There is a “high level of confidence” that the San Francisco 49ers will have George Kittle available when they play the L.A. Rams in Week 1, according to CBS Sports reporter Matt Zenitz. But will the 49ers have anyone else?
Kittle tore his Achilles in a playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks in January, indicating a remarkable turnaround if he is able to suit up nine months later for a game. However, the 49ers have a growing list of injury concerns, including placing receiver Ricky Pearsall on season-ending injured reserve, and starters such as Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, Nick Bosa, Kyle Jusczcyk, Malik Mustapha, and Mykel Williams missing time in training camp.
Williams is on PUP while recovering from a torn ACL, and running back Isaac Guerendo is also on PUP, as is Kittle.
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The running back position exemplifies injury concerns related to San Francisco‘s depth, as not only is McCaffrey banged up, so is backup Jordan James, and so is rookie third-round pick Kaelon Black, and so is Guerendo. Without those four, the Niners are down to Patrick Taylor, Sincere McCormick, and Khalil Herbert.
The 49ers also added receiver depth by signing Deebo Samuel, as backup Jacob Cowing is also missing time in training camp, in addition to Evans and Pearsall.
Black isn’t the only third-round rookie out, as defensive end Romello Height is also injured.
The San Francisco 49ers had as many as 27 injured players as of Monday.
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When the Rams face the 49ers in Melbourne in one month, San Francisco is likely to get most of the players back. Some key players have avoided the injury bug so far, including Brock Purdy, Fred Warner, Trent Williams, and Alfred Collins. Bosa, McCaffrey, and Evans could all turn out “fine” by September, although it’s not a guarantee.
The Rams can’t expect the Niners to just be injured when they face off in Australia. L.A. has to prepare as if this is the full-time 49ers, which could include George Kittle. However, as things stand it’s not clear how many 49ers can actually make that trip.
