Mostert set to play, Kittle not quite yet
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan liked what he saw from George Kittle in the tight end’s return to practice this week.
One disclaimer: Kittle was merely on the scout team.
He will not suit up for Sunday’s visit to the Dallas Cowboys, seven weeks after sustaining a foot fracture in Seattle.
But while Kittle continues to wait, running back Raheem Mostert was removed Friday from the injury report, clearing the way for him to play against Dallas.
Mostert had been limited in practice this week after aggravating an ankle injury. But he is “good to go,” Shanahan said in a video conference with reporters.
As for Kittle, Shanahan said he has “a chance” to return for the final two games of the regular season, Dec. 26 at the Arizona Cardinals and Jan. 3 against the Seattle Seahawks, also at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., where
the 49ers relocated because of Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 regulations.
Shanahan said the 49ers are taking the same approach to Kittle’s comeback as from earlier this season, when he returned to practice in Week 3 from a knee sprain but did not play until Week 4 against Philadelphia.
“He was fresh and looked good,” Shanahan said on KNBR 680-AM. “It’s all about what the doctors say. It’s how he feels this weekend, the soreness and stuff like that. That’s what your debate is, if there’s anything lingering and what the safety issues are of putting him out there.”
Also still on injured reserve is quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, whose ankle injury from that same game Nov. 1 in Seattle has kept him off the practice field, and that might remain so if the 49ers (5-8) lose Sunday and are eliminated from playoff contention.
Nick Mullens will make his sixth straight start at quarterback in place of Garoppolo.
General manager John Lynch indicated that staying alive in the playoff race Sunday also would factor into whether they’re “inclined” to bring back Kittle and Garoppolo.
“George has a broken bone; it’s healed at a good rate. He’s coming along fairly well,” Lynch said Thursday on KNBR. “We feel fairly good and we’ll still have a decision to make.
“Jimmy, the problem or the alternative or the consequence if it goes bad, he might have to have some surgery and we just don’t want to go there if we don’t have to. Now, he has made tremendous progress. There will be a decision there. This weekend will factor into that decision and at least have some part of it.” COUNTY ORDERS EXTENDED >> Levi’s Stadium will remain off limits to the 49ers for the remainder of the season because of Santa Clara County’s extension on COVID-19 restrictions that ban contact sports.
The ban, which could have been lifted Monday, instead will run through at least Jan. 8, according to updated protocol that aligns with state restrictions.
The 49ers anticipated such an extension once they relocated Dec. 2 to Glendale, Ariz.
“The day we were made to leave, we pretty much assumed that would happen,” Shanahan said Friday.
Even if the 49ers make the playoffs with the NFC’s third wild- card berth, they would not host a game. INJURY UPDATES >> Center Daniel Brunskill (shoulder) and defensive tackle D. J. Jones (ankle) also came off the 49ers’ injury list.
Linebacker Fred Warner (nerve stinger) and cornerbacks K’Waun Williams (ankle) and Emmanuel Moseley ( hamstring) were listed as questionable.
Ruled out were wide receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and backup center Hroniss Grasu (knee). Also, offensive line coach John Benton remains on the COVID-19 reserve list and will not attend Sunday’s game, nor will outside linebackers coach Johnny Holland.
The Cowboys expect to play their leading rusher, Ezekiel Elliott, who’s listed as questionable after missing practices with a calf strain. Limited along with Elliott are cornerback Rashard Robinson (knee) and safety
Xavier Woods (groin). Dallas ruled out cornerback Deante Burton (shoulder).
SKULE AT GUARD >> Justin Skule, who started eight games at left tackle as a rookie fill-in last year, is expected to make his first career start at right guard on Sunday. With Colton McKivitz on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list and Tom Compton on injured reserve (concussion), Skule is the last available player who has experience playing in this offense.
DEFENDING MCGLINCHEY >> Lynch echoed Shanahan’s statement earlier this week that they wouldn’t flinch to again draft right tackle Mike McGlinchey, their top pick in 2018. Lynch said that while McGlinchey has been “dominant” as a run blocker, the pass protection has lacked at key times this season.
“The thing with Mike, and I’m trying to think with how you’d equate it to a basketball player: occasionally he’ll shoot an air ball,” Lynch said. “His bad ones are whiffs and look really bad. But he still does block the guy in front of him at a very high rate.”
Endorsing McGlinchey is a clue that the 49ers will exercise his fifth-year option for 2022.