Logically speaking, a bye week should help a team get healthier. Somehow, though, the 49ers have managed to come out of this week with more injury concerns than when it began.
After missing the first game of the season, Javon Kinlaw has since played the last four straight. He did not practice this week, and the tone from both Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch was not optimistic. Kinlaw expressed frustration on Instagram with a cryptic story earlier this week.
Maurice Hurst showed up on the injury report on Thursday for the first time as limited. He left the team’s facility in crutches and walking boot before Friday’s practice.
Trey Lance’s knee sprain kept him from practicing this week.
And perhaps most concerning of all, Trent Williams, who came in with an elbow injury, and was later revealed to have an ankle injury, did not practice this week.
According to Kyle Shanahan, Hurst, Kinlaw and Lance have all been ruled out for Sunday’s game, while Williams is doubtful. Given Williams’ impact, Shanahan said they’ll take his assessment “all the way up until game time.”
Shanahan said Williams sustained the ankle injury against the Cardinals and re-aggravated it on Monday.
The news for both defensive tackles is significant. Hurst, Shanahan said, suffered a serious calf injury, which means he’ll be out for four-to-eight weeks. Given that he already returned from injured reserve and can’t do so again, there’s a decent chance he’s done for the season.
Kinlaw, meanwhile, may be headed for injured reserve, where he’d have to stay for a minimum of three weeks. Shanahan said he and Lynch are “definitely concerned” about his knee injury. It sounds likelier than not that he’ll go to IR at this point.
On the other side of the status reoprt, Jimmy Garoppolo will return and start Sunday, as will K’Waun Williams. Marcell Harris, who has a fractured thumb and a cast, is questionable. Running back JaMychal Hasty is set to be activated from the IR with an ankle sprain.