Prior to Tuesday’s practice, Jim Harbaugh fielded questions from reporters. Most of those questions centered around the current injuries afflicting the team, specifically what has been keeping Rashawn Slater on the sideline for what will be a fourth consecutive practice.
Per Harbaugh, Slater’s injury is minor and “muscle-related” while he believes it has no relation to the patellar injury he sustained a year ago.
Harbaugh also noted that both wideout Quentin Johnston and cornerback Tarheeb Still are also being held out of practice with injuries that are reportedly minor in nature. Tuesday will also be Still’s fourth consecutive practice missed alongside Slater.
In Slater’s absence, both second-year lineman Branson Taylor and veteran Trey Pipkins have been rotating at left tackles with the first team in front of Herbert. After missing Monday, Pipkins returned to practice and was the team’s left tackle with the ones during their first 11-on-11 session.
A couple missed practices was sketchy but we could moved past it if he returned shortly. Four practices and counting — while also not working off the side with trainers in any capacity — is a bit more anxiety-inducing.
Here’s to hoping it all looks worse right now than it really is.
