San Francisco 49ers: A few takeaways from the preseason opener
Injury Bug
The Niners saw injuries to several key players on their first and second team offense and defense. An already short-handed defense that was without Richard Sherman, Arik Armstead, Brock Coyle, Fred Warner, Marcell Harris, and K’Waun Williams to start the game, saw injuries during the game to Malcolm Smith and Solomon Thomas.
Malcolm Smith left the game after the first defensive series with a hamstring injury, while Thomas left after the second defensive series with what was reported as a head injury.
San Francisco 49ers
Smith who missed all of last season with a with a pectoral tear, doesn’t appear to have too big of a concern with the hamstring. But being that he hasn’t played a football game since last preseason, he and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh were excited to get him some action.
Thomas’ injury was much more concerning. Thomas laid on the ground motionless for a few minutes before finally walking off the field under his power. Reports were, that he was seen smiling and celebrating the win after the game, so the injury likely can’t be too severe.
The offense fared far worse on the injury front. George Kittle and Matt Breida both suffered rather severe injuries during their short stint on the field.
Kittle seemed to have separated his right shoulder extending to catch a deep ball slightly overthrown by Jimmy Garoppolo. The MRI on Friday morning showed no structural damage, and the injury is most likely a sprain that will keep him out a few weeks.
Breida also suffered a shoulder injury, and his MRI also came back clean, showing no structural damage. He’s expected to be available in a limited role during practice in a few weeks, and Kyle Shanahan said he expects Breida to be back in time for the regular season opener.
There isn’t a specific timeline for either player, but Shanahan did express that he does expect them to miss “some time.”
The 49ers may have dodged a few bullets given that none of the injuries sound too severe. But, it’s not a good feeling with you have four key players go down in the first quarter of the first game action.