49ers 24, Raiders 24: Injuries strike defensive ends in preseason finale

The 49ers gambled in Las Vegas by playing top assets in their preseason finale. That strategy quickly backfired with injuries at a marquee position offering scarce depth.

Defensive ends Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos, two of their prized additions in free agency, hobbled off with first-quarter knee injuries in Friday night’s 24-24 tie with the Raiders. Neither injury immediately appeared to threaten their availability for the Sept. 9 regular-season opener.

Coach Kyle Shanahan knew that risk as he dispatched key players ...