DOUBLE WHAMMY
Garappolo, Kittle shelved indefinitely following injuries Sunday vs. Seahawks
SANTA ELARA >> George Kittle’s season could be over and Jimmy Garoppolo’s is on indefinite hold.
While it’s no surprise Garoppolo requires more rest after aggravating a high ankle sprain, Kittle’s foot injury in Sunday’s 37-27 loss to Seattle is worse than initially thought, a league source confirmed.
Kittle will miss eight weeks, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, because of a fracture that was not revealed in an initial X-ray at CenturyLink Field.
Kittle came limping off the field after making a 25-yard reception
in the fourth quarter on a pass from Garoppolo’s replacement, Nick Mullens, with the 49ers down 30-7.
At the same time, Garoppolo was already on his way to the locker room after re-aggravating his troublesome right ankle
on the third sack he endured against the Seahawks.
Losing those two offensive captains could be a death blow to the 49ers’ fading playoff hopes.
Ravaged by injuries to multiple other starters this season, the 49ers (4- 4) host the Green Bay Packers (5-2) on Thursday night, a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship game.
Earlier Monday, the 49ers extracted a key element of their defense by trading linebacker Kwon Alexander to the New Orleans Saints, in exchange for injured linebacker Kiko Alonso and a fifth-round draft pick.
Alexander has missed the past three games and been replaced time after time by Dre Greenlaw over the past 1 1/2 seasons.
Kittle is irreplaceable.
Last season’s first-team All-Pro was rewarded before this season with a record contract for a tight end (five years, $75 million). He is the 49ers’ leading receiver (37 catches, 474 yards, two touchdowns) and their overall catalyst with his infectious enthusiasm and blocking prowess.
Even though the 49ers won back-toback games early this season in New York while Kittle sat out with a knee injury, the roster has been further decimated by injuries elsewhere and has little resemblance to last season’s Super Bowl outfit.
Jordan Reed could be coming off a Week 3 knee injury just in time to replace Kittle, but it might be a long shot that comeback takes place Thursday night. Reed resumed practicing last week. The 49ers’ only practice this week will be a half-speed session Tuesday.
Other tight ends on the roster are Ross Dwelley and Charlie Woerner. Veteran Daniel Helm is on the practice squad.
As for replacing Garoppolo again, Mullens slots into the starting role, and he gained momentum plus confidence in Sunday’s relief role. Mullens led touchdown drives on all three of his fourthquarter series, albeit against a Seahawks team focused on the clock with a big lead.
That helped Mullens get the bad taste out of his mouth from his last start, a three-turnover disaster that got him benched during an Oct. 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. C. J. Beathard replaced Mullens that game and Garoppolo in the next week’s loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Garoppolo, who turned 29 on Monday, initially hurt his ankle in a Week 2 win at the Jets. He left at halftime, sat out the next two games, and returned Oct. 4 against Miami before getting benched as two interceptions underscored how limited he was on that right leg.
Shanahan adjusted his game plans and Garoppolo thrived with a short-passing game in wins over the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots. He was 43- of56 for 545 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in those wins.
Then came Sunday’s sloppiness in Seattle. Against the Seahawks’ blitz-heavy defense, Garoppolo passed for just 84 yards (11 of 16) and doomed things with a red zone interception in the first quarter.
Now the 49ers can start the paperwork for two more players go on injured reserve, with the chance that Tevin Coleman returns to it. Coleman left Sunday’s game after aggravating a knee injury that kept him out the previous five games.
The 49ers’ injury list is an ever-growing organism.
Already lost for the season are defensive linemen Nick Bosa, Solomon Thomas and Ziggy Ansah.
Out since the season opener have been cornerback Richard Sherman (calf) and defensive end Dee Ford ( back), with no guarantees either will come back this season. If their careers are in jeopardy, that would not be a surprise, not with their injury histories and certainly not the way this season is unfolding.
Also eligible to eventually come off on injured reserve are running backs Raheem Mostert (ankle) and Jeff Wilson Jr. (ankle), center Ben Garland (calf), linebacker Mark Nzeocha (quadriceps) and Reed.
Monday’s estimated injury report for Thursday’s game featured eight players who wouldn’t have been able to practice: Garoppolo, Kittle, Coleman, safety Jaquiski Tartt (groin), linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles ( hamstring) and wide receivers Deebo Samuel (hamstring), Richie James (ankle) and Dante Pettis (shoulder).