49ers might be forced to add rookie lineman due to injury

One thing the San Francisco 49ers know plenty about this season is injuries.

Wide receivers Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham, linebacker Patrick Willis, cornerbacks Eric Wright and Nnamdi Asomugha, defensive lineman Ian Williams, Justin Smith, Aldon Smith, Glen Dorsey, Ray McDonald — have all missed time this season, and the list goes on.

San Francisco expects to get some relief this week and the weeks ahead with the return of rookie defensive lineman Tank Carradine and Quinton Dial.

It is unclear if either will be added to the roster at this point, but if the injury train continues to roll through San Francisco, they might be forced to do so.

“We’ll see as the days go on here, possible,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said, according to CSN Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.

With rookies, there is always a learning curve, and Harbaugh is unsure when – if at all – the two lineman might be ready.

“This is much like their first day in football,” Harbaugh said. “And, I’m sure that there’s some gravel in the gut there and some anticipation, excitement, nerves, all those things.”

“So, (we are) working with them to get them acclimated back into playing 11-on-11 football.”

Hopefully for 49ers’ fans the injuries stop, and Carradine and Dial can have a normal learning period and aren’t forced into the mix.