SAN FRANCISCO -- The 49ers took a big blow to their already struggling offensive line Tuesday, losing right tackle Tony Pashos for the season with a broken left shoulder blade.
The 49ers placed Pashos on injured reserve one day after he had an MRI exam on the shoulder. He was hurt during Sunday's 24-21 loss at Houston, his first start at right tackle in place of Adam Snyder.
Live chat: Steve Wyche
NFL.com senior writer Steve Wyche was asked during his weekly live chat if he believes the 49ers are still a playoff-caliber team.
"The 49ers can still get to the playoffs, but they have to get things in gear -- especially since they will be making a quarterback change. They have lost a little bit of that physical starch they played with earlier and need to regain their punch. Arizona is starting to warm up and the 49ers need to keep pace if they want to get into the postseason." **More ...**
Coach Mike Singletary had hoped that making Pashos the regular right tackle would help improve things on San Francisco's line, where blocking and quarterback protection has been a problem. Pashos had been sharing right tackle duties with Snyder, who moved into a shared role at right guard with Chilo Rachal.
Singletary has called the line his biggest concern. The 49ers (3-3) will visit the Indianapolis Colts (6-0) on Sunday with newly promoted Alex Smith set to start quarterback. The 49ers have lost two in a row following a 3-1 start.
When Singletary addressed the media Monday, he didn't want to speculate about how the line would look come Sunday if Pashos was out. But moving Snyder back to right tackle and keeping Rachal at right guard seems like the most logical move.
"Right now, we have to continue to help Chilo as much as we can," Singletary said. "I think one of the issues we have right now, some guys are really trying to play perfect. Some guys are really trying to play mistake-free. When you do that, you become robotic and it takes you out of your game. I just want guys to go out and play."
Pashos, a seven-year NFL veteran, signed with the 49ers on Sept. 7 after being cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played two seasons with the Jaguars after spending four years with the Baltimore Ravens.
The 49ers also released linebacker Marques Harris on Tuesday and promoted linebacker Diyral Briggs from the practice squad to the active roster.
Linebacker Takeo Spikes is nursing a strained right shoulder and was listed as day to day after undergoing an MRI on Monday.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press