The MRI performed on Monday confirmed that San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon suffered a knee sprain during the first quarter of Sunday's victory over the Seattle Seahawks, according to a report from Ian Rapoport.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was more specific on the injury, stating that Witherspoon sustained a sprained posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).
The good news is that Witherspoon avoided a major injury. The bad news is that with just two games remaining this season, the second-year cornerback is unlikely to retake the field this year. Rapoport added that the injury is nothing that will impact Witherspoon's 2019 season.
#49ers CB Ahkello Witherspoon suffered a sprained knee last night, and the MRI confirmed what the team hoped: That he avoided major injury, sources say. Likely done for the season, but nothing that'll affect 2019.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 17, 2018
Witherspoon had already posted an update on Instagram saying, "the knee is good," and thanking fans for the good wishes. Witherspoon left Sunday's game after attempting to tackle running back Chris Carson, which resulted in him landing awkwardly out of bounds. He did not return to the game.
Rookie Tarvarius Moore replaced Witherspoon after the injury and is likely to start the 49ers' final two games.
The 49ers made Witherspoon a third-round draft pick out of Colorado in 2017. He likely ends this season having registered 37 combined tackles and four passes defensed in 14 game appearances and 12 starts.
