Tatum Bethune: Everything you need to know

The 49ers moved Bethune (groin) to injured reserve Wednesday. Bethune suffered a groin injury late into the 49ers' Week 18 loss to the Seahawks. The injury has proven to be season-ending, and the team will now grow even thinner at linebacker as they enter the playoffs. The recent signing of Eric Kendricks to the active roster will hopefully be enough to sustain the team until it can potentially regain the help of All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner (ankle).

Sam Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan has ruled out the possibility of Bethune (groin) returning for the playoffs, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reported Monday. Bethune's status for San Francisco's wild-card round matchup was already up in the air after he exited in the fourth quarter of Saturday's Week 18 game. Upon further inspection, the 24-year-old has a groin tear that may require surgery. With Dee Winters (ankle) questionable for Sunday's first-round matchup and Fred Warner (ankle - IR) remaining out, Eric Kendricks is expected to have a larger role at linebacker, followed by Garret Wallow and Curtis Robinson (who was inactive in Week 18).

Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the 49ers' 13-3 loss to the Seahawks on Saturday that Bethune's groin injury could prevent him from playing in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs, Noah Furtado and Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle report. Bethune left in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game after sustaining a groin injury, finishing the contest with seven tackles (two solo), including 1.0 sacks, and one pass defense. Dee Winters (ankle) also left the contest in the second quarter, and the potential loss of two starting linebackers is a huge blow to a San Francisco defense that is already without Fred Warner (ankle - IR) along with pass rushers Mykel Williams (knee - IR) and Nick Bosa (knee - IR). Eric Kendricks, Garret Wallow and Curtis Robinson (who was inactive for Week 18) would all be in line for more defensive snaps at linebacker if one or both of Bethune and Winters were to be sidelined for the wild-card round.