The San Francisco 49ers had an exhaustive list of injuries coming off of the Monday night contest against the Seattle Seahawks. Kyle Shanahan spoke with the media on Tuesday to provide updates on several players, as well as the return of key starters.
1. San Francisco suffered a significant blow on Monday with the loss of defensive end Ronald Blair III. Blair made a crucial stop against Russell Wilson late in the fourth quarter and awkwardly twisted his leg on the play. Blair had an MRI on Tuesday when it was confirmed the pass rusher suffered a torn ACL. He will have season-ending surgery and will be placed on Injured Reserve.
With Blair out, the 49ers plan to work out several players this week. The team will also look to Solomon Thomas, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner to move outside in place of Blair. San Francisco also has the option to activate Kentavius Street who was placed on Injured Reserve at the start of the season.
"We have lots of guys we can use," Shanahan said. "We've only got eight up, but our inside guys can go outside, so there's always people who can do that. We might end up having to sign someone else. I know we're having a workout in here tomorrow for depth, but we have Solomon who's played outside and inside, Armstead who's done it, Buckner who's done it. We've got a pretty good deal with all those guys who can do it. I know we're going to have to get another guy in here to fill that body part, so we'll see how that plays out here over the next 24 hours."
2. Matt Breida aggravated his ankle on Monday night. According to the head coach, the running back will be "day-to-day."
"We will see how we feel going in to practice tomorrow," Shanahan said.
3. Emmanuel Sanders was among the names of players to exit Monday's game. The veteran wideout suffered a rib injury in the first half and did not return to the contest. Following an MRI on Tuesday, the receiver is expected to be "day-to-day" and is likely to be a game-time decision ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Through Sanders' three games with San Francisco, he's amassed 13 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns, that includes his two catches for 24 yards in his short stint in Week 10.
4. D.J. Jones left the game in the second quarter while dealing with a groin injury. Jones was coming off of a standout first quarter that included a third down sack on Seattle's first series to end the drive. He is expected to miss at least a week.
5. Joe Staley, who made his return from a broken fibula suffered in Week 2, suffered a fracture/dislocated finger on Monday. Staley plans to get a second opinion on his finger to determine whether he will require surgery. If so, he's expected to miss a few weeks. Details on Staley's status to come.
6. Rookie linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair left the game in the third quarter. He is currently in concussion protocol.
7. As for players returning from injury, Shanahan is hopeful George Kittle (knee, ankle) can return in Week 11. Shanahan also believes Robbie Gould is in the same boat as the tight end. The kicker was dealing with a quadricep injury suffered during last week's practice.
"I don't think (Gould's) as big of an injury as Kittle's, but because he's a kicker, it's kind of hard to tell," Shanahan said. "We're going to get him out here and test him on his kick this week and we'll see how it goes. It's still the same as last week. It's still a maybe.
"Kittle has a much bigger injury. We're never going to decide on Kittle too early in the week. He's always got a chance with some of the stuff he's been able to go through these last couple of years."
8. Ahkello Witherspoon rejoined practice last week, despite being sidelined on Monday night. According to Shanahan, Witherspoon is "day-to-day" and will be evaluated following a full week of practice. Second-year corner Emmanuel Moseley has played admirably in Witherspoon's absence.
"If Ahkello can come out to practice, gets three good days in, show exactly where he's at, then we'd give him his job back," the head coach said. "He's going to have to have a good week of practice to do that. Emmanuel's played at a high level. It's been great to see him step up with the injury and how well he's played."
9. Finally, although Jalen Hurd's practice window has opened, Shanahan doesn't expect the rookie wideout to return this week. Hurd was placed on Injured Reserve on Oct. 3 while dealing with a back injury.
"I'm still hoping for him to (practice)," Shanahan said. "We evaluate that at the end of each week, and based off of what I saw from him at the end of last week, I'm not expecting him this week. We'll see how he comes in here tomorrow, but he didn't meet enough requirements last week to start him for practicing, so I'm not expecting him now."
