49ers Without All-Pro Vernon Davis; Chiefs Will Start Marcus Cooper

The Kansas City Chiefs caught two huge breaks upon the release of this afternoon’s inactives for their game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Tight end Vernon Davis will be inactive against the Chiefs due to injury, which in several ways will help nullify the Chiefs loss of Eric Berry. Davis is vital to what the 49ers do in the passing game so the Chiefs are catching a huge break with him being out. Kansas City can now focus on slowing down Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree on the edges while also trying to stop the run.

Slowing down Crabtree is going to be made more possible due to the announcement that Marcus Cooper will start for the Chiefs today. Cooper was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday with a knee injury but has been deemed healthy enough to play this afternoon. That’s a huge break for a Chiefs team that does not have a lot of depth at cornerback.

Chiefs fans will also see the debut of De’Anthony Thomas after missing the first four weeks due to a hamstring injury. We don’t know how much he’ll be used on offense but he is expected to be the primary punt returner. The 49ers special teams unit has struggled a bit this season so Thomas could be able to bust out a couple of key returns.

Aside from Eric Berry and Donnie Avery, who are missing today due to injury, Eric Kush, Aaron Murray, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Damian Square, and Albert Wilson will be inactive. Some thought there would be a chance for Wilson to see the field this week due to the Avery injury but that will not be the case.

San Francisco will also sit Tramaine Brock, Josh Johnson, Marcus Martin, and Quinton Patton.