Injury Concerns Mount as 49ers Finalize 53-Man Roster
SANTA CLARA — The San Francisco 49ers are facing several injury concerns as they work to finalize their initial 53-man roster. Rookie tight end Cameron Latu is the latest player to join the injury list, with a damaged meniscus in his knee that will likely require surgery. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the news on Saturday.
Latu, a third-round draft pick, was expected to make an impact in his rookie season. However, this injury setback raises questions about his availability for the upcoming campaign. The 49ers will have to decide whether to place him on injured reserve or keep him on the active roster, depending on the length of his recovery.
Wide receivers Danny Gray, Ray-Ray McCloud, and Chris Conley, as well as kickers Jake Moody and Zane Gonzalez, are also dealing with injuries that will affect the team’s roster decisions. Shanahan acknowledged that these injuries are factors that must be taken into account.
“Our decisions on the 53-man roster will be influenced by these injury situations,” Shanahan said during a conference call with Bay Area reporters. “We have a good idea of the positions and numbers we want, but we’ll have to see who’s available. Whether it’s considering injured reserve or other options, we’ll have to evaluate each player’s situation.”
Moody’s availability for the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 10 remains uncertain. He suffered a quadriceps strain during practice this week. On the other hand, Gonzalez was scratched from the preseason finale due to a calf strain and is expected to miss a few weeks.
In response to Moody and Gonzalez’s injuries, the 49ers have scheduled workouts with other kickers as a precautionary measure.
“This is a new situation for us, where both of our kickers are unavailable just days before finalizing the roster,” Shanahan admitted. “We’re closely monitoring their rehabilitation and trying to project where they’ll be in two weeks when we kick off the season.”
In addition to the kickers, the 49ers have several other players dealing with injuries:
– Chris Conley sustained a shoulder sprain during Friday night’s preseason game. His status is listed as “day to day.”
– Safety Talanoa Hufanga has missed the past four days due to a Baker cyst, a fluid-filled growth behind the knee. However, Shanahan expects Hufanga to return to action soon.
– Running back Jordan Mason is nursing a foot sprain and is considered “day to day.”
– Elijah Mitchell, another running back, was held out of Friday’s game due to a tight adductor. The 49ers are taking a cautious approach to prevent a major setback.
– Safety Tayler Hawkins fractured his hand and will undergo surgery in the coming week.
– Cornerback A.J. Parker suffered a hamstring pull and will be sidelined for a few weeks.
With the regular season fast approaching, the 49ers are hoping for a speedy recovery for their injured players. As they prepare to construct their final roster, they will have to carefully evaluate each player’s situation and make decisions based on both their short-term and long-term needs.