Kyle Madson, Niners WireTue, December 2, 2025 at 3:32 AM UTC·1 min readThe San Francisco 49ers are going to be down an offensive lineman for the rest of the 2025 season.
Interior offensive lineman Ben Bartch exited the 49ers' 26-8 win over the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter and was ruled out with a foot injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday in a conference call told reporters Bartch suffered a foot sprain that would likely land the 27-year-old on IR and end his season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“They're still evaluating the necessary steps, when he’s getting surgery and stuff, so I didn't ask that," Shanahan said when asked if it was possible for Bartch to return in the postseason. "It didn't sound like it. You know, we're looking at possible Lisfranc here, so that would surprise me, but not a hundred percent sure.”
Bartch technically lost his starting job while dealing with a high ankle sprain earlier this season, but he was still playing quite a bit as a rotational left guard with Spencer Burford. The pair generally split snaps evenly, and it was trending that way again Sunday before Bartch's injury.
The 49ers will likely turn to Burford as their full-time left guard. He held down 100 percent of the snaps in Week 9 against the New York Giants before Bartch returned. We may also see rookie seventh-round pick Connor Colby re-enter the active game day mix. He was the starter for six games after Bartch went down in Week 2, but he's been a healthy scratch in the last four games since both Bartch and Burford have been healthy.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers injury update: OL Ben Bartch will need surgery, out for season
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