San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has a passer rating of 136.6 when targeting Emmanuel Sanders. Now, the sample size is fewer than three games, but the veteran wide receiver has proven to be a reliable target for Garoppolo since being acquired via a trade with the Denver Broncos.
Sanders' work on Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks ended early after the receiver suffered a rib injury during the first half. He has not practiced this week, is listed as questionable for Sunday, and head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Friday that his availability would be a game-day decision.
Sanders hopes to be out there with his new teammates as they try to rebound from their first loss of the season and sweep the visiting Arizona Cardinals.
"I'm going to try to battle it out," Sanders told reporters on Friday.
"I'm going to try to battle it out" — 49ers WR Emmanuel Sanders on his availability Sunday
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) November 15, 2019
Sanders caught seven passes for 112 yards and found the end zone during the first meeting between the 49ers and Cardinals, a Halloween-night matchup. He has hauled in 13 receptions for 161 yards with two touchdowns since joining San Francisco on October 22.
Sanders caught 4 of 5 targets for 90 yards vs. Patrick Peterson two weeks ago. Obviously would be huge if he can go Sunday. #49ers https://t.co/hBqKWO5aD8
— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) November 15, 2019
"Emmanuel has had this (injury) before, so he has a pretty good idea about it," Shanahan said Friday morning on KNBR. "He hasn't been able to do anything this week because it's a very painful thing with his ribs.
"We will have to decide [about him] on Sunday, if he can play through it. We're going to give him up to that moment to do it."
Sanders informed reporters that the similar injury Shanahan referred to took place during his third NFL season (2012), while with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that he has felt better as this week progressed.
"It's getting better and better," Sanders told the Sacramento Bee.
