SANTA CLARA – Offensive tackle Anthony Davis' retirement on Monday appears to mean the 49ers will continue with the same contingency plan they have implemented for the past two games.
Davis was diagnosed with a concussion on Sept. 15, and did not travel to the 49ers' road games in Weeks 2 and 3 against Carolina and Seattle.
"He hadn't been out there for the last week and a half, so really we're OK with what we've been doing, and we'll continue that, as far as getting the guys prepared to play," 49ers offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins said of Davis.
Rookie John Theus, a fifth-round pick from Georgia, is listed on the depth chart as the 49ers' only backup offensive tackle. However, Theus has not been active for the first three games of the season.
The 49ers' backup swing tackle is actually left guard Zane Beadles. If the 49ers needed a replacement for left tackle Joe Staley, it is likely that right tackle Trent Brown would move to the left side and Beadles would play right tackle. Then, the 49ers could bring rookie Joshua Garnett off the sideline to play left guard. If the 49ers need a replacement for Brown, Beadles would play right tackle.
"Zane's a veteran. He's done a good job," Modkins said. "We've asked him to do it. He's done a good job of doing it. So I feel confident if that situation ever arose in a game, he'll be prepared for it. He's doing good."
The 49ers have one vacancy on their 53-man roster. The 49ers will need to create a spot next week to accommodate outside linebacker Aaron Lynch, who is eligible to return off the league's reserve/suspended list after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on substances of abuse.
