It was reported on Thursday that 49ers Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis has a ‘slight hand fracture’ suffered in training camp.
The nature of the injury occurred during a blocking drill set on Wednesday afternoon. The extent as to what this means for Willis the rest of the way through training camp and on to the start of the regular season is not yet known.
One thing that was evident is that the team seemed to be confident that Willis would be fine, as this is not the first time he has had an injury like this. So far, it seems he has done pretty well with them.
Willis has never had a season in which he has not made the Pro Bowl, making it six-straight since entering the NFL out of Ole Miss.
Willis was second on the team in tackles in the 2012 season, with 120. Only NaVorro Bowman had more, with 148. Bowman has been dealing with a nagging groin injury himself, and did not practice on Tuesday with the team at all.
San Francisco is picked as one of the top Super Bowl favorites this season, as they came up just short in the Super Bowl versus Baltimore last season. The 49ers defense is revered as one of the league’s best, ranking third in total yards allowed per game, and second in points allowed per game.
The 49ers begin their 2013 regular season at home against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, September 8th.