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Nick Wagoner, ESPN Workers AuthorSep 19, 2024, 05:09 PM ET
Close- Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has coated the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL at ESPN since 2016, having beforehand coated the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, together with three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In his 10 years with the corporate, Nick has led ESPN’s protection of the Niners’ 2019 Tremendous Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick’s protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the primary overtly homosexual participant drafted to the NFL, Sam’s subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the workforce’s relocation and stadium saga. You’ll be able to observe Nick by way of Twitter @nwagoner
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Already with out two of their most essential gamers, the San Francisco 49ers added two extra key names to the damage report Thursday when tight finish George Kittle and cornerback Charvarius Ward didn’t take part in observe.
Kittle is coping with a hamstring damage and Ward is battling hamstring and knee points, based on the workforce. Neither participant was on the sphere for the early open portion of observe, leaving their standing up within the air for Sunday’s sport towards the Los Angeles Rams.
“They may find yourself being questionable I am certain,” coach Kyle Shanahan advised KNBR radio in San Francisco on Thursday. “They’d good practices yesterday. They complained of some soreness after observe they usually got here on this morning with it, so we weren’t going to place them on the market right now and have them get actual harm.
“Hopefully they arrive in tomorrow and may get some work in. Positively hoping these guys could be obtainable on Sunday however, if not, gotta go to the subsequent guys up.”
If that wasn’t sufficient, defensive finish Nick Bosa was a restricted participant in observe Thursday with a rib challenge.
This newest damage information come on the heels of the Niners putting operating again Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles tendinitis) on injured reserve and shedding Deebo Samuel to a calf damage towards the Minnesota Vikings.
McCaffrey sat out that sport and can miss at least the next three. Samuel is expected to miss “a couple of weeks,” coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned.
The extent of the accidents to Kittle and Ward is unclear in the mean time, however each have been listed as full individuals in Wednesday’s observe. Kittle was a first-team All-Professional in 2023; Ward was second-team All-Professional.
If Kittle cannot play towards the Rams, veteran Eric Saubert would probably step into the beginning function. Jake Tonges is the one different tight finish on the energetic roster, though Brayden Willis and Mason Pline can be found from the observe squad for depth.
“Clearly, George Kittle is a good participant,” run sport coordinator Chris Foerster mentioned. “… I do not know what [his status for Sunday is] going to be — play, not play. The opposite guys need to step up somewhat bit extra … much more. Possibly George is there all day, however I feel these guys have all prepped to do it. That is their alternative.”
Kittle was not seen in San Francisco’s locker room, however Ward did make a quick look. Niners defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen mentioned Ward is coping with “some soreness” and that the workforce is “simply being good and determined to carry him out” on Thursday.
If Ward is unable to play, the Niners would probably flip to rookie Renardo Green, a second-round pick of Florida State, to play extra snaps in nickel packages with Isaac Yiadom beginning exterior reverse Deommodore Lenoir.
“He is seemed nice,” Sorensen mentioned of Inexperienced. “He regularly will get higher, so we have whole confidence in Renardo. He is very aggressive. He is all the time desirous to be taught. He’s studying. Simply really feel nice about him.”
Darrell Luter Jr. and Rock Ya-Sin are the opposite cornerback choices on the roster.
Heading into this weekend, the Niners and Rams are each coping with accidents to vital gamers. The Rams are lacking prime receivers Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) and offensive linemen Steve Avila (knee) and Jonah Jackson (shoulder), amongst others.