49ers LB Malcolm Smith suffers chest injury
One of the San Francisco 49ers’ big free agent signings may not pan out this season.
Linebacker Malcolm Smith suffered a chest injury during practice on Saturday. Smith is expected to undergo an MRI, but 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has already said that it could be a long-term injury.
Kyle Shanahan asked if Malcolm Smith's injury is long term: "yeah, possibly." Smith going in for MRI.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) August 5, 2017
Smith, a former Super Bowl MVP, signed a five-year, $26.5 million deal in the offseason with the Niners. He had 103 tackles last season with the Raiders and 123 with four sacks the year before.
If Smith is out an extended time for San Francisco, that could create an opening at weakside linebacker for first-round pick Reuben Foster.
