49ers’ Kittle to overlook a number of weeks, Purdy questionable

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers star tight finish George Kittle will miss not less than a couple of weeks with a hamstring harm and quarterback Brock Purdy’s standing for this week is in query after he harm his left shoulder and toe within the season opener.

Coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned the crew hasn’t determined but whether or not to put Kittle on injured reserve which might sideline him for 4 weeks or preserve him on the energetic roster in case he can return earlier.

Shanahan mentioned the crew can also be nonetheless ready to get extra exams on receiver Jauan Jennings’ shoulder harm to find out if he must miss any time. An MRI got here again clear however Jennings nonetheless wanted to endure a CT scan.

Purdy’s standing stays in query for this week with Shanahan saying that the toe harm is extra of a priority than his non-throwing shoulder.

“We’re unsure,” Shanahan mentioned of Purdy’s standing for this week. “We’ve got to see the way it heals and the way the week goes on it.”

Purdy led a game-winning drive on Sunday when he threw a 4-yard TD go to Jake Tonges with 1:34 to play in a 17-13 win. He went 26 for 35 for 277 yards with two TDs and two interceptions.

Purdy missed two video games final season with accidents, sitting out one recreation with a proper shoulder harm and one other with a proper elbow harm.

If Purdy is unable to play this week at New Orleans, the Niners would flip to Mac Jones. The previous first-round decide by New England in 2021 signed with San Francisco as a free agent in March.

Shanahan has been happy with what he has seen from Jones, who’s again wholesome after lacking time late in coaching camp with a knee harm.

“I believe he’s gotten actually used to what we do,” Shanahan mentioned. “He had a bit setback there the final couple weeks at camp with the harm that he received. However he had a very good week of apply final week, selecting up actually proper the place he left off. If he has to go this week, he’ll lead the blokes, the blokes will imagine in him and I do know he’ll do his job at a excessive degree.”

Kittle received harm within the second quarter on Sunday. He had 4 catches for 25 yards and a TD earlier than the harm. Tonges changed him and had his first three profession catches, together with the game-winning TD.

Kittle has handled a number of minor accidents in his profession however has performed not less than 14 video games in seven of his eight seasons. He has had 4 seasons with not less than 1,000 yards receiving and led San Francisco with 78 catches for 1,106 yards and eight TDs final season.

San Francisco did attain an settlement Monday to carry again receiver Kendrick Bourne on a one-year price as much as $5 million and he may have a big function this week with Kittle out and Jennings’ standing in query.

Proper guard Ben Bartch additionally had a minor knee sprain within the recreation and is everyday.

Attainable kicker competitors?

Shanahan mentioned the crew may take a look at making a doable change at kicker after Jake Moody missed two subject objectives Sunday. Moody missed a 27-yarder within the first half and had a 30-yarder blocked within the second half, marking the primary time in 19 years that the Niners had two misses inside 40 yards in the identical recreation.

Moody struggled final season after getting back from an ankle harm — lacking 9 of 14 makes an attempt from not less than 40 yards in his remaining 9 video games.

The crew introduced in Greg Joseph as competitors within the offseason however minimize him early in camp. Shanahan mentioned the crew is contemplating bringing in one other kicker this week.

“We’re all that stuff now,” he mentioned. “There’s choices. Whether or not it’s keep the established order, bringing guys in for a exercise, apply squad. However we’re going via all that proper now. Simply completed with the crew and I do know the personnel division goes to look into all of that stuff and provides us choices.”