Kyle Shanahan Expects A Number Of 49ers Players Back After the Bye Week

Off a big win going into the Bye Week, the San Francisco 49ers are looking to get even healthier for the second half of the season.

With a week of rest on the horizon, the 49ers could get a number of key starters and rotation players back from injury for Week 10’s matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. The biggest names on the list would be wide receiver Deebo Samuel, defensive tackle Arik Armstead and fullback Kyle Juszczyk.

“We’re pretty optimistic to get a number of guys back. We are hoping that most of them will come back and we feel pretty good about that,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday via conference call.

Other players possibly returning include:

• WR Jauan Jennings (hamstring)
• running back Elijah Mitchell (MCL)
• linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair (MCL) and Dre Greenlaw (calf)
• cornerback Jason Verrett (ACL)
• DT Javon Kinlaw (knee)

The 49ers could also get DT Jordan Willis back in a few weeks after spending most of the season on IR, recovering from a knee clean-up operation in September.

The wildest 49ers injury news of the year is zero injuries suffered in a rivalry game on artificial turf

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) October 31, 2022

As for the game itself, Shanahan admitted that the 49ers made some mistakes in the first half, but overall it was one of the team’s best wins all season.

“We probably had our best game as a team yesterday,” Shanahan stated.

One of the reasons for that was WR Brandon Aiyuk, serving as the No.1 option for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with both Samuels and Jennings inactive Sunday. BA finished the day with six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams. He played in all but one snap Week 8.

Once a player in the team’s doghouse, Aiyuk has elevated not only his play on the field, but off the field as well.

“We put the pressure on Aiyuk [to play without Samuel]. We thought he was conditioned enough and was playing consistently enough that he could stay out there longer. And he rose to the occasion,” Kyle Shanahan said.

The defense also stepped up mightily, holding All-Pro pass-catcher Cooper Kupp to one catch for six yards in the second half. Matched up with safety Jimmie Ward, the veteran secondary leader had been struggling at nickel-corner since coming back from injury in Week 7.

Week 8 was a completely different story.

“I thought Jimmie Ward did a great job at nickel [corner] this week, the coach added Monday.

Shanahan says he thought Jimmie Ward did a great job in coverage at nickelback versus the Rams. Ward allowed 2 catches apiece to Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) October 31, 2022

The 49ers will conduct a light workout and meeting with the players Tuesday, before sending them on their way for the rest of the week. And with the trade deadline in less than 24 hours, the coaching staff seems pretty set on the roster at the moment.

“I think we’re pretty set,” Shanahan said regarding the trade deadline. “I’d be pretty surprised if something goes down.”

He didn’t rule it out however, stating that the team will always listen to trade calls.

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