Just 3 wide receivers available after injuries
The 49ers arrived with five wide receivers, but they finished with just three.
Their 336 win over the Patriots on Sunday came with losses to their wideout corps: Deebo Samuel exited with a hamstring injury and Richie James Jr. left with an ankle injury, leaving just Kendrick Bourne, Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Taylor.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Samuel is unlikely to play when the 49ers visit Seattle on Sunday. The 49ers host the Packers four days after that.
“I know it pulled on him on that run, which usually is some time,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully, the severity won't be too bad — he won't miss too much time.”
Shanahan said Friday that the 49ers have been involved in trade discussions regarding wide receiver Dante Pettis with the Nov. 3 trade deadline looming. The 2018 secondround pick doesn’t have a catch this season and was inactive for the third straight game Sunday.
Do the injuries to Samuel and James mean the 49ers will keep Pettis?
“I don't think it was real likely before,” Shanahan said. “Everyone talks about it, especially with the deadline coming up. … I know Dante got mentioned a few days ago. We'll see if there's anything that comes up that helps our team. If it doesn't, I know Dante can help our team being on it, too. We'll look into those injuries tomorrow and keep playing out all trade possibilities until the deadline is over.”
Shortage of running backs:
Shanahan said running back Jeff Wilson likely suffered a high ankle sprain in the third quarter after rushing 112 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries.
“Not sounding great now,” Shanahan said.
Wilson is a likely candidate to go on injured reserve, on which he would miss a minimum of three games. The 49ers’ only healthy running backs on their active roster are JaMycal Hasty and Jerick McKinnon.
Raheem Mostert ( ankle) and Tevin Coleman ( knee) are both on injured reserve and won’t be available to face the Seahawks. The 49ers have one running back, Austin Walter, on their practice squad.
McKinnon had just three carries for minus1 yard and was not targeted with a pass Sunday. Shanahan said they wanted to rest McKinnon, who missed the previous two seasons with knee issues and has rushed 17 yards on 10 carries since playing 67 snaps in a Week 4 loss to the Eagles.
Rookie mistake: Shanahan had mostly praise for Aiyuk after the firstround pick had six catches for 115 yards.
His lone quibble: Aiyuk didn’t turn into a cornerback on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s Hail Mary heave that was intercepted by cornerback J. C. Jackson.
“Really counted on him to break up the pass at the end of the second quarter so Jimmy doesn't have to take that pick,” Shanahan said.