The 49ers are cautiously optimistic they’ve avoided anything serious with Drake Jackson.
The injuries
Kyle Shanahan said after the team’s first preseason game, a 28-21 win over the Green Bay Packers, that the medical staff believes Jackson suffered a stinger, a relatively common upper arm nerve injury.
Jackson left in the first half after pursuing Packers quarterback Jordan Love on an impressive chasedown tackle.
Shanahan wasn’t certain on the injury, saying Jackson’s “going through a bunch” of testing concurrent with his postgame press conference.
He was relatively pleased with the few reps he could recall from Jackson.
“Looked like he got hurt on the scramble,” Shanahan said. “Did a good job chasing the quarterback down, showing his athletic ability and speed. That’s really all I saw of him though.”
Also hurt in the game was Dontae Johnson. It was initially reported by the team as an evaluation for a head injury, but amended as a rib injury. He’s also undergoing testing.
Shanahan also confirmed that Elijah Mitchell had sustained a hamstring injury, as does Charvarius Ward. Both will be unvailable next week and in a “we’ll see” situation for the following week.
Jeff Wilson Jr. was excused due to a personal matter.
Plans for Lance and Co.
Heading into this game, Shanahan said his tentative plan was for Lance and some of the starters to get reps in the first and third preseason games.
Given the congested schedule of the second and third preseason games happening on August 20 — preceded by two joint practices with the Vikings — and August 25, Shanahan indicated it probably won’t be wise to give the starters reps.
Even so, that’s not set in stone. Everything will depend on the rhythm and performances in those joint practices On August 17 and 18 in Minnesota.
Shanahan said he’s “trying to be smart” with the schedule suggestion and that the personnel decisions in those games will “be all based on how practice goes.”
Lance has not been ruled out for that second game, but his preference, again, is for him to get valuable reps in the joint practices and again in the preseason finale against the Texans.
There’s a group of starters — in Mike McGlinchey, Javon Kinlaw and Dre Greenlaw — Shanahan grouped together that could see some limited reps in that second game.
The 49ers are “just being smart with their reps,” but obviously intend to make sure they get some in-game experience ramping up to the season to ensure they have demonstrated game fitness.
Lastly, and not that it was too much of a question, Nick Bosa doesn’t need to play in the preseason. Shanahan said if Bosa asks him to play, he’d consider it, but there’s been no indication it’s something he needs to do in order to prepare for the season.