49ers Place LB Patrick Willis On Season-Ending I.R.

Update:

The San Francisco 49ers announced Tuesday that they have placed ILB Patrick Willis on season-ending injured reserve.

The #49ers have placed LB Patrick Willis on IR and signed RB Alfonso Smith.  pic.twitter.com/1bTf9NpLxz

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 11, 2014

———-

Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports is reporting that 49ers ILB Patrick Willis is likely to undergo season-ending surgery on his toe.

This comes just days after Jay Glazer reported that Willis could be out longer than many expected.

Willis has already missed move than a month after he suffered the injury back in earlier October. Rookie ILB Chris Borland has done a pretty good job filling for Willis in recent weeks.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned that LB NaVorro Bowman will have another MRI on his knee before doctors give him clearance to return to practice, so help appears to be on the way. It’s also worth noting that OLB Aldon Smith was officially reinstated on Tuesday.

Willis, 29, is in the fifth year of his seven-year, $53.51 million contract that included $29 million guaranteed. He has base salaries of $7.065 million and $7.935 million coming his way over the final two years of this agreement.

Assuming this is it for Willis, his 2014 season would end him appearing in six games and recording 34 tackles, one interception and three passes defensed.