SANTA CLARA – The 49ers' injury list was long on Wednesday and only time will tell in the event that they might be without some key players in Week 5 or if it was more of a precautionary measure given the upcoming schedule and a sweltering day.
Middle linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) and tight end George Kittle (ribs) were spared from practice, which was the most well liked practice of the 12 months at 97 degrees. Also defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), wide receiver Jacob Cowing (shoulder), wide receiver Chris Conley (oblique) and linebacker Dee Winters (ankle).
Those who were limited were defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (knee), safety Talanoa Hufanga (ankle), defensive tackle Kevin Givens (triceps) and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (ankle).
Given that Warner was unable to drag off a 30-13 win over New England while Kittle did, his status is most concerning. During the media viewing window at practice, he was seen jogging without hobbling to the side.
The seventh-year linebacker has put together spectacular performances in the primary 4 games of the season, capped by a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown against New England, and is a candidate for his second NFL Player of the Month award in his Career.
Warner, who said Sunday he would have returned to the sport if he could, didn’t provide any details about his status for the Arizona game. Asked how he felt, Warner smiled and said: “Wonderful. “Legendary, as they say” after which was understandably vague in regards to the injury.
“My plan is to play, of course,” Warner said. “I’m just going to continue to listen to what the classroom is asking me to do and take it one day at a time.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan said all the injured players were “day to day” as they were Monday, meaning there have been no setbacks or additional information that will rule them out of a likelihood to play. But he's factoring within the injuries because the Cardinals come to Levi's Stadium on Sunday after which play Seattle on the road on Thursday night.
“We gave a lot of guys a hard time, and with how hot it is, we're taking a lot out of the guys today,” said Shanahan, whose team will play twice in five days. “We probably would have done it anyway, but with another game (so soon) it definitely made that decision easier.”
Defensive player Nick Bosa sees the NFC West games as a vital stage and is looking forward to some break day after the sport against Seattle.
“Every game is big, division opponents count double and we have a mini-bye after the game on Thursday,” said Bosa. “Getting two wins here, obviously starting with Arizona, would be huge.”
MUSTAPHAS LAUNCH DEBUT
Rookie safety Malik Mustapha thought he had a “solid” debut when he played all 64 defensive snaps rather than Hufanga at safety, however the fourth-round pick from Wake Forest had essentially the most fun blocking for Warner on his touchdown acted.
After Warner made the diving catch, Mustapha sprinted to the center of the sector and eliminated an unsuspecting would-be tackler.
“It felt like playground football, just making sure my guy was trying to score on defense,” Mustapha said. “I saw who was in front of me and just shot.”
The only glaring mistake, other than a broken interception when the sport was already decided, was when Mustapha allowed Rhamondre Stevenson to get past him on a third-and-6 play and a 7-yard pass from Jacoby Brissett converted a primary down.
The mistake wasn't being overly excited, but relatively being slightly too conservative.
“I stopped my feet and that’s why he was able to go outside,” Mustapha said. “It's my fault that I didn't play the style of football I'm used to. After that, I was able to trust my instincts and play as quickly as possible.”
STRENGTHEN DEFENSE DEPTH
The 49ers made two moves to compensate for injuries: They signed linebacker Jalen Graham from the Washington Commanders' practice squad and added defensive tackle Kalia Davis, who had minor knee surgery late within the preseason.
Graham, a seventh-round draft pick a 12 months ago, knows the system and may pick up where he left off and find yourself on the sector against Arizona depending on the health of Warner, Winters and Flannigan-Fowles. Another linebacker, Curtis Robinson, is out for a 12 months with a torn ACL.
“With his athleticism, his intelligence and his feel for the game, I think he can help us in a lot of ways,” Warner said.
Graham played in 4 games for the 49ers as a rookie seventh-round draft select of Purdue, exclusively on special teams.
“Monday was the first time I spoke to them,” Graham said. “They just let me know they wanted me to come back to 53-man and it went from there. I’m happy they brought me back and I’m ready to work.”
Washington's general manager is Adam Peters, who was assistant GM to John Lynch when the 49ers drafted Graham.
“Jalen was a guy we didn’t want to lose,” Shanahan said. “It was hard to let him go. We were really hoping to keep him on the practice squad, but AP stole him, so we had to get him back.”
As for Davis, the 49ers have 21 days to position him on either the 53-man roster or injured reserve. Shanahan doesn't expect to make use of the complete 21 days.
“Hopefully this week,” Shanahan said. “We’ll watch him this week and see how he does. But we would like to raise him.”
QUICK CONCLUSIONS
— The 49ers are usually not yet ready to begin the 21-day round against rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr., who suffered a gunshot wound to the chest during an Aug. 31 robbery in San Francisco.
“We just don’t feel like he’s ready this week,” Shanahan said.
Shanahan also said the shoulder subluxation that plagued Pearsall during training camp isn’t any longer a difficulty.
– Will Kyle Juszczyk proceed to play the role of the NFL's only fullback who also returns punts? If Cowing can't play, that's a possibility.
“He’ll start doing it the rest of the year,” Shanahan said.
Shanahan was probably joking, but Juszczyk, subbing in for Cowing against New England, returned an eight-yard punt when asked to easily make a good catch. Cowing averaged 5.3 yards and nine yards on six returns.
“I think Kyle is one of the more confident people I've ever been around,” Shanahan said. “Ask anyone. I don’t care how good your hands are, but just being thrown into an NFL game and catching a punt isn’t very easy.”
— Christian McCaffrey was in the ability but not on the sector. Shanahan had no details about whether the Achilles tendonitis in either leg was resolving. Although highly unlikely, McCaffery might be eligible to return off injured reserve after the Arizona game.
“I don’t get an update on Christian every day because when the guys are on IR, I’m more focused on what we’re doing that week and day,” Shanahan said. “I know he’s rehabilitating himself.”
– Wide receiver Terique Owens, son of former 49er Terrell Owens, was added to the practice squad, as was defensive lineman Jonathan Garvin. Terique Owens was with the 49ers during training camp. Defensive player Shakel Brown was released from the practice squad.
Originally published:
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