Malcolm Smith

Malcolm Smith suffers pectoral tear, done for season

Malcolm Smith suffered the torn pec Saturday during a training camp practice. The 49ers signed Smith in the offseason to a five-year deal hoping he could be a cornerstone in their rebuild.

Fantasy Impact

Smith was primed for a solid IDP season playing behind a massive line in front of him and playing next to an all-pro in NaVorro Bowman to attract all the attention off of him. This is a big blow to the depth of their linebacking core and it leaves Ray-Ray Armstrong and Reuben Foster to compete for a starting job. This is also a big blow to the defense because it is a similar defense to what he ran during his time in Seattle where he was able to become a Super Bowl MVP. His familiarity with the defense is irreplaceable with the current roster. Smith's injury creates an opportunity for Foster to seize the starting job for week one and with his play early on in camp, he appears right now to stand the most to gain with this injury in IDP leagues and if he does land the job it puts him immediately into the LB2 conversation.