Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan joined KNBR this morning. One of the week’s biggest storylines has been
George Kittle‘s sore calf and the potential availability (or unavailability) of the tight end for Sunday’s divisional game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Kittle has not practiced this week. The team will hold one final session this afternoon. Usually, when a player does not practice, that means he is unlikely to play. That may not be the case for Kittle, though.
The 49ers coach was asked if Kittle would play against the Seahawks.
“I hope so,” Shanahan responded on the Murph & Mac show. “I wish I could state it like that, but it’s not guaranteed. We were hoping it would heal a little bit more and expected it to by yesterday. He went out to give it a go in walk-thru [yesterday], and it was just still bothering him, so we shut him down for the day.
“I haven’t seen him yet today. Hopefully, he’s coming in today, feeling better. He’ll get a few reps out there today, and then we’re hoping he’ll be ready by Sunday.
“Even if he doesn’t go today, George is a guy who’s played long enough, who plays the game as hard as he possibly can, whether he practiced that week or not. So, George is a guy that if he doesn’t practice, he’s still going to have an option to play in that game.
“As long as it’s not risking him, we’ll give that decision all the way up to kickoff, if need be.”
Shanahan also provided an update on running back
Elijah Mitchell, who suffered a shoulder injury during Week 2. He has been limited during practices this week. Is he ready to go?
“Not yet,” Shanahan answered. “He got the most work he’s gotten here in two weeks yesterday. Just got a couple of runs. He’s still hurting, still sore. We’ve still got him in a blue jersey, so no one can touch him, but we’ll see how he does today. Each day of rest is helping his body heal. But that probably won’t be a decision we make until tomorrow.”
If Mitchell can’t go, that could mean a healthy dose of the team’s other rookie running back, Trey Sermon, carrying the football.
Lastly, Shanahan had an update on cornerback Josh Norman, who suffered a lung contusion against the Green Bay Packers.
“Right now, I’ll see how it is when I talk to the doctors today, but I would pretty much think it’s pretty doubtful,” Shanahan said. “We’re hoping he can get out there. He’s trying to condition. Any time you get an injury like that when it’s in your lungs area and stuff like that, when you do heal up, you’ve got to get your stamina back. You’ve got to get your breath back.
“Any time you mess with the lungs, it’s a little bit scary for anybody, let alone an athlete, out there working hard and doing stuff like that. We’ll be able to condition him the most today that we’ve been able to in the last five days, and if he responds real well, then I think he’ll have a chance. So, hopefully, we have a good day today.”
You can listen to the entire conversation with Shanahan below.
Related News
Cornerback Josh Norman exited Sunday night’s game in the closing minutes of the first half. He left the field for the locker room and was then taken to a local hospital, where he spent the night.
This morning, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that Norman was spitting up blood and remained in the hospital’s care as a precaution. Later, Ian Rapoport reported that Norman is dealing with two bruised lungs and tissue damage, resulting in the previously reported bleeding. However, the NFL insider added that there is still hope that the veteran cornerback might be available for Week 4’s matchup between the 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke
The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for their Week 4 contest against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Running back Elijah Mitchell is making progress. He practiced today. However, he was limited and practiced in a blue no-contact jersey. Mitchell missed this past weekend’s game against the Green Bay Packers after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 2.
Cornerback Josh Norman suffered a lung contusion against the Packers and was reportedly spitting up blood. Today, head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked if he still feels there is a chance that Norman might play this weekend.
RELATED: Shanahan
When San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan jumped on KNBR this afternoon, he was immediately asked if his team had put out an ad for running backs yet. Shanahan laughed and responded, “We thought about it. It got pretty dire there for a little bit.”
The 49ers lost several running backs during Sunday’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Elijah Mitchell, Trey Sermon, and JaMycal Hasty all left the game with injuries. Mitchell returned, but only after the other two were sidelined.
The team was already without Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson. Hasty is expected to land on injured reserve. Mitchell is dealing with a knee injury and has not practiced this week.
Sermon is in the concussion protocol and has been limited during practices. The way things
The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for their Week 4 contest against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
George Kittle missed yesterday’s practice and didn’t participate today either. The tight end is dealing with some calf soreness following the team’s Week 3 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
“I mean, he should be alright this week,” head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters yesterday. “Just sorer today than we expected, and we’ll take it day-by-day now.”
Cornerback Josh Norman suffered a lung contusion against the Packers. He also missed his second consecutive day of practice
