The San Francisco 49ers have fired head strength and conditioning coach Ray Wright, according to a report from Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area.
SOURCES: #49ers fire head strength and conditioning coach Ray Wright https://t.co/B5XqUZJ68E
— Jennifer Lee Chan (@jenniferleechan) January 4, 2019
The 49ers plan to restructure the strength and conditioning department with the status of the remaining staff unclear, according to Chan.
The 49ers finished the 2018 season with 14 players on injured reserve. While less than the 20-player mark at the end of the previous season, it was a number that heavily impacted the team. The number of players that spent time on injured reserve over the past two seasons was even higher (see below).
"It's been too big of a deal for two years," head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Monday. "Injuries are pretty random, but it's also affected us huge. So, that's something that we definitely have to sit back and really look at it from all angles and put a lot of time into. Just try to find a better perspective at it."
Wright just finished his second season serving as the 49ers' head strength and conditioning coach. He joined San Francisco after five seasons with the Washington Redskins (2010-14) and one season with the Houston Texans (2009) while serving in the same role.
"We haven't had a lot of guys available, and that's something we're looking into hard," general manager John Lynch said on Monday. "It's been ongoing. We'll continue to do that because it's something that needs to change and I don't think anyone's to blame. We have been studying it. We'll continue to, and try to get a handle on that."
Below is a list of 49ers who spent time on injured reserve during Wright's two seasons with the team and the dates each was officially placed on the list.
2018
- S Terrell Williams Jr. (knee), Aug 17; returned Dec 5
- WR Max McCaffrey (foot), Aug 30
- WR Aaron Burbridge (knee), waived/injured on Sep 1; reverted to IR; released Sep 12
- OL JP Flynn (knee), waived/injured on Sep 1; reverted to IR
- FB Malcolm Johnson (undisclosed), waived/injured on Sep 1; reverted to IR; waived Sep 10
- RB Jerick McKinnon (ACL), Sep 3
- S Marcell Harris (Achilles), Sep 3; activated off IR Nov 1
- LB Dekoda Watson (hamstring), Sep 8; activated off IR Nov 1; IR on Dec 5
- LB Brock Coyle (concussion), Sep 12
- QB Jimmy Garoppolo (ACL), Sep 26
- S Adrian Colbert (high-ankle sprain), Oct 22
- RB Raheem Mostert (forearm), Nov 2
- CB Emmanuel Moseley (shoulder), Nov 2
- DB Jimmie Ward (forearm), Nov 27
- WR Pierre Garçon (knee), Dec 11
- CB Ahkello Witherspoon (PCL sprain), Dec 18
- S Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder stinger), Dec 21
- RB Matt Breida (ankle), Dec 29
- WR Dante Pettis (knee), Dec 29
2017
- WR B.J. Johnson (hamstring), waived/injured on Jul 31; reverted to IR; waived off IR on Sep 26
- LB Jimmie Gilbert (knee) waived/injured on Jul 31; reverted to IR
- LB Malcolm Smith (pectoral), Aug 7
- CB Zach Franklin, waived/injured on Aug 8; reverted to IR; contract terminated
- LB Jayson Dimanche, waived/injured on Aug 16; reverted to IR; contract terminated
- LB Donavin Newsom (concussion), Aug 16
- CB Prince Charles Iworah (quadriceps), waived/injured on Sep 1; reverted to IR; released off IR on Dec 23
- CB Will Redmond (ankle), waived/injured on Sep 1; reverted to IR; released off IR on Oct 31
- DT Chris Jones (calf), Sep 2
- DB Don Jones (knee), Sep 2
- WR Aaron Burbridge (hamstring), Sep 2
- S Chanceller James (knee), Sep 2
- G Joshua Garnett (knee), Sep 2
- RB Joe Williams (ankle), Sep 2
- DL Ronald Blair (thumb), Sep 3; activated off IR Nov 4
- DL Tank Carradine (ankle), Sep 25; activated off IR Nov 25
- CB Asa Jackson (hamstring), Oct 10
- DL Arik Armstead (hand), Oct 17
- S Jimmie Ward (forearm), Nov 1
- WR Pierre Garçon (neck), Nov 4
- S Jaquiski Tartt (forearm), Nov 6
- TE Cole Hikutini (knee), Nov 6
- T Garry Gilliam (knee), Nov 7
- OL JP Flynn (patellar tendon, knee), Nov 13
- RB Raheem Mostert (MCL), Nov 29
- T Erik Magnuson (Lisfranc/foot), Nov 29
- WR Victor Bolden Jr. (ankle), Dec 13
- T Trent Brown (shoulder), Dec 16
