Shanahan says 49ers can overcome injuries
SANTA CLARA >> Take away running back Jerick McKinnon and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to knee injuries, then take away a few more offensive weapons to more injuries, and it’s no surprise the 49ers are mired in a three-game losing streak.
Coach Kyle Shanahan insisted Monday the 49ers have “strong enough people” to reverse course, even if their daunting path next features the Green Bay
Packers at Lambeau Field on Monday night and then the undefeated Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 21.
“It was a tough blow early in the year, as everyone knows, losing McKinnon, and then losing our starting quarterback. I do think that takes a toll and everyone understands that,” Shanahan said. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t win games.”
The mistake-prone and injury-riddled 49ers (1-4) couldn’t overcome five turnovers Sunday and lost 28-18 to the previously winless Arizona Cardinals.
“We’ve played in two games now without Jimmy and we’ve been more than capable of winning both those games, and we haven’t gotten it done,” Shanahan added. “You try to look at that say to those players why did we lose games. What did we do good. What did we do bad. There are a lots of answers.”
Players responded in the locker room with defiant tones about this already being a lost season.
“It is way too early in the season to just start going through the motions,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said.
Right tackle Mike McGlinchey added: “I am not worried about the character of this team at all. Kyle addressed us after the game and he is not either.”
Shanahan, having kept the 49ers unified amid last season’s 0-9 start, knows expectations were rightly raised this season and that pressure is on everyone to perform better. And win.
“I know we’ve been through some adversity. I know this is the hand we’ve been dealt,” Shanahan said. “We have the people in our organization, we have the players, we have the strongest enough people who can
deal with it, man up and find a way to win.”
The second-year coach isn’t turning a deaf ear to the growing criticism, that it’s “hard to simplify your world” amid social media and outside chatter. “When you go through that and don’t meet outside expectations, it starts to affect you. I just try to constantly preach to our guys to be stronger than that, to try to not pay attention to that, because it’s not going to help you solve any problems.”
• Matt Breida’s sprained left ankle, which forced him out after Sunday’s first quarter, has him doubtful to play against the Packers. That prompted the 49ers to consider adding a running back, and some auditioned Monday, with former 49ers exhibition-season rushers Jeff Wilson and Jeremy McNichols among those being
considered.
“We got positive news — it wasn’t a high ankle sprain — but it’s still definitely a serious sprain so he’ll probably be doubtful this week,” Shanahan said of Breida, who remains among the league leading rushers.
Through Sunday, his 369 yards (49 carries) ranked fifth, one spot ahead of former 49ers and current Browns starter Carlos Hyde’s 348 yards (100 carries). Breida’s 7.5 yardsper-carry average leads the league. Alfred Morris ranks 23rd with 228 yards on 62 carries (3.7 ypc.)
• A weekly talking point is not only if the 49ers will add a quarterback but whether an experienced starter is sought. Shanahan cleared that up better Monday, stating: “Nick Mullens is our backup to (C.J.) Beathard, so we’re looking for a guy who’d have the
chance to come in and play if C.J. went down and Nick was going. We’d love ideally to find a practice-squad guy but we haven’t been able to do that yet” because of injuries elsewhere.
• Shanahan said Dante Pettis (knee) definitely will miss a second straight game, and so might wide reciever Marquise Goodwin (thigh, hamstring) although the latter will be reevaluated before their next practice, on Thursday.
Victor Bolden Jr. and Richie James each had their first career reception while rotating at split end in place of Goodwin and Pettis. Pierre Garçon and Trent Taylor each have only 16 receptions, and 81 other receivers have more in the league, including Kittle, who’s 399 receiving yards (on 23 catches) ranks 20th.
• Tight end George Kittle (knee) is among a slew of injured players who will be re-evaluated before being cleared when practice resumes Thursday.
Also on that list are wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (thigh, hamstring), left tackle Joe Staley (knee), center Weston Richburg (knee), right guard Mike Person (knee), tight end Garrett Celek (quadriceps), cornerbacks Richard Sherman (calf) and Jimmie Ward (hamstring) and linebacker Reuben Foster (shoulder). Goodwin and Ward did not play Sunday, and all others finished the game except for Richburg who left in the fourth quarter.