49ers’ Garoppolo, Kittle sidelined
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers will be without quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and All-Pro tight end George Kittle for an extended period of time after they were injured against Seattle.
A person familiar with the injuries said Monday on condition of anonymity that Garoppolo’s ankle injury and Kittle’s foot injury will sideline them indefinitely. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced their status.
ESPN first reported the severity of the injuries, saying Garoppolo will miss at least six weeks with a high ankle sprain and Kittle will be out eight weeks with a broken bone in his foot.
Garoppolo and Kittle are the latest in a long line of injuries this season that have derailed the defending NFC champions. San Francisco (4-4) already has been forced to play without defensive ends Nick Bosa, Dee Ford and Solomon Thomas; top cornerback Richard Sherman, No. 1 receiver Deebo Samuel; and running backs Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman and Jeff Wilson Jr. for extended periods of time this season.
This is the third significant injury of Garoppolo’s career. He hurt his shoulder in New England in 2016 and had a seasonending injury for San Francisco in 2018.
Nick Mullens will replace Garoppolo as starter beginning Thursday night against Green Bay. Mullens played well in one start this season before getting pulled in the fourth quarter of a 25-20 loss to Philadelphia on Oct. 4. Mullens threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter against the Seahawks on Sunday.
San Francisco also traded linebacker Kwon Alexander to New Orleans on Monday in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso and a conditional fifthround draft choice.
Bears WR Wims banned 2 games
The NFL suspended Chicago Bears receiver Javon Wims two games Monday for punching New Orleans Saints safety C. J. Gardner-Johnson.
Wims was ejected in the third quarter Sunday, after Allen Robinson caught a 5-yard pass from Nick Foles.
On the other side of the field, Wims approached Gardner-Johnson from behind and appeared to reach for his mouth or neck. He threw a righthanded punch to his helmet and then another before both teams joined the scrum, and he wound up at the bottom of a pile.
Titans acquire Chargers CB King
The Tennessee Titans traded for cornerback Desmond King for a sixthround draft pick to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Titans made the move Monday, a day after a 31-20 loss to Cincinnati. It was their second straight loss after winning their first five games.
Tennessee currently has the NFL’s worst defense on third down and needs help in a banged-up secondary.
A Jim Thorpe award winner at Iowa, King was an All Pro two years ago as a punt returner but has had issues with inconsistent coverage and on punt returns.
Odds and ends
The Bills signed linebacker Darron Lee to their practice squad after the former first-round draft pick opened the season serving a four-week NFL suspension for an undisclosed reason. Lee was drafted by the Jets in 2016. … Seahawks defensive lineman Damontre Moore was suspended six games by the NFL for a violation of the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.