Niners NT Jones (ankle) heading to IR on Saturday

San Francisco 49ers nose tackle D.J. Jones will be placed on injured reserve on Saturday due to an ankle injury, coach Kyle Shanahan reconfirmed Friday. Jones, 24, entered play against the New Orleans Saints last Sunday with an injured ankle, then sustained a high sprain on his other ankle during San Francisco's victory, according to Shanahan. Subsequent testing indicated the severity of the injury.

"That was what was pretty impressive," Shanahan said. "That's why we were somewhat optimistic about it. He did it early in the game, too, maybe the first drive. But that's why we were optimistic. But after they looked in there and stuff, it was too bad and it was going to be more likely eight weeks." Jones has started 11 games this season in the middle of the 49ers' vaunted defensive line. He has two sacks, 23 tackles and a forced fumble after posting 27 tackles and no sacks through 19 games (four starts) across his first two seasons.

Jones was a sixth-round pick out of Mississippi in 2017. The injury list continues to grow for the 49ers. On Thursday, tight end Garrett Celek was placed on IR due to a back ailment.

The 49ers also placed center Weston Richburg and wideout Marquise Goodwin on injured reserve earlier this week, joining a long list of players that includes linebacker Kwon Alexander, running back Jerick McKinnon and receivers Trent Taylor and Jalen Hurd. Defensive end Dee Ford (quadriceps, hamstring), cornerback Richard Sherman (hamstring), safety Jaquiski Tartt (ribs), defensive tackle Jullian Taylor (elbow) and cornerback K'Waun Williams (concussion) have been ruled out for the Sunday game against the Atlanta Falcons.

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