49ers down to one healthy running back
Jeff Wilson played only two offensive snaps Sunday in the 49ers' loss against the Seahawks because he had discomfort in his surgically repaired knee.
However, head coach Kyle Shanahan said the No. 2 running back could have returned to the game, if necessary.
“He was there,” Shanahan said, “in case of emergency.”
Wilson, even if he's still hobbling, might be needed Sunday when the 49ers visit Cincinnati because their runningback attrition could be reaching a crisis level. Not only did Shanahan share that Wilson is hobbling after he tore his meniscus in May, he also revealed that his leading rusher, rookie Elijah Mitchell, is in the concussion protocol after he reported symptoms Monday morning. That's not all.
On Saturday, the 49ers placed rookie running back Trey Sermon (ankle) on injured reserve. And they don't figure to have deep-on-the-depth-chart running back Trenton Cannon available against Cincinnati because the special-teams gunner suffered a concussion against the Seahawks that required an overnight stay in a Seattle hospital before he returned to the Bay Area on Monday.
Could wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who has flourished when moonlighting at running back recently, return from a groin injury to assist in the backfield? The outlook is murky.
“We'll go day-to-day with him,” Shanahan said. “I'm hoping to get him back this week. It's still too early to tell.”
Of course, it's possible Samuel could return, or Mitchell could be cleared to play before kickoff. At the moment, however, the 49ers' only healthy running back — on their 53-man roster or practice squad — is Jamycal Hasty, which is why they will host running-back tryouts Tuesday in Santa Clara.
The 49ers' three-game winning streak, which was snapped by the Seahawks, was fueled by a ground game that averaged 178.3 yards per game. The catalyst this season has been Mitchell, who ranks fourth in the NFC in rushing (759 yards) and has the third-most yards by a rookie running back in franchise history. On Sunday, Mitchell returned to the game after he was tested for a concussion on the sideline. Mitchell stayed down in the third quarter when he took an elbow to the helmet from defensive end Darrell Taylor.
It marked the second straight Sunday the 49ers have had a player return to the game after being tested for a concussion, only to have next-day symptoms. Linebacker Marcell Harris didn't play against Seattle after he suffered a concussion that wasn't initially diagnosed in a win against the Vikings on Nov. 28. Per the NFL'S concussion guidelines, players are tested by an independent doctor during games.
“The evaluation we do is the same as the whole league does,” Shanahan said.
The 49ers' injury news wasn't limited to the backfield. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who exited in the first quarter, suffered a high ankle sprain against Seattle and will miss several weeks, Shanahan said. In Seattle, Moseley initially was replaced by rookie cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, who struggled and was benched after halftime in favor of Dontae Johnson, a well-traveled, eightyear veteran.
The loss of Moseley comes at an inopportune time. The Bengals have quarterback Joe Burrow, who is on pace to throw for more than 4,400 yards, and three wide receivers who have at least 50 receptions: rookie No. 5 pick Ja'marr Chase (55 catches, 958 yards), Tee Higgins (52, 698) and Tyler Boyd (51, 556).
Seattle QB Russell Wilson had an 81.1 completion percentage (30-for-37) on Sunday — his second-highest in his past 39 starts — and threw for 231 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
“We're obviously struggling in that area,” Shanahan said. “Now losing EMan definitely doesn't make it easier. ... (Lenoir) did a couple of good things in the game, but then struggled on some things also.”
The 49ers have another rookie cornerback — third-round pick Ambry Thomas — but he has played only 20 defensive snaps this season.
“Hopefully, those two (rookies) can up their game and push Dontae and (Josh) Norman a little bit,” Shanahan said. “But those are the guys that we've got.”