In what figures to be a game defined by a battle of the trenches, given the forecast of near-constant rain and winds whipping north of 20 miles per hour, the 49ers will be without three of their key linemen.
San Francisco had already ruled out defensive tackles Javon Kinlaw (knee, likely headed for injured reserve) and Maurice Hurst (calf, possibly season-ending), but held out the slightest of hopes for Trent Williams.
Williams suffered an ankle injury in addition to an existing elbow injury against the Arizona Cardinals and re-aggravated it Monday. He was listed as doubtful and will not play.
Below are the 49ers’ inactives:
- LT Trent Williams (ankle, elbow)
- DT Javon Kinlaw (knee)
- DT Maurice Hurst (calf)
- QB Trey Lance (knee sprain)
- WR Travis Benjamin – healthy
- CB Deommodore Lenoir – healthy
- CB Ambry Thomas – healthy
The upshot of this is that while they will be shorthanded on the interior of their defensive line. It also means that Aaron Banks, in a surprise move, is active for the first time this season, while Deommodore Lenoir, for the first time, is not.
Indianapolis will have some key inactives of its own, led by corner Rock Ya-Sin and the just-returned T.Y. Hilton.
Sunday night’s game is scheduled to kick off at 5:20 p.m.
