Forgotten man
Brandon Aiyuk had the third-most snaps (26) among 49ers wide receivers in Week 1, but wasn’t targeted once in the victory at Detroit.
⏩ 49ers Beat: Knee ailing Kinlaw; explaining Mostert time line.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.V. — The knee injury defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw suffered in December that the 49ers said required a “routine cleanup” surgery in January is still not behind him in September.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan provided more clarity Wednesday on the knee issue that limited Kinlaw during training camp, forced him to miss Sunday’s season opener and has sidelined him since he last practiced Sept. 6.
Kinlaw had knee tendinitis before the 49ers selected him No. 14 overall last year, but Shanahan said he has been sidelined because of the knee injury he suffered in a Week 15 loss to Dallas in 2020. At the time, general manager John Lynch termed it a “bone bruise.” On Wednesday, Shanahan called it a “pretty bad injury.”
“He got it cleaned up, but it still hasn’t healed quite as right as we want,” Shanahan said. “… When he’s (practiced), it’s started to affect him. We’re hoping that taking it easy these last 10 days or so, it will start to get better. We’ll see how it goes day to day.”
Without Kinlaw’s presence in the interior, the 49ers allowed 116 rushing yards and 4.8 yards a carry in their win Sunday at Detroit, which had up-the-middle runs of 20, 16 and 15 yards. Shanahan said he wasn’t sure if Kinlaw’s injury would heal or would need to be managed for the rest of the season. Kinlaw did rehab work Wednesday.
“That’s why we’re trying to take it slow with him,” Shanahan said. “And when we have, it’s gotten better. So you’ve got to continue to see how that continues to react. … Hopefully, (if ) it continues to go well today, he’ll get out there more” Thursday.
Mostert’s injury: On Tuesday, a day after Shanahan said Raheem Mostert would be sidelined for eight weeks, the running back announced on social media he was going to have season-ending knee surgery. Shanahan said he had only the initial prognosis when he told reporters Monday that Mostert was expected to miss about half the season.
“In further review, looking at other opinions, there’s a longer surgery you can do that will put him out for the year,” Shanahan said. “And that’s the way we’re going to go.”
Mostert suffered chipped knee cartilage in the season opener. He also was sidelined last year with a knee sprain and missed time during OTAs this offseason with an unspecified knee issue. Shanahan said he wasn’t surprised Mostert will have season-ending surgery after he received more information.
“Once I heard more stuff after the press conference (Monday), it made sense,” Shanahan said. “I don’t think there was much of a decision to make after hearing some of the stuff.”
Without Mostert, the 49ers’ three running backs on the 53-man roster are rookie Elijah Mitchell, JaMycal Hasty and rookie Trey Sermon ,a third-round pick who was inactive for the opener. Shanahan didn’t fully commit to Sermon making his NFL debut Sunday against the Eagles. The 49ers claimed running back Trenton Cannon off waivers from the Ravens on Wednesday after signing running back Kerryon Johnson to the practice squad Tuesday.
“Elijah stepped up when he came in. He did a hell of a job,” Shanahan said of Mitchell, who rushed for 104 yards on 19 carries against Detroit. “I have a lot of confidence in Hasty to do the same and same with Trey. He’ll get his opportunity now, (and) most likely” will be active.
Injury report: Cornerback
Emmanuel Moseley (knee), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (groin) and defensive tackle
Arik Armstead (abductor) did not practice. … Shanahan said he would be “surprised” if Armstead couldn’t play against Philadelphia. … Pass rusher
Dee Ford (ankle) and linebacker Marcell Harris (oblique) were limited in practice.