SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Two more San Francisco 49ers are being sent to the injured reserve and although reinforcements are on the way, it remains unclear when the Niners will get some of their key injury-related players back.
Niners manager Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Ziggy Ansah’s defensive end suffered a biceps rupture in Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. That was the expected result for Ansah, and the Niners also got some bad news from Nickel cornerback K’Waun Williams.
Williams, who had previously dealt with a hip injury, sprained his knee against the Eagles and will “most likely” go to the short-term injured reserve this week. That means Williams will have to miss at least three games.
“I’m concerned,” said Shanahan. “K’Waun fought his way through his hip. Then you got the knee. I can’t tell you how much respect I have for K’Waun, the fact that he’s been out there for us every week. The fact as It was him. He got hurt throughout the game and kept trying to come back in because he knew how bad we were … K’Waun, what he went through, just fought through, he did as much as he could, and we have to turn him off now, give him a chance to recover. “
Shanahan hopes some of the previously injured Niners will return sooner rather than later. Shanahan said quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (right ankle sprain), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quadriceps), Raheem Mostert (knee sprain) and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring) at least have a chance to return to training this week, although some of these are closer than others. Receiver Richie James Jr., who is on short term on the IR with a hamstring injury, is also a candidate for this week’s game against the Miami Dolphins.
Shanahan said he was unsure of his quarterback status and Garoppolo would practice Monday and Tuesday before seeing if or how much he can train on Wednesday.
Mostert, who missed the last two games with a knee injury, is likely still a week away, although that could change, Shanahan said.
“I’m not really optimistic but I know he has a chance on Wednesday and it’s getting bigger every day but we’ll have to wait and see how he comes in,” said Shanahan.
Shanahan is similarly cautious about the possible return of cornerback Richard Sherman. Sherman has been in short-term injuries since a calf injury in Week 1 and is back in training for the first time this week.
When asked what the odds are Sherman will train this week and play on Sunday, Shanahan said, “About the same as Raheem’s.”
“”[I’m] Not really high either, but I know they have a chance, “Shanahan said.” At first I was told that Sherm would take about three to four weeks, and I think we’ll get to three, and it was most likely supposed to be four. So I’m expecting it and I hope for it next week, but it would be a good surprise to have it this week. There is always a chance when we talk to Sherm, but we’ll have to wait and see how he does on Wednesday. “
In addition to Sherman and Williams, the 49ers are waiting for the return of corner player Emmanuel Moseley. Moseley is still on the concussion log, which means the Niners could play without their top three cornerbacks this week. If Witherspoon can return, he would likely start with Jason Verrett from the outside, using Jamar Taylor for Williams in the slot.
Shanahan said the team will likely ride out this week before taking any further steps to seek outside help to add to the roster, particularly in positions like cornerback and defensive end that have been badly injured.
“It’s pretty difficult to get people in, and there’s not a ton out there right now,” Shanahan said. “We did it, I think, as best we can. … I don’t know if we can do it this week. I doubt it. We’ll keep doing what we’re doing.” We have, and we’ll see who’s ready to go. “
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