The San Francisco 49ers have a 4-1 record through five games despite injuries to starting quarterback Brock Purdy, defensive end Nick Bosa and tight end George Kittle. 49ers depth players like Jake Tonges, Kendrick Bourne and Bryce Huff have stepped up, keeping the team competitive and fueling their early-season success.
Beyond the Stars: Depth Players Driving the 49ers’ Early Success
Jake Tonges Emerging as a Reliable Option
Kittle, who the 49ers rely on as a weapon in the passing game and as an additional blocker up-front in the running attack, suffered a hamstring injury in the team’s opener against the Seattle Seahawks and has not played since.
Tonges, a University of California, Berkeley alum, has been with the 49ers since 2023, steadily working his way up the depth chart. Thrust into a starting role with Kittle injured, Tonges has made the most of his opportunity. He has caught 19 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns, emerging as a trusted target for the injury-depleted 49ers’ offense. Against the Los Angeles Rams, Tonges’ six-yard touchdown catch got the 49ers on the board first, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
did anyone start jake tonges??
3rd TD of the season for him
pic.twitter.com/oKAwnIlirw
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 3, 2025
Given the pivotal role he has played over these past few weeks, it’s likely that coach Kyle Shanahan will keep him involved in the offense even when Kittle returns next week.
Kendrick Bourne: Another 49ers Depth Player Stepping Up
Entering the season, the 49ers’ top three wide receivers were Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings. However, Aiyuk has not played while recovering from a torn ACL he suffered a year ago, and Pearsall and Jennings have gotten banged up this season to the extent that both were rested during this short week to avoid further injuries.
As a result, the 49ers turned to Bourne to lead their wide receiver corps against the Rams alongside Christian McCaffrey. Bourne signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2017, played on the team until 2020 and then spent the next four seasons with the New England Patriots.
Seeking additional receivers, the 49ers reunited with the free-agent Bourne after their first game this season. He played sporadically the past couple of weeks, getting up to speed with the team’s offense. Then, on Thursday night, Bourne went wild, catching 10 passes for 142 yards. Mac Jones, getting another start in place of the injured Purdy, targeted him early and often as Bourne consistently got open down the field for big gains. Look for Bourne to remain involved in the 49ers offense moving forward as the team needs a multitude of playmakers to succeed on a weekly basis.
Bryce Huff and Young Defenders Stepping Up
With Bosa sidelined, the 49ers have needed someone to step up in the pass rush — and Huff has answered the call. Huff has been a rotational defensive end over the past few years with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles. Signed in the offseason, his three sacks already surpass his total from last season.
Huff isn’t the only new contributor on defense. Several rookies drafted by the team in their defense-heavy draft class this spring have claimed starting roles. Safety Marques Sigle led the team with 13 tackles against the Rams, while fellow rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins made the game’s defining play by forcing a fumble at the goal line.
Fred Warner is now the only well-known superstar player currently on the 49ers’ defense. Nevertheless, thanks to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s coaching and Warner’s leadership, the team’s young, unproven defense is playing well enough to win games.
The 49ers’ 4-1 start, despite losing Purdy, Bosa and Kittle, may be Shanahan’s most impressive coaching job yet. If depth players like Tonges, Bourne and Huff as well as the rookie defenders keep producing, San Francisco will remain a serious contender in the NFC.
Main Image: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images
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