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49ers provide update on Ahkello Witherspoon and it’s not good

By

Jacob Hutchinson

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© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Ahkello Witherspoon was carted into the locker room during Sunday’s 24-20 home win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, though he did return to the sideline later in the game. His self-assessment was nonplussed; he was convinced that his foot injury wouldn’t keep him out long and he’d be able to return by Week 5 following the 49ers’ bye. As it turns out, players are often wretched at self-diagnoses.

Witherspoon’s injury could be a problem

As head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed on Monday, Witherspoon has a foot sprain, which Shanahan said would keep him out for “at least a month.” That’s a massive blow to a much-improved 49ers defense in which Witherspoon has been a focal point. He’s been targeted often and for the most part, he’s shut down the receivers lined up against him. Now, the 49ers will have to decide whether Emmanuel Moseley, D.J. Reed or Jason Verrett will take over that second corner spot in Witherspoon’s absence.

For the moment, it’s Moseley’s job to lose. Shanahan said Moseley, “would be the lead guy right now,” with a final decision coming after the 49ers practice (Shanahan said he planned on getting an additional three practices over what the team had last season; when the 49ers came off their bye only to be bludgeoned 27-9 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

Moseley has been extraordinarily efficient at making tackles in the open field on special teams and took over after Verrett was benched following two snaps in which he was beaten badly (a deep pass interference call and a touchdown in which receiver Diontae Johnson created about five yards of separation), the second of which was a touchdown with 10:22 left in the fourth quarter that gave the Steelers a 20-17 lead. As Shanahan put it, “He just got beat,” though, he said that trial and failure by fire wouldn’t affect his standing on the team.

Finally, a bit of clarity on Jalen Hurd; and a potential headache when Tevin Coleman returns

For the first time since training camp, there is a diagnosis of Jalen Hurd’s injury. It was initially termed “back tightness,” but as the weeks wore on, it became clear (as was also evidenced by the vague “back” injury, rather than “back tightness” descriptor) that it was something more serious.

When asked about Hurd’s status on Monday, Shanahan said he still expects him to return in Week 5, but that it is a temperamental and serious “stress reaction” back injury that required inactivity on Hurd’s part for about a month.

“I do expect him back [for Week 5],” Shanahan said. “This will be a big week for him with rehab and stuff while we’re gone. But yeah, I’m hoping he’ll be back next Monday, and I expect him to… He had a [stress reaction] in his back. It’s been a serious injury, that’s why he had to rest it for about a month. We’re getting close to here where he should be ready to go, so hopefully it’ll work out right for him. You never know when they come back out if that can act up again, but we feel it’s healing up and hopefully he’ll be able to come out here and help us.”

As for Tevin Coleman, he’s also expected to be back in 49ers practice next Monday. That could be good news for the 49ers, though, the way they’ve run the ball with the trident of Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, it could create more problems than it could solve.

It seems that despite Wilson’s four red zone touchdowns over the past two weeks, he could be the odd man out (not cut, but sidelined).

“It’s pretty tough to use four backs throughout a game, but that’s a problem I’m looking forward to having, to try to figure out,” Shanahan said, before expanding on Wilson. “I think [Wilson] ran the ball pretty well in the red zone. I think we’ve blocked pretty well down there, too. I think he’s been more of our down, north and south downhill runner. I think Tevin’s very similar to that also. I think at times, Raheem [Mostert] and [Matt] Breida can do that. We’re willing to use all of them, but what we’ve asked Jeff to do in these two weeks, he’s done very well.”

Jon Condo surprised the 49ers with retirement; replacement coming tomorrow

The 49ers are about to be onto their third long snapper of the season (while retaining the still-suspended Kyle Nelson; who is eligible to return in after sitting for another three games) after waiving Collin Holba and signing the 38-year-old Jon Condo. Condo struggled on Sunday, both in the punt game, and with a bad snap on an extra point attempt.

Shanahan said Condo surprised the 49ers on Monday, saying “his heart just wasn’t in it.” Shanahan said the 49ers would work out a long snapper Monday night and make a signing by Tuesday. According to The Athletic’s Matt Barrows, that’ll be Garrison Sandborn.

Condo put out a retirement statement, listed below:

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