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Updates from Friday, Nov. 21

Willis provided an update for himself via Instagram:

Updates from Tuesday, Nov. 11

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area has an update on Patrick Willis' status for the season:

Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports has an update on Patrick Willis:

Updates from Sunday, Nov. 9

The 49ers confirm Patrick Willis will not play in Week 10:

Evan Silva of Rotoworld passed along a report from Jay Glazer of Fox Sports on Willis' status:

Updates from Friday, Nov. 7

Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times has the latest on Willis:

The 49ers updated with Willis' official status:

Updates from Thursday, Nov. 6

Patrick Willis' status is still up in the air for Sunday's showdown against the Saints according to the team's Twitter account:

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area reported on Willis' practice status for Thursday:

Updates from Wednesday, Nov. 5

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle provides an update on Patrick Willis' status:

Updates from Sunday, Nov. 2

The San Francisco 49ers confirmed that Patrick Willis is inactive for Sunday's game vs. St. Louis:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 31

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports Willis' official status for Sunday:

Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee has an update on Patrick Willis' status:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 29

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area provides an update on Patrick Willis' status:

Updates from Sunday, Oct. 19

Patrick Willis' status for Week 7 against the Denver Broncos has been confirmed 90 minutes before the game via the 49ers' Twitter account:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 17

Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group has Willis' official status:

The 49ers' official Twitter feed reported on his status for Sunday:

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area reports on Willis' timeline for return:

Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times has an update on Patrick Willis:

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 16

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area provides an update on Patrick Willis' status:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 15

Cam Inman of the Bay Area News group provides an update on Patrick Willis' status:

Updates from Tuesday, Oct. 14

Patrick Willis is looking for a second opinion on his toe injury, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, who also reports on his status for Sunday's game against the Broncos:

ESPN's Ed Werder previously had reported Willis would undergo an MRI on his injured toe today:

Original Text

San Francisco 49ers star linebacker Patrick Willis suffered a toe injury during Monday night's NFC West showdown with the St. Louis Rams.

The 49ers' official Twitter account reported on Willis' status in the third quarter and then provided another update a few minutes later:

In the fourth quarter, Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee provided an update:

Willis blamed the turf for his injury after the game, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group:

Before Monday's game at the Edward Jones Dome, Willis emphasized how his side of the ball had to set the tone away from home against a division rival.

"When you go on the road," said Willis, per 49ers.com's Taylor Price, "you have to pack the defense. That's what we're about here, we're about playing team football and bringing the defense."

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller alluded to how thin the Niners' vaunted defense is becoming absent so many key contributors:

Willis, NaVorro Bowman and Aldon Smith comprise three of the four typical starting linebackers, and the San Francisco defense has been without the latter two for the entire year thus far. Losing the real field general and emotional leader in Willis would be a devastating blow if his ailment is truly serious.

To frame the analysis in Willis' own words, the Niners' ability to play team football and rise to the occasion no matter what will be tested in this situation. With how competitive the division is, San Francisco can't afford to drop a perceived winnable contest in St. Louis.

A road trip to Denver to face Peyton Manning and the high-octane Broncos offense looms in Week 7. That will come on a short week for the Niners too, so the team will be hoping with all its might that Willis is fit enough to suit up for that marquee matchup.