Tag: 49ers injuries

49ers to remove 2 players from injured list to active roster, Richie James Jr. off reserve/COVID-19 list

The 49ers brought two of their five players on the PUP list to the regular active roster.

49ers general manager John Lynch on Monday had his season-opening press conference and offered a couple bits of good news for the team on the injury front. Two players will be moved off injured lists, and Richie James Jr. will come off the reserve/COVID-19 list according to the GM.

James’ activation from the reserve/COVID-19 list puts him back on the roster count. He took the spot previously held by defensive back DJ Reed, who was placed on the reserve/Non-Football Injury list. Those two moves kept the 49ers’ roster at 80 players. Lynch noted James would stay on the active/Non-Football Injury list while he nurses the hand injury he suffered during offseason workouts.

Lynch said two other players were activated off the active/Physically Unable to Perform list.

“It’s looking like Shawn Poindexter and Kentavius Street are going to be moved off, activated off, the PUP. So, they’ll be on the regular active roster.”

Poindexter, a second-year undrafted wide receiver tore his ACL in the preseason and spent the year on IR. Street has dealt with knee injuries since tearing his ACL in a pre-draft workout in 2018. He finally got into game action last year but went down with another knee injury.

A wide open competition at wide receiver could help Poindexter’s chances of making an impact. The former volleyball player has great size and athleticism, and there may be a role for him depending on how he develops as an all-around receiver.

Street has a shot to carve out a significant place in the defensive line rotation. He’s one of the players who’ll battle for some of the snaps left behind by DeForest Buckner, but he’s capable of playing any of the defensive line positions. A healthy year from Street would be a nice addition of depth for San Francisco.

They were on the active/PUP list so they’ve been on the active roster. Their move off the PUP won’t change their roster status and will keep San Francisco’s roster count at 80 heading into camp.

Three 49ers remain on the active/PUP list: Ronald Blair III, Weston Richburg and Jullian Taylor.

49ers to place DJ Reed on reserve/Non-Football Injury list

49ers DB DJ Reed went on the reserve/Non-Football Injury list with a torn pectoral he suffered in the offseason.

49ers general manager John Lynch on Monday in his season-opening press conference announced that defensive back DJ Reed would go on the reserve/Non-Football Injury list, which effectively ends Reed’s season before it could begin.

Reed in the offseason tore a pectoral that required surgery. While there was some hope he may be able to return late in the year after Texans defensive end JJ Watt and 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander made relatively quick returns from the same injury last season.

However, not every injury is the same and not every players heals at the same rate, so the 49ers placed the third-year defensive back on the reserve/NFI list.

The reserve/NFI list designation means Reed won’t count toward the 49ers’ 90-man training camp roster. He’ll be required to stay on the reserve/NFI list for at least six weeks. The club can open a three-week practice window after that. At the end of that three week period he’d either need to be activated or stay on the reserve/NFI list.

Lynch didn’t sound optimistic that Reed would return this year though. He said the move would effectively end his season.

“That’s a tough one for us,” Lynch said via Zoom in the preseason press conference. “The earliest we might’ve had D.J. back, was early November, but it’s a four-to-six month injury.”

Reed is a do-everything defensive back for San Francisco who backs up nickel corner K’Waun Williams, but also spent some time at free safety as a rookie. He’s also a special teams contributor, so replacing him won’t be easy. There’s a chance he’s a legitimate factor next season as a starter with Williams set to hit free agency.

With Reed sidelined likely for the season, the 49ers’ cornerback depth becomes an even larger roster battle to watch in camp.

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Injury bug bites 49ers again: DJ Reed announces torn pectoral

49ers defensive back DJ Reed tweeted that he has a torn pectoral that will require surgery.

The injury bug bit the 49ers again in the 2020 offseason — this time on the defensive side. Defensive back DJ Reed on Thursday tweeted that he tore his pectoral and would need surgery on the injury.

While Reed doesn’t have a prominent role in the 49ers’ defense — he played just 125 defensive snaps last season — he is a versatile player who simultaneously gives San Francisco depth at corner and free safety. He was the starting nickel corner in Week 15 last season when K’Waun Williams was out. He’s also a key special teams contributor who played on 37 percent of those snaps while also serving as a reserve kick returner.

A torn pec doesn’t necessarily have a set timeline for return. Kwon Alexander was thought to be out for the season when he tore his on Oct. 31, but he returned for the 49ers’ playoff opener against the Vikings on Jan. 11. If Reed is on that timetable, he’d be back sometime in September.

However, since we don’t know the severity of the injury, it’s impossible to gauge when Reed might return. From his post Thursday evening, it sounds like he’s yet to go in for surgery.

“I will speak positively only, because the power of the tongue is real,” the 23-year-old wrote. “Once I get surgery I will heal up & attack my rehab.”

Reed’s injury at least temporarily opens a spot at cornerback for the 49ers, so the coaching staff will have some decisions to make in their contingency plan in case Williams is unavailable again.

