Aaron Banks Out 3 Weeks with Turf Toe

More bad news for the 49ers.

In addition to losing three games in a row, the 49ers now have lost starting left guard Aaron Banks for three weeks, because he has turf toe according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Meaning Banks will miss the next two games, because this week is a bye for the 49ers. Shanahan discussed the injury Monday on a conference call and wasn't sure when exactly it happened in the 49ers' loss to the Bengals, but was relatively sure the injury occurred near the end of the game.

While Banks is out, veteran backup journeyman Jon Feliciano will fill in at left guard. And he has starting experience, which is nice. But he's no Banks. Not even close.

Banks is the 49ers' second-best offensive lineman after Trent Williams. The two of them form a formidable left side of the offensive line, which is where the 49ers have their most success running the ball. A combination block of Williams and Banks can move even the best defensive linemen out of the hole.

But once the 49ers lose one of them, their running game suffers tremendously. Because the rest of the offensive line is just ordinary. Center Jake Brendel is decent, right guard Spencer Burford is OK and right tackle Colton McKivitz is Colton McKivitz.

It will be interesting to see how the 49ers perform on offense without Banks. Because when the offense was fully healthy earlier this season, it was elite. But as soon as it lost a couple good players, it fell apart.

Can the 49ers overcome the loss of Banks?

Stay tuned.