49ers hired scientist to address electrical substation injury theory

The San Francisco 49ers made good on their promise to study the potential effects the electrical substation next to their practice facility was having on their injury situation. It turns out the theory, which gained traction thanks to viral Twitter posts that indicated electromagnetic fields from the substation was causing the 49ers' outsized injury problems, didn't have legs. General manager John Lynch on Sunday told reporters at the NFL owners meetings that the team hired a scientist with more than four decades of experience in studying EMFs.

The scientists' findings showed no danger to players . "We’re safe,” Lynch said via the Athletic's Matt Barrows. “We’re in a safe place of work, the levels I think I read in (the report) are 400 times less than unsafe zones.

So it’s a normal place of work, it’s a normal gym. We are safe, we’re healthy and we feel really good about that. ” Even if a scientist cleared the practice facility of any issues, the fact the theory was prevalent on the internet and among 49ers players was cause for concern.

A theory like that just being out in the ether had the potential to affect the club's chances of landing free agents if those free agents feared the practice field posed a hazard. Lynch said no free agents asked him about the substation. In response to their injury woes, Lynch said the team is making a massive investment in their training facilities.