San Francisco selected Reed in the fifth round of the 2018 draft out of Kansas State. In 31 career games he has two starts, two pass breakups, one fumble recovery, 1.0 sacks and 54 tackles.

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49ers hopeful C Weston Richburg will be ready for training camp

The 49ers are hopeful Weston Richburg will be back from a torn patella in time for the start of the 2020 NFL schedule.

The 49ers on Monday got a bit of good offseason injury news during general manager John Lynch’s pre-draft video press conference. He told reporters center Weston Richburg is on track to return to action in time for training camp after tearing his patella Week 14 in New Orleans.

“Now will Weston be ready? He’s on target to be,” Lynch said. “Has the COVID situation, the shelter in place affected that a little bit? A little bit, but remember we’ve all been granted a kind of permission with the injured players that they can receive treatment, so they’ve continued on. Weston’s doing very well. Probably not as close as last year. He’s on target I should say to be ready to play if the season kicks off at the normal time.”

It’s not a given that the NFL season has it’s typical Week 1 kick off in early September. COVID-19 shutdowns have already barred teams from beginning their offseason programs on a regular schedule. There’s a chance, depending on how long COVID-19 has states under stringent shelter in place orders, that the season gets pushed back.

Still, there’s optimism that Richburg will return even if the NFL starts on time. San Francisco has a contingency plan if there is a setback for their starting center. They re-signed Ben Garland who did a nice job filling in for Richburg through the final three games and the postseason.

Continuity is key along the offensive line, and the 49ers offense is at its best when Richburg is manning the center of that unit. It’s why they gave him a five-year, $47.5 million deal at the start of the 2018 season. If he’s back to start the season, San Francisco should hit the ground running on that side of the ball in 2020.

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6 49ers returning from injury could play key roles in 2020

The 49ers handled their injuries well, but they had a ton of good players finish the year on Injured Reserve.

The 49ers didn’t have great injury luck in 2019, but they dealt with their injuries thanks to the strong depth accumulated by the front office over the last three offseasons.

Going into 2020, San Francisco should get most of the players back who finished the 2019 campaign on Injured Reserve. Here are the six players who could help bolster the 49ers’ roster up returning from IR.

C Weston Richburg

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

The 49ers lost Richburg to a torn patellar tendon in their Week 14 win over the Saints. It looked initially like the kind of injury that could derail San Francisco’s season. He is a terrific pass blocker in the middle of the line who helps stabilize the interior alongside Laken Tomlinson and Mike Person. While backup Ben Garland did a fine job in Richburg’s stead, having their starter back will only solidify an already strong offensive line.

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George Kittle won’t have any surgery during offseason

The 49ers’ tight end is getting better with rest only in the offseason.

Somehow George Kittle only needs rest in the offseason and avoided any kind of surgical procedure.

The tight end told reporters Wednesday during the team’s locker clean out that he won’t undergo any surgery in the offseason despite a torn labrum in his shoulder, and knee and ankle injuries that ailed him all year after taking a helmet to the knee on the first play of the team’s Week 9 matchup with the Cardinals.

The knee and ankle injuries kept him out for two weeks, and didn’t appear to hamper him once he returned. He still earned a First-Team All-Pro nod, was named the best player in football by Pro Football Focus, and nearly surpassed his production from his record-setting 2018 season.

His torn labrum came in 2018 when he dislocated his shoulder at an unknown time. The shoulder injury first became public during Kittle’s appearance on the Barstool Sports podcast ‘Pardon My Take.’

Kittle told the hosts of the podcasts that he wouldn’t undergo surgery because he couldn’t miss any workout dates during the offseason.

The shoulder injury is the most major one he’s dealing with, although it doesn’t appear to be hampering him. He’s amassed 173 catches, 2,430 yards and 10 touchdowns across 30 games the last two seasons.

Kittle was the best, most versatile tight end in the league even with a rash of injuries. A more healthy version of him in Year 4 might help establish him as one of the best tight ends of all-time.

Dante Pettis inactive for 49ers in Super Bowl LIV

The 49ers are at full strength in search of their sixth Lombardi Trophy.

The 49ers will be at full strength for Super Bowl LIV.  No surprise injuries popped up after nobody showed up on the official injury report on Friday, but Dante Pettis was placed among the inactives in favor of running back Jeff Wilson.

Here’s the seven inactive players for San Francisco as they try for their sixth Lombardi Trophy:

QB CJ Beathard
WR Dante Pettis
CB Dontae Johnson
TE Daniel Helm
LB Azeez Al-Shaair
WR Jordan Matthews
DL Kevin Givens

Pettis has effectively been inactive throughout the playoffs. He’s suited up, but hasn’t gotten any snaps despite a couple blowouts. Wilson is active for the first time since Week 15, and his presence could be an indicator that the 49ers plan on running the ball a lot. It may also signal the team is a little worried about running back Tevin Coleman’s shoulder after he dislocated it in the NFC championship game.

