Joe Staley is in danger of missing his first game since 2010. A hamstring injury could keep the San Francisco 49ers left tackle out of Sunday's contest against the New York Jets. Staley is officially listed as doubtful which means his streak of 92 consecutive games played is on the line.
Should Staley be inactive in Week 14, Zane Beadles could slide over from left guard to play left tackle. Andrew Tiller would be an option at left guard in place of Beadles.
"I played three years of left tackle in college," Beadles said on Thursday, "and I've started six games at right tackle in my (NFL) career. But none at left tackle."
Without Staley, it will be San Francisco's first shake up at offensive line since Joshua Garnett became the starting right guard in Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills.
Beadles explained that he hasn't been told exactly what the contingency plan will be if Staley is out. Regardless, the 49ers starting left guard said he isn't concerned if he's asked to move back to his old position against the Jets.
"I feel comfortable with it," Beadles said. "I've played tackle for years in college, and I really had to learn to become a guard in the NFL. It's kind of natural going back to tackle.
"I've been taking tackle reps all year now."
Containing New York's front seven won't be an easy task. The talented group features four first-round picks: defensive end Sheldon Richardson, defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, defensive end Leonard Williams and linebacker Darron Lee. Williams leads the group with 6.5 sacks on the season.
"It's going to be a task for us to make sure we're all on the same page," center Daniel Kilgore said. "We've said in the past that it's about the small things. But when you face a defensive front like this, there are no small things. We have to be dialed in and ready to go."
Another notable mention from the injury report is that Aaron Lynch (ankle) is listed as questionable. San Francisco's top pass-rusher has been out since Week 7 and has missed five straight games.
For the Jets, Wilkerson is listed as questionable. Tackle Breno Giacomini, linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin and defensive tackle are all out for Sunday's game.
We'll find out everyone's status when the full list of each team's inactives are announced 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
