After a Week 3 victory during which it seemed like the 49ers’ injuries were reaching critical mass, San Francisco got several pieces of good news on Monday.
Veteran wide receiver Mike Evans, left tackle Trent Williams and Dre Greenlaw all left the win over the Arizona Cardinals with injuries, adding to the concerns for a roster that has already suffered a lot of setbacks on that front at this still early stage of the season.
But there is a chance that all three could feature against the Denver Broncos
on Sunday.
Speaking in his Monday conference call, Shanahan confirmed an earlier report from Ian Rapoport that Evans is day-to-day with a rib injury.
Evans will be evaluated throughout the week, with Shanahan saying of his injury: “It shouldn’t be long-term. We’ve got to see how it goes throughout the week. Guys have been in this position before, so we’ll see how it goes.”
Shanahan added that Williams should be “good to go” by Thursday after sustaining a stinger, while Greenlaw — who suffered a quad contusion — will also be managed throughout the week.
Of the three, Evans seems the biggest doubt to be involved as the 49ers welcome the Broncos to Levi’s Stadium. Defensive end Nick Bosa (calf) and defensive tackle James Thompson Jr. (high-ankle sprain) will not be play, however.
But the Niners are poised to get some help on their depleted defensive front, to which they added veteran Matthew Judon on Monday, signing him to the practice squad.
Last year’s first-round pick Mykel Williams is set to have his practice window opened this week, Shanahan confirmed.
Williams started the year on the PUP list after suffering a torn ACL last November. Though he is not eligible to play this week, his return to practice indicates Williams is on track to make his season debut in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks.
He may need some time to knock the rust off, but Williams’ prospective return will be a particularly big boost to a 49er run defense that has again been inconsistent at best so far this season. San Francisco ranks 14th in EPA per play against the rush through three games, but is last in the NFL with a 49.4 success rate allowed on run plays.
In addition, the 49ers are set to get rookie defensive end Romello Height back in practice this week. The third-round pick, who had played 52% of the defensive snaps through the first two weeks, missed the Cardinals game due a broken hand.
The 49ers are still very thin on the defensive front, but the returns of Height and then Williams will improve the situation at least somewhat. And having dodged bullets with the three key veterans, San Francisco is in better shape than might have been expected heading into a formidable two-game stretch