That leaves San Francisco with just four wide receivers: Deebo Samuel, Emmanuel Sanders, Kendrick Bourne and Richie James Jr.

Coleman was the only real question coming out of the NFC championship. He missed team workouts during the Bye week, then was limited until the Friday before the Super Bowl.

The rest of the banged up 49ers should be good to go.

Defensive end Dee Ford dealt with a hamstring injury late in the year, but came back for a week of full practices in the week before the Super Bowl. Linebacker Kwon Alexander was a full participant Friday after being limited throughout the two weeks between the NFC championship and Sunday. He’s still recovering from a torn pectoral. Meanwhile, strong safety Jaquiski Tartt in the NFC championship aggravated his rib injury that forced him out of the final four games of the year. He was limited all week until Friday.

Here are the Chiefs inactives. Kansas City is also at full strength.

49ers fully healthy for Super Bowl LIV

The 49ers all practiced in full Friday, and they’re healthy going into the Super Bowl.

The 49ers didn’t have any players on their injury report for Super Bowl Sunday, meaning their entire 53-man roster will be available.

There was a small question throughout the week with running back Tevin Coleman, safety Jaquiski Tartt and linebacker Kwon Alexander all limited during Bye week workouts and Wednesday and Thursday of Super Bowl week.

However, all three players were full participants in Friday’s practice and won’t have an injury designation in the Super Bowl.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Coleman, who dislocated his shoulder in the NFC championship game, is feeling good about his injury.

“He’s worked his tail off to get healthy,” Shanahan said via a pool report. “He’s good to go. He’s confident.”

It’ll be all hands on deck Sunday for San Francisco against a Chiefs team that’s playing well on both sides of the ball. Having all three of Alexander, Tartt and Coleman healthy will make life for the 49ers a little bit easier.

George Kittle playing on torn labrum in shoulder

49ers tight end George Kittle has a torn labrum, but he’s managed to become one of the NFL’s best tight ends despite it.

49ers tight end George Kittle has never been short on toughness. He played through a slew of injuries during his rookie season in 2017, and has played most of this year with knee and ankle ailments that he suffered in Week 9 that forced him to miss two games.

It turns out Kittle has also been playing through a significant shoulder injury the last two seasons. Kittle joined Barstool Sports’ podcast, ‘Pardon My Take’ and discussed the torn labrum he’s been dealing with for two seasons.

“So, I dislocated my shoulder last year,” Kittle said when addressing the gray sleeve he wears on his right arm. “And my labrum’s completely torn so I don’t get surgery on it. So this basically helps me so it doesn’t hurt all the time.”

Anything that tears as a result of a dislocated shoulder sounds cripplingly painful, but Kittle has managed to play through it and become the best tight end in the league. Pro Football Focus named him the NFL’s best player this year, one season after he set the NFL record for receiving yards by a tight end.

Will Kittle get the surgery this offseason?

“No chance,” he said. “Can’t miss those workout days, man.”

This is the type of physical toughness that sets Kittle apart and allows him to become such a force after the catch.

While the injury hasn’t seemed to slow him down at all on the field, it’s remarkable to think of what a 100 percent healthy Kittle might accomplish.

It doesn’t sound like the 26-year-old is going to get the necessary surgery to repair his shoulder any time soon. Hopefully there aren’t any long-term effects that slow him down on his way to becoming one of the NFL’s all-time great tight ends.

Tevin Coleman has chance to play in Super Bowl LIV

The 49ers may have a fully-stocked backfield for Super Bowl LIV.

The biggest injury that hit the 49ers in the NFC championship came when running back Tevin Coleman landed awkwardly on his right arm following a second-quarter run. He was carted off with what head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed was a dislocated shoulder. There’s some uncertainty about the extent of the damage, but Shanahan didn’t rule out the running back for Super Bowl LIV on February 2.

“I mean, we’ve got to wait until we get the stuff back, so I don’t want to speculate too much, but usually a week to rest it and it usually gets back in,” Shanahan said. “I expect him to have a chance to play. Can’t hold me to that. We’ll find out more after the imaging, but expect him to have a good chance to play.”

Coleman’s absence paved the way for Raheem Mostert to log a career-high 29 carries, and a franchise record 220 yards. His four touchdowns made him the first player in NFL history with 200 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in a playoff game.

While Coleman’s injury opened the door for a big day from Mostert, his presence in the lineup is still key for a 49ers rushing attack that thrives on its versatility and depth.

If Coleman can’t go in the Super Bowl, it likely means undrafted running back Jeff Wilson Jr. would be active, with Matt Breida also in the rotation. Breida logged only two snaps in the NFC championship.

This will be something worth monitoring in the lead up to the game the first Sunday in February, but the week off before the game should give Coleman a good chance to be active come game time. A fully stocked backfield is a significant advantage in the team’s quest for a sixth Super Bowl win.

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