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The San Francisco 49ers paid a heavy price in the team’s second game of the preseason, losing two meaningful offseason additions on the defensive side of the ball.
Maurice Hurst suffered a high ankle sprain early in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, August 22, which is likely to leave the defensive tackle sidelined for at least a month. The Niners added Hurst, who played his first three NFL seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, on April 23.
Mychal Kendricks, who was signed just one week ago as a means of bolstering the Niners linebacking corps, hyperextended his big toe on special teams during his first action of the game. The linebacker, a nine-year veteran of the NFL and a former member of NFC West Division rival Seattle Seahawks, is also expected to miss a month or more.
Hurst and Kendricks’ Future With Niners in Doubt
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GettyHead coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers.
Decisions on the future of both players are expected to come down no later than Tuesday, according to Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan.
“Any time you have an ankle and a toe, you’re looking at at least a month, so that is something we definitely have to discuss today,” Shanahan told members of the media during a press session Monday. “How it plays out for the final roster spot … we will have a decision by tomorrow.”
Roster cuts are mandated by the NFL at regular intervals from now until the official 53-man team is announced on August 31. The next such cut, during which the Niners will reduce the team’s roster from 85 players to 80, is due Tuesday.
Bad Injury Luck Keeps Coming in San Francisco
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GettySan Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams.
Hurst and Kendricks were not the only injury casualties the Niners suffered in their 15-10 victory over the Chargers Sunday.
San Francisco guard Senio Kelemete is day-to-day after leaving the game with back injury. Cornerback Alexander Myres suffered a blow to the head and entered league protocol for head injuries, but was found not to have sustained a concussion.
Those four players are far from the only members of the Niners current roster who are banged up.
Cam Inman, of the San Jose Mercury, reported via Twitter on Thursday morning, August 19 the absence of several key players from practice on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
“Among the 49ers not practicing are: wide receiver Jalen Hurd (knee), defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (knee), running back Elijah Mitchell (abductor), and offensive linemen Trent Williams (knee), Shon Coleman (knee) and Aaron Banks (shoulder),” Inman tweeted.
Kinlaw, a 23-year-old defensive tackle who played in 14 games for the Niners last season, starting in 12 of them, is out with a shoulder injury.
Banks, a rookie right guard drafted by the Niners with the 48th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft, is also dealing with shoulder issues.
Williams, San Francisco’s eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle missed almost all of last week, including Sunday’s game, following a procedure to drain his injured knee.