Injuries mounting with Kittle sitting out of practice, Sherman going onto IR
SANTA CLARA >> So much for the 49ers’ Revenge Tour. Say hello to the Rehab Tour.
Richard Sherman, the 49ers’ top cornerback and their outspoken captain, became a surprise addition Wednesday to the 49ers’ extensive medical ward.
He went on injured reserve as a precautionary measure because of a calf injury, sidelining him at least the next three games ahead of a potential Oct. 11 return against the Miami Dolphins.
Whereas Sherman’s injury was not evident as he played all but the final four snaps of Sunday’s 24-20 season-opening loss to the Cardinals, the 49ers’ most glaring issue from that defeat was tight end George Kittle’s knee sprain.
Kittle did not practice Wednesday, nor did wide receiver Richie James (hamstring) or cornerbacks Jason Verrett (hamstring) and Ahkello Witherspoon (concussion protocol).
“It’s a challenge but you always have something like this each year,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It’s hitting us pretty hard right now. Having IR-to-return helps.”
As is the case with wide receiver Deebo Samuel (foot) going on injured reserve Friday, the 49ers are
hoping Sherman can use the three-week break to get stronger.
Another factor that Shanahan noted in stashing players who have lowerbody injuries: artificial turf at MetLife Stadium, where the 49ers play their next two Sundays against the New York Jets and Giants.
The 49ers are only one game into their NFC title defense but they are one month into a stockpile of injuries. That began Day 2 of training camp when they lost one of their top wide receivers, Jalen Hurd, to a season-ending knee injury.
From there, the training room got crowded with soft-tissue injuries. The 49ers’ lack of full participation in practices over the previous weeks, after offseason workouts got nixed by the coronavirus, led to the jumbled mess in clutch situation for their Week 1 defeat.
“Every team has to deal with injuries and have a next-man-up mindset,” Jimmy Garoppolo said. “We have to rely on guys you trust and they earn that in practice.”
All is not lost, all are not wounded. The upcoming stretch is not as daunting as the 49ers’ second half of the season. CORNERBACK CRISIS >> Shanahan said he’s only been told that Sherman’s pain Monday was to a calf and not an Achilles, which he had repaired after his 2016
Seattle Seahawks tenure ended.
The 49ers still have their respected defensive front to get after the Jets’ Sam Darnold while the cornerback corps adjusts without Sherman, and possibly without Ahkello Witherspoon, a former starter who is in the concussion protocol. Emmanuel Moseley likely will start in Sherman’s place at left cornerback.
SANU’S SCHEDULE >> Wide receiver Mohamed Sanu can not practice until Friday at the earliest, assuming he clears COVID-19 tests after agreeing to a one-year deal Tuesday and flying in that night to the Bay Area.
“It’s going to be weird not getting a live rep with him, but we’ll make it work somehow,” said Garoppolo, whose only familiarity with Sanu is from watching film when Shanahan was the Atlanta Falcons’ 2016 coordinator and Sanu helped get them to the Super Bowl. HALL OF FAME BIDS >> The 49ers are represented among this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame nominees by Bryant Young, Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Jeff Garcia, Ricky Watters, Brent Jones, Takeo Spikes, Merton Hanks, Tim McDonald, Gary Anderson and Reggie Roby, plus current general manager John Lynch and wide receivers coach Wes Welker.