SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Add defensive tackle to the list of positions where the San Francisco 49ers are growing thin after the team placed starting nose tackle C.J. West on injured reserve Wednesday.
On the heels of a season-ending patellar injury to Alfred Collins and a high ankle sprain for rookie James Thompson Jr., West is going to miss at least a chunk of the season with a bone chip in his knee that will require surgery.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said West's injury is not season-ending, but it is another blow to a position that has just two healthy players remaining from the five that originally made the 53-man roster.
The Niners didn't initially list West among their injuries coming out of their Week 2 win against the Miami Dolphins, but Shanahan said West's knee has been battling "something" since training camp.