The San Francisco 49ers have been plagued by injuries early in the season, and Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams brought more bad news. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave suffered a partially torn right triceps, which will require surgery and likely end his season. Coach Kyle Shanahan expressed the significance of the loss, saying, “He’s one of our better players… He was definitely going in the right direction and was going to have a big year.”
Quarterback Brock Purdy is also dealing with back soreness, although an MRI revealed no serious damage. He will be day-to-day this week. Running back Christian McCaffrey, who has been sidelined with Achilles tendonitis, flew to Germany to consult with a specialist. Shanahan hopes the trip will help McCaffrey’s recovery.
With Hargrave out, the 49ers will look to their practice squad or active roster for a replacement. Options include Evan Anderson, T.Y. McGill, Kevin Givens, or Jordan Elliott. Yetur Gross-Matos could also move inside on passing downs.
McCaffrey’s injury has been a lingering issue, and Shanahan acknowledged that his return is uncertain. “Nobody knows” when he’ll be back, due to the unpredictable nature of his injury. The earliest he could return is October 10 against the Seattle Seahawks.
On a positive note, tight end George Kittle, who missed Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, may return to practice this week. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who has been dealing with knee and hamstring issues, is also expected to be ready to go.
The 49ers’ injury woes are a stark contrast to their good fortune last season, when key players remained relatively healthy. Shanahan remains optimistic, saying, “I try to stay positive with it that all of them are eventually going to come back.” However, the loss of Hargrave is a significant blow to the team’s depth and morale.
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