They won’t be able to do this, though, since defensive tackle Arik Armstead, receiver Jauan Jennings, and safety Ji’Ayir Brown have all been ruled out of the game prior to Sunday.

Armstead and Jennings missed San Francisco’s Week 16 game against the Ravens, even though Brown played every defensive action and will be missed against the Commanders.

Early in the season, 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga tore his ACL, leaving the team without a starting safety. They will therefore need to depend more on their depth chart. since it is anticipated that the experienced safety will start.

The 49ers will start Ryan in the spotlight as they use him and veteran Tashaun Gipson as a combination to strengthen the back end of their secondary. Ryan was only signed three weeks ago.

What provided head coach Kyle Shanahan the confidence to trust Ryan so quickly?

In regards to Ryan, Shanahan stated, “Just us playing against him.” He always gave off the impression of being a very perceptive, intelligent player with a wealth of experience covering a wide range of defenses. When we were injured, we carried him in here. He appeared to be everything we had dreamed he would be since he arrived. He fills that position now that we have those injuries. He looks just like we had imagined. The game isn’t too difficult for him, and he’s really at ease and competent.

Ryan continues the tradition of having an experienced backup rather than a younger player filling the job, which Shanahan thinks can be crucial to their success.

Shanahan remarked, “I think it’s huge,” about the use of veterans as depth players. That’s not always the guiding principle, though. Our overarching attitude is, “What gives you the best chance to succeed on that particular day, that particular week, or that particular season?” Perhaps it’s the younger man. Perhaps it’s the elder man. I believe applying an absolute philosophy to anything is highly incorrect. Something like, “Hey, you’ve got to always give the younger guy the first shots because that’s how you develop him,” and so on. That’s fantastic, but not at the price of the team’s other fifty-two players, the organization, or lost games.

One reason why it could initially be more difficult to have faith in younger athletes? There is a developmental component to early playing time, and the 49ers cannot afford to lose games to continuously offer this kind of opportunity.

“The first decision you make should always be the one that gives you the highest chance of winning or the greatest assistance in winning. In a league where it’s very hard to develop players since it takes ongoing effort to perform at a very high level in the professional ranks.

Therefore, players that truly have what it takes to play in the NFL are typically veterans of the league. They are capable of managing those circumstances,” Shanahan remarked on Friday. “They had the good fortune to receive those, enabling them to overcome that and recover. I detest the sensation that there’s only one guy left and you have a lot of faith in him, but he’s not quite ready. That player has to go, though, as there is no third string. Now that he enters and plays three games before he is prepared, the squad becomes irate with him for his faults and lack of preparation. The man starts to doubt himself. That can occasionally kill a guy, but there’s nothing else you can do.

Even though not every team has the luxury of adding senior depth that can still deliver quality reps, things have gotten easier thanks to the new practice squad regulations that permit six veterans.

According to Shanahan, “you can’t always have the luxury of bringing in vets because if you always do that, then you never have youth coming up.” However, the 16 practice squad members—the six veterans we are permitted to have—are what make them so awesome. That, in my opinion, is what has made it possible for us to accomplish some of those things in recent years that were previously quite difficult.

Defense coordinator Steve Wilks commended the seasoned defensive back earlier in the week for his rapid integration into the club as a leader and player.

“Logan did a fantastic job. When we finally got him, I was thrilled, Wilks said. “I had a feeling that he would fill in for us brilliantly at some point. His leadership there, and when I spoke with [LB] Fred [Warner] about it yesterday after leaving the field, I asked, “Did you feel and see Logan?” “Yes, man, he talks,” he says. And that’s a very positive indicator of safety. His capacity for communication, especially with a new man in the room, and his willingness to step up and take those actions. Thus, I enjoy having him around. I call it “skin on the wall” for him. He has played in a few Super Bowls and has been in the league for a while, so he is aware of the significance of the season we are in.

Ryan’s desire to play special teams and cover kickoffs has demonstrated why Wilks called him the “true team player.”

Ryan has no plans to back down from taking the field against the Commanders.

It’s an amazing opportunity. I’m eager to get started. Grant Cohn of SI wrote that Ryan said, “I’m definitely ready and going to go let it rip.” “I’ve spent some time working on this. I just rely on what I know and my intuition. I’ll go listen to them and play since they clearly wanted me to come here because I’m a player and trust my gut.

“I love football so much. I’m not here for the money. I’m here to play football. When it comes to winning a championship, no role is too small.

With the NFC’s top seed potentially on the line, the 49ers are hoping to put more faith in the seasoned safety in this important game.