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SANTA CLARA — So much for the 49ers’ Revenge Tour.
Say hello to the Rehab Tour.
Richard Sherman, the 49ers’ top cornerback and their outspoken captain, became a surprise addition Wednesday to the 49ers’ extensive medical ward.
He went on injured reserve because of a calf injury, sidelining him at least the next three games ahead of a potential Oct. 11 return against the Miami Dolphins.
Whereas Sherman’s injury was not evident as he played all but the final four snaps of Sunday’s 24-20 season-opening loss to the Cardinals, the 49ers’ most glaring issue from that defeat was tight end George Kittle’s knee sprain.
Kittle did not practice Wednesday, nor did wide receiver Richie James (hamstring) or cornerbacks Jason Verrett (hamstring) and Ahkello Witherspoon (concussion protocol).
“It’s a challenge but you always have something like this each year,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It’s hitting us pretty hard right now. Having IR-to-return helps.”
As is the case with wide receiver Deebo Samuel (foot) going on injured reserve Friday, the 49ers are hoping Sherman can use the three-week break to get stronger, and Shanahan said Sherman “doesn’t sound too concerned about it.”
New York Jets coach Adam Gase made no secret that Sherman’s absence will impact his playcalling Sunday when the 49ers visit. “Sherm can get in my head pretty good,” Gase told reporters on a conference call, estimating that he’s targeted Sherman only a couple times because he rightly fears Sherman’s ability to sniff out a play.
The 49ers are only one game into their NFC title defense but they are one month into a stockpile of injuries. That began Day 2 of training camp when they lost one of their top wide receivers, Jalen Hurd, to a season-ending knee injury.
#49ers injury watch:
TE Kittle (knee)
WR Samuel (foot; IR)
WR Aiyuk (hammy)
WR James (hammy)
CB Sherman (calf; IR)
CB Witherspoon (head; per @mattbarrows)
CB Verrett (hammy)
C Garland (ankle)
IR in camp:
WR Hurd/Austin/Thompson
PUP
C Richburg, DL Blair/Taylor
Opt-out
WR Benjamin— Cam Inman (@CamInman) September 16, 2020
From there, the training room got crowded with soft-tissue injuries. The 49ers’ lack of full participation in practices over the previous weeks, after offseason workouts got nixed by the coronavirus, led to the jumbled mess in clutch situation for their Week 1 defeat.
“Every team has to deal with injuries and have a next-man-up mindset,” Jimmy Garoppolo said. “We have to rely on guys you trust and they earn that in practice.”
All is not lost, all are not wounded. The upcoming stretch is not as daunting as the 49ers’ second half of the season.
The next five games: at New York Jets (0-1), at New York Giants (0-1), vs. Philadelphia Eagles (0-1), vs. Miami Dolphins (0-1) and vs. Los Angeles Rams (1-0). Only one of those five opponents made the playoffs last season (Eagles), and only one won its opener Sunday (Rams).
Sunday’s road debut could offer the NFL debut of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, a first-round draft pick who was inactive Week 1 because of an Aug. 23 hamstring strain. Aiyuk ran routes with familiar burst and ease Wednesday. Center Ben Garland (ankle) appeared to ramp up his workload, too, and should suit up after started practice-squad veteran Hroniss Grasu against the Cardinals.
Kittle is “battling” and “fully expects to be there Sunday,” said Shanahan, noting he and the medical staff will have to see how the All-Pro tight end fares through the week but that he could play even with no practice.
Because MetLife Stadium will host the 49ers the next two Sundays, its artificial turf does factor into precautionarily stashing players who have lower-body injuries, Shanahan said.
CORNERBACK CRISIS
Shanahan said he’s only been told that Sherman’s pain Monday was to a calf and not an Achilles, which he had repaired after his 2016 Seattle Seahawks tenure ended.
The 49ers still have their respected defensive front to get after the Jets’ Sam Darnold while the cornerback corps adjusts without Sherman, and possibly without Ahkello Witherspoon, a former starter who is in the concussion protocol. Emmanuel Moseley likely will start in Sherman’s place at left cornerback.
At right cornerback, it’ll likely be Witherspoon if he’s cleared, otherwise the leading option is Dontae Johnson, a former starter who’s up from the practice squad like last week. Jason Verrett has not practiced since a hamstring strain two weeks ago.
The 49ers added three cornerbacks Wednesday: Ken Webster (5-foo5-11) off the Miami Dolphins practice squad, as well as two taller options in Brian Allen (6-3) and Christian Angulo (6-2) to their practice squad. TIm Harris, a 2019 draft pick, went on the practice squad’s injured reserve list with a calf injury from Friday.
SANU’S SCHEDULE
Wide receiver Mohamed Sanu can not practice until Friday at the earliest, assuming he clears COVID-19 tests after agreeing to a one-year deal Tuesday and flying in that night to San Francisco. Aiyuk’s availability could decide whether the 49ers thrust Sanu into the mix with Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor and Dante Pettis.
“It’s going to be weird not getting a live rep with him but we’ll make it work somehow,” said Garoppolo, whose only familiarity with Sanu is from watching film when Shanahan was the Atlanta Falcons’ 2016 coordinator and Sanu helped get them to the Super Bowl.
Added Shanahan: “Bringing in Mo and having someone like him available, I feel very fortunate. He’s very smart, knows all the positions. The thing about Mo that I enjoy the most is how tough and competitive he is. It’s good to have a guy like that ready if need be.”
GORE TO START
Frank Gore, who became the 49ers’ all-time rushing king from his 2005-14 tenure, will start at running back for the Jets, coach Adam Gase confirmed on a call with Bay Area media. Le’Veon Bell strained a hamstring in the Jets’ Week 1 loss at Buffalo.
“I know anybody that was there with (Gore in San Francisco) will believe me when I say this: He looks the same. It’s unreal to watch,” said Gase, who coached Gore as a 49ers assistant in 2008 and as the Miami Dolphins coach in 2018.
“This is my third stint with him. You see the same Frank,” Gase said. “He just shows up, works hard, practices hard. You can tell he just loves the game so much.”
What Gase remembers most in Gore’s early years with the 49ers was how intent the 2005 third-round draft pick was on understanding his assignments. Said Gase: “He wanted to be the guy we relied on, and when it got really tough, the ball was coming to him.”
Shanahan never coached Gore but also loves his game.
“I love Frank Gore,” Shanahan said. “He’s one of the best to ever play, one of the most underrated. His longevity and numbers finally give him more attention that’s past due.”
Shanahan said he was starting his first NFL job as a Tampa Bay quality control coach when he first admired Gore, who was at the University Miami. “He runs so hard,” Shanahan said. “Guys who run that hard can rarely play to his age. It shows how dedicated and talented he is. He’s a special dude.”
HALL OF FAME BIDS
The 49ers are represented among this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame nominees by Bryant Young, Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Jeff Garcia, Ricky Watters, Brent Jones, Takeo Spikes, Merton Hanks, Tim McDonald, Gary Anderson and Reggie Roby, plus current general manager John Lynch and wide receivers coach Wes Welker.
