SANTA CLARA — The 49ers’ injury list was a lengthy one Wednesday, and only time will tell if they’ll be without some key players in Week 5 or if it was more of a precaution due to the upcoming schedule and a blistering hot day.
Middle linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) and tight end George Kittle (ribs) were spared practice in what was the hottest practice of the year at 97 degrees. So were defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), wide receiver Jacob Cowing (shoulder), wide receiver Chris Conley (oblique) and linebacker Dee Winters (ankle).
Those who were limited were defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (knee), safety Talanoa Hufanga (ankle), defensive tackle Kevin Givens (triceps) and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (ankle).
Given that Warner wasn’t able to finish a 30-13 win over New England and Kittle did, his status is of the most concern. He was spotted jogging without a limp off to the side during the media viewing window at practice.
The seventh-year linebacker has been spectacular the first four games of the season, capped by a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown against New England, and is a candidate to won his his second NFL Player of the Month award in his career.
Warner, who said Sunday he would have returned to the game if he could, wasn’t making an proclamations either way about his status for the Arizona game. Asked how he was feeling, Warner smiled and said, “Wonderful. Legendary, as they say” and then was understandably vague about the injury.
“My plan is to obviously play,” Warner said. “I’m just going to continue to listen to what the training room wants me to do and take it one day at a time.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan said all injured players were “day to day” as they were on Monday, meaning there hasn’t been any setbacks or additional information which would preclude them from having a chance to play. But he is taking the injuries into account with the Cardinals coming to Levi’s Stadium Sunday and then a quick turnaround to face Seattle on the road Thursday night.
“We’ve got two games in eight days,” Shanahan said. “We’ve got a lot of guys banged up and the heat the way it is, we’re taking some stuff off guys today. We probably would have done it regardless, but with another game in eight days, it definitely made that decision easier.”
Defensive end Nick Bosa sees the NFC West games as a crucial stretch and looks forward to some time off after playing Seattle.
“Every game is big, division opponents count twice, and we have a mini-bye after the Thursday game,” Bosa said. “Getting two wins here, obviously it starts with Arizona, would be huge.”
MUSTAPHA’S STARTING DEBUT
Rookie safety Malik Mustapha thought he had a “solid” debut while playing all 64 defensive snaps in place of Hufanga at safety, but the fourth-round pick from Wake Forest enjoyed himself the most while serving as a blocker for Warner on his touchdown.
After Warner made the leaping catch, Mustapha sprinted toward the middle of the field and leveled …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
