49ers entered their Week 6 encounter as an unbeaten team in 2023-24 NFL season against Browns. With unfavorable weather conditions, the injury-ridden 49ers endured their first loss of the season, breaking their record of 16 regular-season games unbeaten. After experiencing their first defeat, they seem to have found solace in their key players’ game status in the upcoming encounter.
Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams and Deebo Samuel added an extra level of grief for the fans as all three were forced to leave the field early for injuries. As concern has risen highly regarding their injury status, the team has come out with good news for two players.
49ers awaits MRI results on RB Christian McCaffrey
The trauma of losing the “Undefeated” title perhaps still remains in the 49er’s fans’ minds. Nevertheless, the latest update on the injuries of three of their key players will surely let them find some solace.
The number 23 running back of the 9ers McCaffrey was undergoing an MRI on Monday while head coach Kyle Shanahan was holding a press conference with Bay Area reporters. Unfortunately, McCaffrey missed the game due to an oblique and rib injury from the intense matchup against the Browns in Cleveland on Sunday.
Coach Shanahan addressed questions about Williams’ injury, specifically if it was a high ankle sprain. Despite the potential for extended recovery time with such injuries, Shanahan was positive that Williams did not have a high ankle sprain.
The Niners used Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell in tandem to fill McCaffrey’s spot on Sunday. After six games in the season, the running back recorded 553 yards with 7 touchdowns and 23 receptions.
Good News for 49ers Trent Williams and Deebo Samuel
Though the latest update of McCaffrey is yet to be known, regarding the health of injured players Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams, Coach Shanahan sounded quite optimistic. Samuel has a shoulder injury, and Williams is dealing with a hip issue. Both will be closely monitored daily as the 49ers prepare for their Monday night game against the Vikings. The medical staff is focused on their swift recovery for the much-anticipated match.
With 3:14 remaining in the first quarter, Williams, who had been playing through a right ankle injury, departed the stadium wearing a walking boot. However, he taped himself up and returned to the game early in the second quarter at left tackle after a brief injury layoff.
#49ers star LT Trent Williams got his ankle rolled up on and had to leave the game.
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 15, 2023
One of the biggest difference-makers on this team.
pic.twitter.com/tLA1mPgPKw
The 49ers’ Monday night game in Minnesota will provide Williams an extra day of recuperation moving into Week 7. Jaylon Moore will guard Brock Purdy’s blind side if Williams is injured.
“It’s obviously a tougher position just because you get hit a lot more,” Shanahan said. “But we’ve just got to see how it reacts. We’ve got to see exactly what’s wrong with it too because we haven’t got that back yet. We say oblique/rib, hopefully it’s not both, but we’ve got to wait to see for sure.”
In the first quarter of the Week 6 match, Samuels injured his shoulder. He was later declared out of the game during halftime. Shanahan insisted that Deebo’s injury was not major, even though he was unable to rejoin the game. The inability to use his left arm was the reason for benching him for the remainder of the game, as the coach disclosed afterward.
“He just took a shot on the shoulder,” Shanahan said. “It didn’t look overly big or anything. It just connected right. And so it got him after that. And if you watch him like the next eight plays, you could just tell the feeling was starting to go because he couldn’t use his left arm. [He] tried to come back but just couldn’t get feeling back in it. So we had to shut him down.”
According to the head coach’s statement, Williams and Samuels may play in Monday night’s 49ers game against Kirk Cousin’s team, the quarterback who is optimistic for good performance, in spite of being a hot topic of trade, The outcome of McCaffrey’s MRI will determine his status for the game.
Do you think three of them can join the 49ers in Week 7 to help the team regain their previous winning streak? Let us know in the comment box.
