49ers starter who suffered hand injury on his birthday gets good and bad news

Mike Moraitis

49ers starter who suffered hand injury on his birthday gets good and bad news image

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

The San Francisco 49ers lost starting defensive tackle Kalia Davis to a hand injury during the Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Rams on the same day he turned 27.

It was just the latest injury the 49ers have suffered on both sides of the ball. It has been an all-too-familiar situation in San Francisco when it comes to injuries in the 2025 campaign.

However, there is at least some good news to report, as Davis, who suffered a broken hand, is set to undergo surgery but may only miss a few games, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, who notes Davis will return with a club.

"49ers DT Kalia Davis, part of an unheralded SF defensive front that continues to get pressure, will undergo surgery today to repair a broken hand, sources say. Davis could miss as few as two games, and he's expected to return with a club," Rapoport wrote.

Of course, it stinks that Davis is going to miss any time, but considering the injury woes the Niners have had in 2025, at least the issue isn't season-ending.

A former sixth-round pick of the Niners in 2022, Davis appeared in 16 games in 2023 and 2024 but has ascended to a starter in 2025.

Based on the 49ers' depth chart, Alfred Collins and C.J. West could both get more run with Davis sidelined. Collins in particular was responsible for a huge forced fumble on Rams running back Kyren Williams on Thursday night.

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Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.