49ers notebook: George Kittle ruled out vs. Jets; Dee Ford questionable with neck spasms

The 49ers won’t have their star tight end George Kittle Sunday when they take on the New York Jets in Week 2. He was ruled out with a sprained knee, the team announced Friday.

Kittle, who hyper extended his left knee during the second quarter of the season opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals, will stay in the Bay Area this weekend while his teammates flew to New Jersey Friday afternoon following practice.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said earlier in the week Kittle had a chance to play, but the team elected to take a cautious approach with their most dynamic offensive player. Shanahan said Kittle might have been considered a game-time decision if Sunday’s game was at home, but traveling to the East Coast with a five-hour plane ride might have been taxing on his knee and caused swelling.

“I think (if) was just the normal person we probably would have ruled him out earlier in the week,” Shanahan said. “But we never do that really with George because of what he’s shown us here over these three years with him.

“If he’s not going to play, it’s much better for him to leave him here for a couple days and let him get his rehab and everything. So we had to make that decision a little bit earlier today. That will help him and benefit him and he’ll meet us in West Virginia.”

The 49ers after Sunday’s game will travel to The Greenbrier resort in White Sulfer Springs, West Virginia, to hold practice next week before playing the New York Giants. The team stayed on in the Eastern Time Zone twice in between road games last year to save on travel time, practicing at Youngstown State in between Weeks 1 and 2 and IMG Academy in Florida in between late-season contests against the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints.

Without Kittle, the 49ers have three tight ends on the active roster: Jordan Reed, Ross Dwelley and rookie Charlie Woerner, who played one snap in the opener. The team could decide to promote undrafted rookie Chase Harrell from the practice squad.

Reed had two catches for 12 yards in his 49ers debut last week while playing just 10 snaps. Dwelley served as Kittle’s understudy last year and also spent time at fullback while Kyle Juszczyk was hurt. Shanahan made it sound like the 49ers are going to continue to work Reed back slowly after he missed all of last season.

“It doesn’t change much with George out,” said Shanahan. “I mean, I can give him a couple more opportunities but we still have our other two tight ends out there, we’ll still carry three. ... I feel good with (Reed). He’s getting better each week at it, getting healthier and getting more confident in what he’s doing in our offense.”

Meanwhile, defensive end Dee Ford is listed as questionable for Sunday while neck spasms caused him to miss practice Thursday and Friday. General manager John Lynch on KNBR radio Friday morning indicated Ford went for an MRI on his neck though the team didn’t have the results. If Ford can’t play, the team might promote Dion Jordan off the practice squad. Kerry Hyder, Solomon Thomas and Arik Armstead could also see more time at defensive end.

At cornerback, the 49ers will have Ahkello Witherspoon back in the lineup following a concussion during last week’s game. He was listed as a full participant in Friday’s practice indicating he cleared the mandatory concussion protocol.

Witherspoon will likely start in place of Richard Sherman, who went on injured reserve with a calf injury this week, opposite Emmanuel Moseley. Jason Verrett (hamstring) has been ruled out for the second straight week. Dontae Johnson on Wednesday was promoted from the practice squad and Ken Webster was signed off the Dolphins practice squad having played for new secondary coach Tony Oden with Miami last season.

Sanu signing made official

The news of the 49ers adding receiver Mohamed Sanu came earlier in the week, but his signing couldn’t become official until Friday when he could enter the team’s facility after passing COVID-19 tests three straight days. Sanu was on the practice field for the team’s walk through Friday and has a chance to make his debut Sunday against the Jets. He signed a one-year contract.

Shanahan wouldn’t commit to Sanu being available against the Jets after getting just one light practice in. However, Sanu should be familiar with the offense after playing for Shanahan with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 and similar versions in Atlanta after Shanahan left. Sanu also participated in meetings this week over Zoom. He was released by the New England Patriots before the start of the regular season.

“If we have five receivers up, he’ll be up,” Shanahan said. “We still haven’t decided yet with everything going on. ... We’ll see how it balances it out this week.”

The 49ers had just four receivers available for Week 1, and they combined for just four catches and 41 yards.

Sanu’s arrival looks like it will coincide with the debut of rookie first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk, who was held out of last week’s game despite practicing the previous Thursday and Friday following a training camp hamstring strain. That leaves San Francisco with five healthy receivers: Sanu, Kendrick Bourne, Dante Pettis, Trent Taylor and Aiyuk.

Aiyuk was a full participant in all three practices this week, as was center Ben Garland, who missed the opener with an ankle sprain last month. It’s likely Garland returns to the starting lineup after being replaced by Hroniss Grasu in the opener.

The corresponding move to make room for Sanu was placing Richie James Jr. on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. James suffered the injury Week 1 against Arizona after returning from a broken bone in his right wrist and hand area over the summer. James will be required to miss the next three games meaning the earliest he can return is Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins.

Jets rule out Crowder

The 49ers aren’t the only team playing at the Meadowlands Sunday dealing with injuries. The Jets, who already placed top running back Le’Veon Bell and rookie receiver Denzel Mims on injured reserve with hamstring injuries, will also be without slot receiver Jamison Crowder, the team announced Friday.

Crowder, 27, led the Jets in targets (13), catches (seven) and yards (115) in their loss to Buffalo to open the season. He also scored their only meaningful touchdown, a 69-yarder in the second quarter, while accounting for 53 percent of quarterback Sam Darnold’s passing yards. That leaves New York with a group of skill position players composed of running back Frank Gore, receivers Breshad Perriman, Chris Hogan and Braxton Berrios, and tight end Chris Herndon.

Crowder was the Jets’ leading receiver in 2019 with 883 yards, just ahead of Robby Anderson’s 779 yards, before Anderson bolted for the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in March. Berrios is expected he replace Anderson in the slot. He has six catches for 115 yards for his career, all coming with the Patriots last season after being a sixth-round draft pick by New England.

The Jets also ruled out backup quarterback Joe Flacco (neck). Outside linebacker Tarell Basham (hip), running back La’Mical Perine (ankle) and LB Avery Williamson (hamstring) are listed as questionable.

This story was originally published September 18, 2020 at 2:56 PM.