Wednesday brought some tough news for the San Francisco 49ers, with a significant list of players set to miss practice, including key defensive back Upton Stout. Stout, dealing with a shoulder injury, is a massive part of Raheem Morris’s blitz packages, rushing the passer the 11th most among all cornerbacks in the league. That’s a huge piece missing for them, and they’ll be keeping a close eye on him as the week progresses.
The Injury Bug Bites Hard
The “will not practice” list for Wednesday is pretty stacked. Besides Stout, the 49ers are also without DT James Thompson Jr. (ankle), EDGE Nick Bosa (calf), FB Kyle Juszczyk (knee), and S Marques Sigle (ankle). That’s a lot of talent sidelined, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Losing Bosa is never good, but Stout’s role in those blitz schemes is super specific and hard to replace immediately.
Things aren’t totally clear for some other guys either, with EDGE Mykel Williams (knee), WR Mike Evans (ribs), and RB Kaelon Black (sick) all listed as limited in practice. They’re going to be monitoring Black’s situation closely to see if being limited cuts into his snaps. Injuries are always brutal, but losing key players like Stout and having others limited can really mess with game plans.
Shanahan On Deebo’s Superpower And RB Grit
On a brighter note, Kyle Shanahan had some serious praise for Deebo Samuel on Wednesday, and it sounds like he’s basically their offensive cheat code. Shanahan said there are no limitations or specific packages for Samuel, explaining, “You put the ball in Deebo’s hand, and he can execute it. He runs as good as anyone.” Shanahan even mentioned using Samuel at kick returner and possible punt returner, saying the guy would be his first pick in a no-rules “tackle the guy with the ball” game from when he was younger. That kind of versatility and pure playmaking ability is rare, and it’s clear Shanahan loves what Samuel brings to the field.
Shanahan also touched on the running back position, specifically noting that learning the different tracks you have to take is the toughest part of the job. He also pointed out the constant wear and tear running backs endure. It’s a brutal position, and it highlights just how much these guys put their bodies on the line every single snap.
This week is all about monitoring the recovery for guys like Stout, who’s so crucial to their defensive pressure, and seeing how Black’s snaps are affected. Every rep matters right now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
Leave a Reply