Photo Credit: Chris Mezzavilla
With the 49ers’ final preseason game just two days out, it was a light day of work in Santa Clara. The team took the pads off and went light, going through a walkthrough before their regular season dress rehearsal against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan provided updates before Sunday.
First, the injuries.
Most seriously, Richie James Jr. sustained a knee injury. It’s expected to be a six-week injury, and is not ACL-related. Shanahan believes it’s related to the meniscus, but wasn’t certain.
Shanahan said Jason Verrett, who missed the last two days of full practice before participating in walkthroughs, is dealing with plantar fasciitis, and Dre Greenlaw has a hip issue, but said that there are no long-term concerns for either player.
Rookie offensive lineman Jaylon Moore returned to practice on Friday after dealing with a stinger for the two prior days, as did Jauan Jennings, who’s been dealing with a heel injury. Shanahan said things are “looking good” for Jennings to play Sunday, and Moore is likely to play.
Perhaps more surprising, is Brandon Aiyuk, who Shanahan mentioned has “slight hamstring” injury and will be out for Sunday’s game. It’s too early to be seriously concerned, though, with the 49ers having two full weeks to prepare before their regular season opener on September 12 in Detroit against the Lions.
As for the star edge rushers, well, don’t expect to see them on Sunday. Shanahan said Dee Ford will not play against the Raiders, and “odds are” that Nick Bosa will not, either. He has yet to make a definite decision on Bosa.
The plan for the starters, Shanahan said, is to “get close to the first half,” but that depending on how the game goes, he’s hoping to take the first time out some time in the second quarter, with some players likely coming out earlier than that.