The San Francisco 49ers have lost who they feel was among their top free agent acquisitions in March. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network is reporting that linebacker Malcolm Smith, whom the team was high on, has been lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle which was revealed by an MRI on Saturday. Smith suffered the injury during Saturday's practice, which was held in front of over 25,000 fans at Levi's Stadium.


Smith figured to play a big role in the 49ers defense this season. The injury opens up an opportunity for rookie linebacker Reuben Foster to immediately move up the depth chart and get more practice reps as the team prepares for the 2017 season.


In March, Smith was signed by the 49ers to a five-year deal. He had spent the previous two seasons with the Oakland Raiders. Smith played in 31 games – starting 30 – over the past two seasons in Oakland. During that timeframe, he had 225 tackles, four sacks, nine passes defensed, two interceptions, and four forced fumbles.

Smith, 28, was a seventh-round selection out of the University of Southern California by the Seattle Seahawks in 2011. He won Super Bowl XLVIII with Seattle and was voted the MVP of the game.
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