49ers notebook: Team scrambles at corner; Kittle, Sanu could play Sunday
All-Pro Richard Sherman being placed on injured reserve was just one item on the laundry list of issues with 49ers cornerbacks on Wednesday.
In addition to the news that Sherman will be out until at least Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins because of a calf injury, the 49ers on Wednesday also placed practice squad cornerback Tim Harris on IR with a calf injury and were without backup Ahkello Witherspoon at practice because he was in the concussion protocol stemming from a head injury suffered Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
Add those new ailments to Jason Verrett missing practice again with a hamstring injury, and the 49ers are entering Week 2 with four cornerbacks suddenly on the shelf, including two candidates to replace Sherman in Verrett and Witherspoon. Harris would have been a candidate to make his NFL debut after missing last season if not for his injury he suffered during last Friday’s practice.
“It’s a challenge, but you always have something like this each year,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday. “It’s hitting us pretty hard right now.”
To add reinforcements, the team on Wednesday promoted Dontae Johnson back to the active roster after he momentarily reverted to the practice squad this week following his appearance in Sunday’s game. Johnson likely would have been the starter in Sherman’s place at practice opposite Emmanuel Moseley with Witherspoon and Verrett sitting out. It’s unclear if Witherspoon or Verrett will be available against the New York Jets.
The team also brought in former Dolphins cornerback, Ken Webster, who had previously worked with first-year secondary coach Tony Oden, who held the same position with Miami last year. Webster was a seventh-round draft pick of the New England Patriots in 2019 who failed to make the team before getting picked up by the Dolphins. He made five starts before opening this season on Miami’s practice squad.
Sherman’s injury was a surprise when the news came down Wednesday morning. Shanahan had not mentioned Sherman’s ailment during his media obligations Sunday and Monday. He indicated that Sherman’s injury became concerning Monday afternoon and that it happened late in the loss to Arizona.
“We were still waiting to see how it felt on Monday and later Monday afternoon we found that it was hurting a little more than he expected,” Shanahan said. “Fortunately, we were able to do the IR to return. So, hopefully won’t be too long.”
New league rules for this season allow teams to use injured reserve and bring back an unlimited number of players (last season it was only two) and players must miss a minimum of three weeks. The previous rule was players had to sit out six weeks. It means the earliest Sherman can return is Oct. 11.
The good news is he’ll be missing games against what appears to be the easiest portion of the 49ers’ schedule. Their next three games are at the Jets, at the New York Giants, home to the Philadelphia Eagles and home to the Dolphins. Only Philadelphia reached the playoffs among those teams, but played poorly on Sunday in the season opening loss at Washington despite being favored.
Jets coach Adam Gase was asked what the 49ers are missing with Sherman absence.
“He’s a tough guy to go against because his intelligence level is off the charts. His knowledge of football is phenomenal,” Gase said on a conference call with Bay Area reporters. “He makes it really hard for a play caller because you notice that he’s cheating, he see certain splits and he’s cheating his technique and stuff and then he screws you up as a play caller because you think he knows the play and a lot of times he does.”
Shanahan hopeful Kittle, Sanu can play
Cornerback isn’t the only concerning area on San Francisco’s roster heading into Week 2. Jimmy Garoppolo’s group of pass catchers hardly lit it up against Arizona.
But there could be good news on that front, according to Shanahan, who believes All-Pro tight end George Kittle could play Sunday after spraining his knee during the second quarter Sunday. Kittle isn’t expected to hit the practice field this week, though that won’t be the determining factor for Week 2.
“He fully expects to be there Sunday like he always does. Just like he always plays through the game when it happens, but we’ll give him the whole week (off practice),” Shanahan said. “Kittle is one guy that if he’s ready to go on Sunday and the doctors say he’s good to go, we have no problem with him going without practicing.”
Additionally, new receiver Mohamed Sanu, who hasn’t officially been added to the roster yet, can begin practicing Friday after passing COVID-19 tests three consecutive days. Though his practice time will be limited, Shanahan was optimistic about Sanu picking things up quickly, given he played under Shanahan with the Atlanta Falcons when they went to the Super Bowl in 2016.
“That’s the benefit of being with someone before, that he’s familiar with the offense,” Shanahan said. “He only had one year away from it and did some very similar verbiage and stuff in Atlanta, even after I left. So he’s familiar with it. It’s good that we got him done so he can at least listen to our meetings. He can’t be here, but he has an idea of the game plan, can see it all.”
Sanu might not be the only addition to the receiving corps on Sunday. Rookie Brandon Aiyuk appears set to make his debut after missing time with a hamstring strain suffered in training camp. Aiyuk was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice and not listed on the injury report. He initially returned to practice last Thursday but was withheld from Sunday’s game.
Center Ben Garland was also not on the injury report indicating he’ll have a chance to play Sunday giving the 49ers their top five starters along the offensive line from training camp while starting center Weston Richburg remains on the physically unable to perform list.
San Francisco had no players listed as “limited” Wednesday. The players who didn’t practice: receiver Richie James (hamstring), Kittle (knee), Verrett (hamstring), Witherspoon (concussion).
▪ For the Jets, their big injury news this week was running back Le’Veon Bell getting placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He won’t be available Sunday and at least two games thereafter.
Limited for New York at Wednesday’s practice were tackle Mekhi Becton (knee), receiver Jamison Crowder (hamstring), quarterback Joe Flacco (neck), linebacker Frankie Luvu (neck) and linebacker Avery Williamson (hamstring).
Full participants were running back Kalen Ballage (hamstring), tight end Daniel Brown (hamstring), tackle George Fant (shoulder) and tackle Alex Lewis (shoulder). The only player who didn’t participate was running back La’Mical Perine (ankle).
This story was originally published September 16, 2020 at 3:58 PM.