The San Francisco 49ers are dealing with a rash of injury issues entering their Week 2 matchup with the New Orleans Saints.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday spoke with reporters on a conference call and gave a surprising update on quarterback Brock Purdy, who may be out when the 49ers visit New Orleans. He also provided a mixed bag of news on tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Jauan Jennings after both were hurt in the team’s Week 1 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Kittle is out “a few weeks” after suffering a hamstring injury in the second quarter of Sunday’s game. It’s not a huge surprise that Kittle will miss significant time. Hamstring injuries are tricky and Kittle was quickly ruled out after visiting the medical tent on the sideline Sunday.
The 49ers schedule may force Kittle to miss four games since their Week 5 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams is on a Thursday night and the short week could make it tough for the veteran TE to be ready to suit up. It’s still not clear whether Kittle will go on IR. If he did, he’d have to miss a minimum of four weeks.
Shanahan didn’t rule out Jennings for Week 2 after Jennings hurt his shoulder in Sunday’s win. He exited the game in the third quarter and didn’t return after struggling to lift his arm while catching passes on the sideline according to Fox’s Pam Oliver on the TV broadcast. The MRI on Jennings came back clean and he has a chance to play against the Saints.
Jennings left Sunday’s contest with only two catches for 16 yards on five targets.
If Kittle can’t go in New Orleans the 49ers will lean heavily on backups Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges. The latter was the hero in Seattle when he hauled in the game-winning touchdown for his first-career TD. He also caught his other two targets and racked up 15 yards on three receptions. Farrell also had a big-time catch on a fourth-down conversion.
Jennings’ absence would be tougher for the 49ers to overcome. They’re expected to sign WR Kendrick Bourne, but he joins a veteran group that doesn’t have any standouts to be a legitimate No. 2 across from 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall.
If the 49ers offense rolls out Mac Jones and no Jennings with Kittle on the sideline it may be tough for them to generate a ton of offense against the Saints on the road.
We’ll get a better indication of Jennings’ availability Wednesday when the first practice participation report comes out.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers injury updates on George Kittle, Jauan Jennings
