© Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Well, it’s certainly been a year. The 49ers’ season won’t actually end until it is officially 2021, when they’ll hope to extinguish the 2020 vibes from their collective memory.
When they do play the Seahawks on Sunday, it will be, just as it’s been all year, with a depleted roster. Kyle Shanahan’s on Monday, said and sounded like it is exceedingly unlikely that Jimmy Garoppolo returns. He said he has yet to talk to team doctors, but nothing in their assessment of Garoppolo’s status has changed.
And unlike last week, C.J. Beathard won’t have much to work with outside of George Kittle. It’s Richie James Jr. and Kendrick Bourne time, which, hey, maybe they both have a game. They’ve both shown they can.
Shanahan said Monday that Brandon Aiyuk was among five players to suffer sprains, along with Trent Williams. Both will miss the season finale. Aiyuk suffered an ankle sprain, apparently on that low drop on the third play of the game, and Williams suffered an elbow sprain, which will not need surgery.
Defensive end Jordan Willis suffered a high ankle sprain and will also be out along with Richard Sherman, who’s calf injury will have limited him to five total games this year, in what he has said is almost certainly his last with the 49ers.
The following players are day-to-day:
- Javon Kinlaw (knee)
- Dion Jordan (knee)
- Jimmie Ward (concussion protocol)
- Justin Skule (knee sprain)
- Tarvarius Moore (ankle sprain)
Both Jeff Wilson Jr. (stinger) and K’Waun Williams (shin contusion) are “good to go.” The team also had a few Reserve/COVID-19 list moves. Two players, in long snapper Taybor Pepper and center Hroniss Grasu, went on the list, while running back Austin Walter and fullback Josh Hokit (practice squad) were activated off it.
If Skule can’t go, the 49ers might have to throw Daniel Brunskill or Mike McGlinchey (or Laken Tomlinson?) at left tackle. Skule, by the way, was the team’s emergency long snapper.
With Grasu already out, that means Colton McKivitz likely at right guard and Tony Bergstrom possibly at center, if Brunskill gets shifted. The only other offensive linemen the team has are on the practice squad: Dakoda Shepley (guard), Aaron Neary (center) and Isaiah Williams (guard/center). Williams, who actually started his career with Washington, would be the only real tackle fit outside of Brunskill.