FS Adrian Colbert is dealing with a shoulder injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Rams.

Analysis: The Rams lit up the 49ers in Week 3 for 41 points, but that was back when Colbert was just a special teams player. Also, that was when RB Todd Gurley and QB Jared Goff were playing, and both will sit out for rest Sunday. That gives the 49ers some compelling upside, even if their defense has struggled lately. Still, it's hard to project what will come out of the Rams' backups on Sunday, so consider the 49ers D/ST a risky start Sunday.

FS Adrian Colbert (concussion) will play Sunday against the Jaguars.

Analysis: Colbert has averaged just 3.7 tackles per game through six weeks as a starter, and he'll likely have his hands full against a hot Jaguars squad. Surprisingly enough, Jaguars QB Blake Bortles has been the best signal caller in the NFL during December, making for a very difficult matchup ahead Sunday. The Jags have always had a powerful running attack, but this new emergence of a pass game makes them a truly frightening offensive unit. Even though the 49ers haven't allowed more than 25 points in…read more

SS Eric Reid is battling a knee and rib injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Titans.

Analysis: The 49ers get a bad rap based on namesake, but their last five outings haven't been all bad. In that span, they've forced five turnovers and haven't allowed an opponent to surpass 24 points or 400 yards. Not outstanding, but not awful either. The Titans struggled severely against the Cardinals last week, accruing just 204 total yards of offense, seven points and yielding two interceptions. Tennessee has coughed the ball up nine times in the last four games, and that trend could continue if the…read more

FS Albert Colbert is dealing with a thumb injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Texans.

Analysis: Colbert was able to play through this injury in Week 13, so it shouldn't be an issue in Week 14. It's a good thing too, as he'll have plenty of opportunities to make some plays on the ball, since the Texans have given it up 10 times in the last four games. The 49ers defense has been keeping its team in games, and the Texans still haven't found consistent production without Deshaun Watson. However, the ceiling is low for the 49ers as they rarely force turnovers, so although they could be a…read more

FS Adrian Colbert (thumb) was limited in Wednesday's practice and it's uncertain if he will play Sunday against the Bears.

Analysis: Colbert slots into the top free safety role because FS Jimmie Ward (forearm) is on injured reserve, so his presence isn't instrumental to the 49ers defense. The Bears aren't a threatening Week 13 matchup, as they've only scored over 20 points once in the last five weeks, including putting up just three points against the Eagles in Week 12. Still, the 49ers have the 30th-ranked run defense in the league and are vulnerable to be exposed by dual-threat running backs Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen…read more

General manager John Lynch said FS Adrian Colbert (thumb) is a long shot to play Sunday against the Seahawks.

Analysis: The one game Colbert has missed this season, the 49ers allowed a season-high 366 passing yards to the Colts, who aren't considered a threatening pass offense. With a highly-skilled Seahawks' receiving corps -- ranked fourth in the league -- on the horizon, San Fran could struggle even worse without their rookie safety. They were able to hold the Seahawks to just 12 points in Week 2, but Seattle has made major improvements since that game, scoring over 20 points in all but two games. The 49ers…read more

DE Solomon Thomas (knee) won't play Sunday against the Giants.

Analysis: Thomas has been averaging under four tackles per game, with only two sacks on the season. Still, his pass rush could be used heavily against a brutal Giants' offensive line. The 49ers defense is ranked 27th in the league, but this matchup is favorable against QB Eli Manning who has completed under 55 percent of his passes over the last four games. The Giants' offense as a whole is a bit of a mess, and their defense continues to keep them in games. However, the upside here for the 49ers isn't…read more