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Joe Staley unlikely for Sunday, with Marquise Goodwin, Levine Toilolo’s availability in question

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© Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports


Look for Staley to return against the Seahawks

After watching Joe Staley in practice on Thursday, it seemed increasingly unlikely that he’d be available by this Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. He was clearly not 100 percent, and said that his leg ‘blew up’ after his pregame workout before the Washington Redskins last Sunday, according to the Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman.

On Friday, Staley was listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game, which, as head coach Kyle Shanahan said, means he’d also be out for next Thursday’s Halloween game at the Arizona Cardinals if he doesn’t play this Sunday—”he needs to be good enough to be able to make it through both games.” An official decision will be made Sunday.

All of this still fits with Staley’s six-to-eight week return timeline, it just pushes him to the backend of that timeline.

This Sunday would have been exactly six weeks since his left fibula fracture, and his return, now likely on Monday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10, will be eight weeks and a day removed.

Questionable statuses for Marquise Goodwin, Levine Toilolo

For the past two days, Marquise Goodwin has been excused from 49ers practice for personal reasons. It is not believed that the absence is related to immediate family. He has been listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

“I know you guys saw Quise didn’t practice yesterday because of personal reasons,” Shanahan said Friday. “Same thing today, that’s why he’ll be questionable. Quise has been through as much tragic stuff here in the three years I’ve been with him as anyone I’ve been around. You guys have been awesome with how you guys have handled that, too, just respecting his privacy on that. Just until Quise is ready, I’m just hoping we can continue that a little bit for him. We’ll see how it goes this weekend, but right now, he is questionable.”

Levine Toilolo also became questionable for the first time this week with a groin injury. Toilolo is a fantastic blocking tight end, and with Kyle Juszczyk out, Ross Dwelley has slotted in at fullback. If Toilolo can’t go, George Kittle, who’s had a nagging groin injury that he’s played through (and played down) would be the only real tight end lined up at the traditional tight end spot on most downs.

“There isn’t [another option] right now,” Shanahan said. “So, we’ve been battling that for about a month now. We’ve been fortunate with the tight ends. It’s been tough, because one of them, [TE Ross] Dwelley’s gone to replace the fullback, so it would be a lot to deal with if he’s not able to go. I know he’s going to give it his best and if we had to play today, I know he wouldn’t be able to. Hopefully, he’ll heal up here in the next day and a half.”

There is a chance Jeff Wilson Jr. could take over some of the fullback duties for Dwelley, in order to allow him to be used more as a blocker. Shanahan mentioned Wilson as a fullback option (along with the goal line option of Sheldon Day), but has clearly preferred Dwelley’s size and blocking experience.

Raheem Mostert, with a knee injury, is also questionable for Sunday’s game, with Juszczyk, Mike McGlinchey and Ahkello Witherspoon all out.