Hold up, Hawks fans. You thought the Niners might finally catch a break with injuries? Think again. A new report from FTN Fantasy just dropped, and it confirms what we’ve all been seeing: San Francisco was still in the top five for adjusted games lost (AGL) in 2025. Yeah, they "improved" from 141.2 AGL in 2024 to 115 last year, but that number still screams trouble for our division rivals.
When "Improved" Still Means Disaster
FTN's metrics are supposed to be the gold standard, right? AGL factors in injuries to starters and key reserves, even if they're playing at less than 100 percent. It's supposed to give a real picture of a team's suffering. But even FTN admitted their numbers couldn't fully explain the Niners' mess in 2025. Here's the kicker: AGL doesn't differentiate between a regular starter and an All-Pro like Nick Bosa, George Kittle, or Fred Warner. And guess what? All three of those guys missed significant time in 2025. When your team is built around those three absolute studs, losing any of them fundamentally changes everything. It's impossible to quantify the hit when your three most impactful players are sidelined. That's not just "suffering," that's a whole different level of pain.More Than Just Bad Luck: A Systemic Problem
The problem isn't just about losing All-Pros; it's *where* they're getting hit. The Niners suffered 28.5 AGL among their edge rushers, the highest figure in the entire NFL. And at wide receiver? They were second only to the Buccaneers with 27.1 AGL. We're talking about entire position groups getting decimated! At various points, they were scraping the bottom of the barrel, down to third-stringers and free agents. That kind of clustered injury impact can cripple a team way more than a few scattered absences. It's no surprise they went out and drafted a wide receiver and an edge rusher first to try and build some depth. But here’s the other thing AGL completely misses: preseason injuries. Remember Dominick Puni? He had a preseason injury that lingered for a month and a half! Mac Jones sprained an ankle in preseason and missed time, too. Jaco Cowing, Trent Taylor, Corey Kiner, Jordan James, and Patrick Taylor all missed time. They literally had to trade for Brian Robinson and Skyy Moore because they had no one left at wideout and running back.What's Next for Our Rivals?
So, while the "official" word might be that their 2025 injury rates weren't "historically extraordinary," the details paint a different picture. It was a unique, evolving crisis that started way before the season even kicked off. For us, this means we can't take anything for granted when we line up against the Niners next season. Their struggles show how fragile even the best rosters can be. The Seahawks, under Mike Macdonald and with guys like Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Cooper Kupp ready to go, need to be sharp because if those Niners' injuries persist, the NFC West race could get wild. Let's get ready for some hard-hitting football!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.