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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch
joined KNBR on Friday morning for his regularly-scheduled interview and provided several injury updates on key players.
The biggest name on the list is the 49ers' Pro Bowl tight end,
George Kittle, who is working his way back from knee and ankle injuries sustained during Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals. On Thursday, Kittle got back on the practice field for the first time since his injuries, but was limited to warmups and individual drills and wore a blue non-contact jersey.
"George did a nice job in individual, just a very limited basis," Lynch said on the "Murph and Mac" show. "You guys know, Kittle, not only is he a fantastic talent and a complete football player, but he brings a certain energy to our team, so even having him out there yesterday, you could feel that juice. There's something special about having George out there."
Kittle is expected to be a game-day decision, and head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Thursday that the tight end is
expected to be limited again during Friday's practice.
Lynch and company plan to speak with the trainers, though, and see if Kittle's Friday workload can be ramped up a bit.
"We need George for the long-haul, but it certainly would be nice to have him this week," Lynch added. "I can't say 'hopeful,' but it was an encouraging sign that he was out on the field yesterday."
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Wide receiver
Deebo Samuel suffered a shoulder injury against the Cardinals, left the game but returned in time to help in the 49ers' late comeback victory. While Shanahan wasn't willing to share too many details about the injury this week, Lynch provided some additional information on the specifics while discussing the statuses of the rookie and veteran wide receiver
Emmanuel Sanders.
"They both were limited yesterday," Lynch said. "Both very sore. I can tell you Emmanuel is probably better off than he was this time last week, so that's a good thing. I can't tell you how much I admire his toughness. He's kind of an old-school player."
Added Lynch: "I think Deebo is cut from the same mold. He hurt his shoulder, the AC joint, and those are painful, but you can play through them."
Then you have running back
Matt Breida, who aggravated his ankle during Week 10 against the Seattle Seahawks and did not play against the Cardinals.
"I think we've seen with Matt over the years, you look at players' history, and when he's been banged up, sometimes it's led to a situation where he can play, but he is continually having to come out with things," Lynch said. "I think we're trying to just get him healthy because when he's healthy, he's a dynamic back. When compromised, he's a smaller guy, and it's tough for him to play effectively.
"So we want to get him fully healthy. I think that's been our focus and the word from the docs? A couple of weeks would help.
"It may be a situation where we get him, but I think the good thing is, as you've seen, we're very deep at running back with Tevin (Coleman), with Raheem (Mostert), who's playing at a high level for us, and then with Jeff Wilson."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Lynch below.
After the success of "Quarterback," the NFL has announced a new series on Netflix called "Receiver." This series will follow a similar format but focus on those who haul in passes. San Francisco 49ers fans will be delighted to learn that two popular team players, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle, will be among those featured in the upcoming show.
The two 49ers stars are among the most charismatic individuals on the roster, so it's easy to see why they were chosen for the series. The other stars of the show will be Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders, Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings, and Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit
The San Francisco 49ers have been actively exploring options at safety this offseason, both in free agency and during their draft evaluations. A recent report from the San Francisco Chronicle indicated that All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga's starting position is not guaranteed for the upcoming season as he recovers from a torn ACL sustained on November 19, 2023.
During a media session at the NFL owners meetings on Monday, general manager John Lynch shared an update on Hufanga's progress, noting that offseason roster additions could still occur.
"Talanoa is doing really well. That's the great news," Lynch said of his young rehabbing safety. "He's rehabbing extremely well,
Deebo Samuel is experiencing firsthand the toxicity that can sometimes infest social media. Or perhaps he's simply being reminded of it. On Wednesday, the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent his frustration with a particular segment of fans who likely criticized how he spends his time off.
Can we have a life when football season over like can we travel enjoy our self go out n have fun without you "fans" saying all this unnecessary s***. Folks be buggin!!!!— Deebo (@19problemz) March
According to general manager John Lynch, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward wasn't the sole player to undergo core muscle surgery this offseason. Lynch disclosed to reporters at the NFL owners meetings on Monday that All-Pro tight end George Kittle also had the procedure.
However, the silver lining is that both players are expected to be fully cleared for training camp, set to commence at the end of July.
George Kittle and Charvarius Ward both had core muscle surgery this offseason and will be back, fully cleared, for