49ers’ Hurd, Verrett land on injured reserve
SANTA CLARA » Jalen Hurd’s two touchdown catches in the exhibition opener teased everyone what a powerful, playmaking weapon the 49ers had in their third-round draft pick.
An ensuing stress fracture in his back put Hurd’s rookie season on hold, so much so that he’s now out at least another two months, if not the entire year.
Hurd went on injured reserve Thursday along with cornerback Jason Verrett, who had a troublesome knee injury flare up in his 49ers debut last game.
Rest is required for both players, and, like anyone who goes on injured reserve since Week 1, they’re candidates for the 49ers’ two short-term IR spots, designations that don’t have to be officially declared until their practice window opens in six weeks.
One of those short-term IR spots, however, is likely ticketed for Trent Taylor, who could debut as soon as Oct. 31 at Arizona. Taylor and Hurd figured to be popular targets as slot receivers this season. That role has been assumed by second-year speedster Richie James (four catches, 68 yards, 1 touchdown). The 49ers typically deploy two receivers and two tight ends rather than a three-receiver formation.
Veteran slot receiver Jordan Matthews, who coach Kyle Shanahan said was “extremely close” to making the opening- day roster, re-signed Thursday to add depth at that spot.
“I have a pretty good grasp of the offense still,” said Matthews, who still likely won’t suit up unless an injury strikes James or fellow reserve Kendrick Bourne. The 49ers’ top wide receivers remain Deebo Samuel, Dante Pettis and Marquise Goodwin.
Hurd quietly walked through the locker room Thursday and showed signs of cupping therapy on his lower back. Shanahan said of the injury: “There’s just as good of a chance to come back in three weeks as there is 10 weeks. We took that chance. It hasn’t been healing the way we wanted it to. The pain is still there, so we’ve got to give him at least another month.” FULL FLEET AT RUNNING BACK » Running back Tevin Coleman was limited but looked well Thursday in his first practice since a high-ankle sprain in the season opener. Assuming Coleman stays healthy this week, he’s expected to play against the
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Browns at 49ers, Monday, 5:15 p.m., ESPN Browns, and that likely would put Jeff Wilson Jr. on the inactive list despite backto-back games with two touchdown runs.
“If Tevin’s 100 percent and good to go, he’s a guy we would never keep out,” Shanahan said.
With Matt Breida (226 yards) and Raheem Mostert (202), the 49ers are the only team with two pure running backs over 200 yards; the Ravens tout Mark Ingram (328) and quarterback Lamar Jackson (238). DEFENSIVE BACK SHUFFLE » Health issues kept Verrett from participating much since he arrived in free agency, and even a 14snap workload in his 49ers debut last game aggravated a left-knee injury dating back a couple years. Had he been healthy, and had he not given up a touchdown or a passinterference call in his four snaps on defense against the Steelers, Verrett would have been a strong candidate to fill in for Ahkello Witherspoon.
Instead, Emmanuel Moseley is poised for his first career start at right cornerback. Said Shanahan: “We trust him a lot. I’m excited to see E-Man play. He’s done a good job every time he’s got in there. I know he’ll be up for the challenge this week going against one of the better receivers in the league in Odell (Beckham Jr.) and one of the better receivers in the league in Jarvis (Landry).”
The 49ers added depth at the position by re-signing 2017 starter Dontae Johnson, and another option could be Jimmie Ward, who Shanahan referred to as a “wild card” for the secondary because he can play anywhere, and that presumably includes as a potential starter at free safety. HOW GAROPPOLO SPENT HIS BYE » Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo initially planned to visit his parents’ Chicago-area home over last weekend’s bye but changed course, noting it didn’t hurt that California’s weather is ever-pleasant.
So, apparently, was the climate- controlled confines of the 49ers’ offices, where Shanahan said Garoppolo holed up to evaluate not only the incoming Cleveland Browns but also his first few games of his comeback from last year’s knee injury.