Some of the players currently on IR for San Francisco will still return (in the case of Jordan Reed, maybe even in time to play the Packers), but in general, San Francisco’s 4-4 start to the season can be attributed to having hugely important contracts on the sideline instead of playing.

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If you were going to list San Francisco’s best players, your list would likely start with some combination of Nick Bosa, George Kittle, Richard Sherman and Jimmy Garoppolo. They all have big salaries, and they’re all on Injured Reserve. A number of other important pieces to the 49ers’ successes are on IR, as well. 

Not accounted for on the list below are the San Francisco players currently on the team’s COVID-19/reserve list. Those four players (Trent Williams, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Kendrick Bourne) add up to another more than $19 million in cap hit in 2020, with Williams’ approximately $12 million leading the way. It’s been a painful season for the 49ers.

49ers injuries by salary

The following players are on San Francisco’s Injured Reserve list entering Week 9 against the Packers. In 2020, going on IR means missing a minimum of three weeks. This list is sorted by each player’s 2020 cap hit.

QB Jimmy Garoppolo ​Injury: Ankle 2020 cap hit: $26,600,000 Potential return: Week 14   CB Richard Sherman ​Injury: Calf 2020 cap hit: $13,987,500 Potential return: Week 11   DT Solomon Thomas ​Injury: ACL 2020 cap hit: $8,739,388 Potential return: 2021   DE Nick Bosa ​Injury: ACL 2020 cap hit: $7,494,836 Potential return: 2021   DE Dee Ford ​Injury: Back 2020 cap hit: $6,404,375 Potential return: Week 12   TE George Kittle ​Injury: Foot 2020 cap hit: $5,807,574 Potential return: Week 16   RB Raheem Mostert ​Injury: Ankle 2020 cap hit: $3,333,333 Potential return: Week 10   C Ben Garland ​Injury: Calf 2020 cap hit: $2,000,000 Potential return: Week 10   LB Mark Nzeocha Injury: Quad 2020 cap hit: $1,500,000 Potential return: Week 10   DE Ezekiel Ansah ​Injury: Biceps 2020 cap hit: $1,450,000 Potential return: 2021   TE Jordan Reed ​Injury: Ankle 2020 cap hit: $1,050,000 Potential return: Week 9/10   WR Jalen Hurd ​Injury: ACL 2020 cap hit: $972,654 Potential return: 2021   RB Jeff Wilson Jr. ​Injury: Ankle 2020 cap hit: $573,531 Potential return: Week 12   WR Chris Thompson ​Injury: Undisclosed 2020 cap hit: $425,000 Potential return: Unknown   WR Jauan Jennings ​Injury: Undisclosed 2020 cap hit: $142,800 Potential return: Unknown