QB Jimmy Garoppolo expected to join 49ers’ drills Saturday.

Garoppolo eased along; McKinnon has ‘flareup’

It didn’t take long. In fact, on Friday, shortly after players had reported for training camp, the 49ers’ first bad bit of injury news was announced less than 30 seconds into a news conference featuring head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.

Lynch told reporters that running back Jerick McKinnon would start camp on the physicallyunabletoperform list because he recently “had a little flareup” in his surgically repaired knee.

In addition, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and bigticket, freeagent inside linebacker Kwon Alexander — who both are coming off torn ACLs — have been medically cleared but will not play in the preseason opener against Dallas on Aug. 10.Uh, oh. Here they go again?

After two injuryfilled seasons that have in

cluded a 1022 record, the 49ers do have some players who will require careful monitoring as they open camp.

But they also have optimism their overhauled medical and training staff will give them a better chance to stay healthy in a pivotal season.

“I think more than ever there’s thought behind everything we do,” Lynch said. “And there’s people in the medical staff and strength staff working together and with that all you want to do is give yourself a chance. Injuries are part of this business and how can you best give yourself a chance?

“And we’re really proud of that group and the way they’re working with our players to give them every chance to be at full health.”

Such talk was a constant Friday in Lynch and Shanahan’s 38minute session in which they said players would be eased into camp slower than they have in recent years in an effort to prevent injuries.

Shanahan and Lynch expressed confidence in the changes, most unspecified, that have been made under the direction of head of player health and performance Ben Peterson and strength and conditioning coach Dustin Perry.

They indicated the 49ers would adopt strategies to deal with the humidity they’ll likely face in their season opener at Tampa Bay and the toll of playing backtoback, lateseason games at Baltimore and New Orleans.

“I think everyone knows that our injury history has not been great here over the last few years,” Shanahan said. “The one thing that I firmly believe is that injuries are up to one person and that’s God — or whatever you believe in.

“With the group that we have and the information they have, how much they work at it, the science and the graphs and the data they collect. … We know we’re doing everything possible to give these guys the best chance to stay healthy.”

For the moment, however, McKinnon, center Weston Richburg (knee), free safety Jimmie Ward (collarbone) and tight end Garrett Celek (back) will start the season on the PUP list.

Garoppolo, who was limited to 7on7 work during offseason practices, will take part in team drills during the first trainingcamp practice Saturday.

“I’m really happy with where I’m at,” Garoppolo said. “… It’s really coming together and now it’s time to roll.”

The 49ers expect McKinnon to come off the PUP list early in training camp, while Ward could start practicing in about two weeks. They hope Richburg will be ready for the season opener on Sept. 8. Celek, who had offseason back surgery, will open the regular season on the PUP list, meaning he can’t play in the first six games.

Richburg and McKinnon were the 49ers’ biggest freeagent acquisitions in 2018. McKinnon tore his ACL before the regular season and Richburg dealt with knee and quadriceps issues for most of the season.

Lynch downplayed the seriousness of McKinnon’s “flareup,” indicating it is partly a result of his aggressive approach to rehab.

“We’re kind of slowing him down, getting him off his legs, and ramping him back up,” Lynch said.