Roster depth tested
Key reserves could start season on IR
SANTA CLARA >> Running back Joe Williams and offensive lineman Erik Magnuson got hurt so severely in the 49ers’ exhibition loss Saturday night they could open the season on injured reserve.
“That decision probably won’t be made until over the next week,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Sunday on a media conference call.
Williams sustained a rib fracture and Magnuson a hamstring tear in Saturday’s 16-13 loss at Houston. The 49ers could consider designating them to return from IR if they open the season on the roster.
Also, backup quarterback C.J. Beathard sustained a sprained foot that Shanahan said “looked pretty bad” upon reviewing film. Beathard was walking OK on Sunday and will be re-evaluated before the 49ers’ next practice on Tuesday.
Williams, locked in a duel for the No. 3 role, sustained a broken rib and came away badly bruised from Saturday’s action. He had eight carries for 18 yards, and although he had two catches for 14 yards, he couldn’t hold on to a Nick Mullens pass that resulted in an interception.
Williams, a fourth-round draft pick last year, spent his rookie season on injured reserve with an ankle issue. He was battling for a roster spot this year with candidates such as Raheem Mostert, Jeremy McNichols and, as of last week, Alfred Morris.
Magnuson suffered a hamstring injury that could keep him out six to eight weeks, if not longer, Shananan said. Magnuson
was among those competing at right guard and as a backup center. He’s also played tackle since joining the 49ers as an undrafted rookie in 2017 out of Michigan.
• Cornerback Richard Sherman (hamstring) is expected to practice Tuesday and likely needs to take part fully in team drills if he’s to play in Saturday’s exhibition at Indianapolis. The 49ers have limited his workload as he comes off Achilles repair. “Right now Richard feels good and wants to get his body ready for Week 1,” Shanahan said.
• Defensive end Arik Armstead, linebacker Malcolm Smith and cornerback K’Waun Williams should return from hamstring injuries and take part in individual drills Tuesday.
Defensive tackle Solomon Thomas and offensive tackle Garry Gilliam remain in the concussion protocol and will be reevaluated Tuesday, as will wide receiver Max McCaffrey (foot).
Out until at least Week 1 are running backs Jerick McKinnon (calf) and Matt Breida (shoulder), tight end George Kittle (shoulder) and cornerback Marcell Harris (hamstring).
• Right guard Joshua Garnett drew a positive review from Shanahan after his debut. “It was a success in he got to play a lot and he felt good after the game. He felt great today so that was very encouraging.” Garnett is competing with Mike Person and Jonathan Cooper, the latter of whom still shows signs of a nagging knee injury and needs to mentally regain confidence, Shanahan said.
• The 49ers are going headfirst into thick of an increasingly heated debate
about the NFL’s new helmet rule.
“The rule is idiotic And should be dismissed immediately,” Sherman tweeted Sunday. Sherman launched his social-media rants about the safety-conscious rule immediately after Saturday’s game in which Mostert and Jeremiah Attaouchu were penalized for “lowering the head to initiate contact.”
“Welcome to NFL football,” Sherman tweeted. “More offense is all they want. That’s why the calls go the way they do. … There is no ‘make adjustment’ to the way you tackle. Even in a perfect form tackle the body is led by the head.”
Mostert’s agent, Brett Tessler, came to his client’s defense and tweeted: “Is this really the way we want to affect the outcome of games this season?”
In fact, 24 of 32 teams already have been flagged for this new safety-oriented rule, and, with 49 penalties already called, it’s an obvious point of exhibition-season emphasis for officials — and their critics.
Everyone feels the same. We’re all just hoping we eventually fix this and figure out what we can do about it,” Shanahan said. “It’s something we’re all struggling with right now.”