SANTA CLARA — Oren Burks demonstrated what it meant to be in the right place at the right time on the 49ers’ Thanksgiving night win in Seattle, jumping on a fumble by punt return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud when an eventual 31-13 win was still in doubt.
But another player considered one of the best in the NFL as a core special teamer will be out for the foreseeable future in George Odum, a reserve safety who who parlayed his skill on special teams to a three-year, $9 million contract before the 2022 season.
Odum went on injured reserve after sustaining a torn biceps against Seattle. He said on his Instagram account he played on playing again this season, but that would probably necessitate a deep run into the playoffs as he recovers from surgery.
“I’ll be back on the field this year!,” Odum wrote.
But Odum won’t be available Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, the first time he’s missed a game since joining the 49ers. Odum led the 49ers in special teams tackles with 10 and led them last season with 21, when he was a second-team All-Pro after being a first team All-Pro for Indianapolis in 2020.
The 49ers listed three players as questionable to face the Eagles: McCloud (ribs), Arik Armstead (foot) and Jordan Mason (hamstring).
The Eagles will be without linebacker linebacker Zach Cunningham (hamstring) and safety Justin Evans (knee), while tight end Dallas Goedert (forearm is doubtful. Listed as questionable were defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (groin) and tight end Grant Calcaterra (ankle).
Absences by McCloud and Mason could further complicate deployment of special teams. Ronnie Bell is next in line if McCloud can”t go. Mason is the 49ers’ second-leading tackler behind Odum with eight.
Burks arrived as a free agent fand core special teamer from Green Bay in the same year as Odum, signing a two-year, $5 million deal.
“He was definitely our leader, example-wise, vocally, all that kind of stuff,” Burks said Friday before the 49ers departed for Philadelphia. “We’re losing a lot with him, but it’s going to be a collective effort to pick up the slack and just compete and change the game in terms of field position.”
Odum serves as the personal protector on the punt team, lines up along side Jake Moody on kickoff coverage, and while he may be anonymous with the fan base, his influence within the team framework is considerable.
“That’s a huge loss. I mean, George is one of the leaders on our team, one of the best players in the league to me on special teams,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He gives us great depth at safety because he was the next man up to help us out at safety. So losing on special teams is a big deal and our depth at safety is a big deal.
With Talanoa Hufanga out with a torn ACL, rookie Ji’Ayr Brown will make his second start at safety alongside free safety Tashaun Gipson with Tayler Hawkins and recently-signed Erik Harris available to be promoted from the practice squad.
Another option for safety depth, according to general manager John Lynch Friday on KNBR, is Isaiah Oliver, who began the season as the primary slot corner but has given way to Deommodore Lenoir.
Harris, 33, is a seven year veteran with the Raiders and Atlanta Falcons, and has spent the week getting up to speed on the systems of defense and special teams. He has served as a personal protector (the upback positioned near the punter) for both the Raiders and Falcons.
When no opportunities arose initially this season, Harris began envisioning his next phase of life which includes having a new home built for his wife and four children. Then a trip to Canada to see the Grey Cup game — Harris began his career in the Canadian Football League — got his competitive juices flowing.
“It kind of lit a fire under me seeing ball again,” Harris said. “I said, `Oh, no. I still want to play. This is real.’ Next thing you know, the 49ers called and I’m just beyond excited.”
From his special teams preparations of opponents, Harris knows Odum well.
“I’ve been in meetings game-planning against him,” Harris said. “He’s always on top of the key impact players anywhere I was at against im. Big shoes to fill for sure.”
Odum’s loss could have an impact that goes unnoticed except by those on special teams.
“Such a good player, a great leader as well,” Moody said. “It’s going to hurt.”
KUDOS FOR BANKS: With Spencer Burford out against Seattle with a knee injury, left guard Aaron Banks was rushed back into the lineup against the Seahawks probably before he was truly ready.
Banks missed two games with turf toe, a painful injury for anyone but particularly a 325-pound man attempting to push off against other 300-plus pounders while playing on artificial surface.
“Being the nature of what we do, you’re never 100 percent,” Banks said. “You play with an injury and bruises and sometimes you feel good enough. Fortunately I was ahead on my recovery time to go out and play and I did OK.”
Trent Williams, the 49ers left tackle, was impressed.
“Just his ability to go out there and give everything he had, and everybody knew what he was up against, was huge,” Williams said. “Everybody knew what type of injury he had and it’s very, very trick going to play on turf. He’s definitely on the climb. one of those guys you can lean on.”
It was a good sign that Banks not only played against Seattle, but was left off the injury report this week meaning the injury did not get worse.
“I think that game really helped him because you never know until you get into it,” Shanahan said. “He made it through, didn’t have any setbacks, it gave him confidence, and with the long weekend by the time he came in Monday he was feeling good.”
With Spencer Burford not listed on the injury report, the second-year player is available to start at right guard although it remains to be seen whether Jon Feliciano will start or if the two will share the position similar to Burford and Daniel Brunskill a year ago.
NOTABLE
— How did the 49ers feel going into last season’s NFC Championship Game before disaster struck in the form of quarterback Brock Purdy’s torn ACL? Well prepared and good to go.
“It’s very rare when we haven’t felt that way,” Shanahan said. “We felt the same way going to that game that they felt and probably as the two AFC teams felt. Everyone is confident at that time.”
— Shanahan said he doesn’t know Eagles coach Nick Sirianni well, but is impressed with the makeup of his team.
“I watch how accountable he has his team, how hard they play, the style they play,” Shanahan said. “I love the commitment to the run game they have on offense. It’s not just they’re committed to the run, but they know what they’re doing too.”