49ers’ RB McKinnon tears his ACL.
SANTA CLARA >> Running back Jerick McKinnon sustained a season-ending knee injury in practice Saturday, ruining what had been a promising and pricey addition to the 49ers offense.
McKinnon tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee the first day back in team drills since straining his right calf Aug. 9.
“It was the last play of practice, made a cut on air, no one was around him, just went down, looked awkward,” coach Kyle Shanahan said in a media conference call.
Shanahan was “extremely concerned” it could be an ACL tear before tests confirmed that diagnosis three hours later.
Look for the 49ers to deploy Matt Breida and Alfred Morris as their primary running backs, with perhaps more use of fullback Kyle Juszczyk as a receiver.
Shanahan noted the “unusual” timing of McKinnon’s injury, in that it came a couple hours before
the 49ers’ roster got pared to the 53-man limit prior to the 1 p.m. deadline. The media had no previous notice or access to Saturday’s practice.
Shanahan said a “bad MRI” would lead to the 49ers placing McKinnon on injured reserve as he faces reconstructive surgery and about a year of rehabilitation.
Among those cut Saturday were running back Jeremy McNichols and Jeff Wilson. On Friday, the 49ers released running back Joe Williams, a 2017 fourth-round draft pick who sustained a rib fracture two weeks ago.
“We’re concerned, but we’re also confident,” general
manager John Lynch said. “We’ve got a lot of good football players here, and we’re proud of our 53-man roster. Next week we’re going to be really excited looking to take on the Vikings.”
In the wake of McKinnon’s calf strain and Breida’s Aug. 9 shoulder separation, the 49ers signed Morris two weeks ago, reuniting Morris with Shanahan from their Washington days in 2012-13. The only other running back on the current roster is Raheem Mostert, who’s more of a specialteams ace.
Shanahahn said Breida returned to practice Saturday, as did tight end George Kittle, who also sustained a shoulder separation in the exhibition opener.
The 49ers signed McKinnon,
a former Minnesota Vikings backup, to a whopping four-year, $30 million deal as free agency opened in March. He started the Aug. 9 exhibition against the Dallas Cowboys and was held to minus-4 yards
on three carries while also making a 7-yard catch.
• The 49ers pursued a trade for Raiders pass rusher Khalil Mack before the Chicago Bears nabbed him with an extensive offer, including two first-round
draft picks.
“Yes, we would have been foolish not to. The guy is a spectacular player,” Lynch said. “We’ve always said we’ll exhaust every option to improve our team.
“We went aggressively but also knowing that we had to set some parameters, and we did. Somebody else landed him. We’re excited about our team.”
The 49ers potential edge rushers are Solomon Thomas, Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, Cassius Marsh, Dekoda Watson, Ronald Blair and Jullian Taylor. Jeremiah Attaochu was released among Saturday’s moves.
Asked if the 49ers remain in the market for an edge rusher, Shanahan replied: “We looked into Khalil Mack. We’ll look into anything that can improve us. If there is an
edge rusher we think is better than one of our 10 guys and can come play for us, that’s what we’ll do.”
• Saturday’s 21 players cut also included guard Jonathan Cooper, wide receivers Aaron Burbridge and Steve Dunbar, tight end Cole Hikutini, linebackers Pita Taumoepenu and Korey Toomer, cornerback Tarvarus McFadden, and quarterback Nick Mullens, the latter of whom Shanahan said will return to the practice squad.
• Offensive lineman Erik Magnuson and safety Marcell Harris are candidates to go on injured reserve because of hamstring injuries, especially Harris, Shanahan said. Offensive tackle Garry Gilliam remains in the concussion protocol, three weeks after getting hurt.