49ers pass rush takes another hit as starter listed as questionable with a foot injury

Late Wednesday night, multiple San Francisco 49ers reporters said Sam Okuayinonu is not flying with the team to Australia because of a foot injury.

Okuayinonu will have a questionable designation for Week 1. It’s not out of the question that he travels later on and can still play, but it’s not a good sign he isn’t traveling with everybody else. According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, everybody else traveled.

The 49ers are already paper-thin when it comes to the health of their edge rushers. Nick Bosa did team drills for the first time during Wednesday’s practice. Bosa practicing is a great sign. However, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to work his way into football shape in a week.

Bosa and Okuyinonu were likely the first two defensive ends to take the field. They are the two best, and arguably only, run-stopping options at the position. Keion White is better suited inside, while Romello Height — who made plays and was competitive against the run in the preseason — was drafted to rush the passer.

The 49ers were likely to elevate Ogbo Okoronkwo from the practice squad before Okuayinonu’s injury. That’s inevitable now if Sam O can’t suit up.

There might need to be another move at the position if Romello Height continues to miss practice with an ankle injury.

In an ideal world, Sam O plays on early downs, with White and Height spelling him on passing downs. But without Okuayinonu, and potentially Height, White has to rush predominantly from the edge since you’re short on bodies. In contrast, defensive tackles Alfred Collins and CJ West may have to pick up the slack on passing downs.

We could find out how much Morris trusts rookie Jaden Dugger earlier than expected. Injuries could force his hand into more 5-man fronts with Dugger walked down on the line of scrimmage. That may have been the case, regardless of Okuayinonu or Height’s availability, given how many three-tight-end sets the Rams use.

The domino effect of potential injuries up front will test Raheem Morris’s creativity and the Niners’ depth.