Tiller has weathered the pain, now he has so much to gain
Before Sunday night, Andrew Tiller’s NFL career had included two tears and one snap. First, those tears. As a rookie with the Saints in 2012, the 49ers right guard tore his biceps in the preseason opener and spent the season on injured reserve. In 2013, he sustained a less severe biceps injury in training camp, missed three preseason games and was among New Orleans’ final roster cuts. In 2014, he tore a calf muscle in training camp with the Packers and was cut before the regular-season opener.
Thanks partly to his painful preseasons, Tiller, a sixthround pick, had played one regular-season snap, spent time on three teams’ practice squads and had been waived five times in his first 41 months in the league.
“Those always haunted me,” Tiller said. “The biggest thing for me has been just dealing with injuries.”
Tiller, 26, is now healthy and is happily dealing with this: speculation he could make his first NFL start Sunday when the 49ers host the Ravens.
Tiller rotated series with struggling starter Jordan Devey in last weekend’s 30-27 loss to the Giants, making his first appearance on their third series. Tiller and Devey each played 34 snaps and the new guy made a case for more playing time: Tiller, who is best
Niners left guard Alex Boone wasn’t penalized or fined for pushing Jon Beason in the back Sunday night, but he was criticized by the Giants linebacker.
On Friday, Beason claimed he sustained a concussion in last week’s 30-27 win over the 49ers because of a “coward move” by Boone.
On the fourth play from scrimmage, Beason was injured when he tackled running back Carlos Hyde, a stop that was preceded by a push in the back from Boone. Hyde was fined $23,152 for lowering the crown of his helmet on the play
“I can honestly say that, if I hadn’t got pushed in the back, I wouldn’t have been concussed,” Beason said to the New York media. “It’s unfortunate when another player — Alex Boone, to be exact — can reach back, grab you from behind and then deliberately push you in the back. It’s hard enough to stay healthy in this league. I think it was a coward move, it doesn’t show any sportsmanship, or regard for another player and their career.”
For his part, Boone said he had no intention of injuring Beason by pushing him toward a ball-carrier he was attempting to tackle.
“People are going to feel the way they feel,” Boone said. “I’m sorry that he feels that way. I’ve never intentionally ever tried to go out and hurt anybody. I respect this game more than anybody in this league. I respect everybody in it. If that’s how he feels, then good for him.”
Beason said he had no desire to reach out to Boone.
“If you’re frustrated, just call me,” Boone said. “I read the article, and he said he’s not going to reach out to me. That’s a shame. If I had a grievance with somebody I’m sure I’d call them and tell them, but everybody’s different.” Injury report: Hyde is experiencing foot soreness and is wearing an orthotic in his cleat after he was injured in the second half against the Giants.
Hyde didn’t leave the game — he finished with 93 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown — but was limited in practice Thursday and Friday after he was held out of Wednesday’s session. Head coach Jim Tomsula expects Hyde to play Sunday against the Ravens, although he is officially listed as questionable. Tomsula was asked if the 49ers might limit Hyde’s carries because of his injury.
“We’re going to play all that by ear,” he said. “Obviously, if we have opportunities to have people play, we want to do that in all positions. We just have to monitor it and see where it is.”
Running back Reggie Bush (calf ) is doubtful. Jarryd Hayne and Mike Davis would serve as the backups against the Ravens if Bush doesn’t play. Hayne and Davis have combined for 45 yards on 22 carries.
In other injury news, wide receiver Bruce Ellington is questionable after he was limited in the last two practices because he experienced tightness in his calf during Thursday’s session. Tomsula indicated outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks will play Sunday. Brooks returned to practice Wednesday after he’d been away from the team after the death of his sister.