San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch joined KNBR on Thursday and provided a few injury updates. There wasn't a lot of new information provided, as we know where many of the injured Niners are right now.
Jimmy Garoppolo is week-to-week with a high-ankle sprain but is fighting to get back on the football field. He has, however, missed two practices this week, which reduces his already slim chances of playing on Sunday against the New York Giants.
George Kittle is being George Kittle and could get back on the field on Sunday, just two weeks after suffering an MCL sprain and bone bruise.
"George has done a really good job, like he always does, attacking," Lynch said on the Tolbert, Krueger & Brooks show. "... And like most gifted athletes, they tend to heal a little quicker. George has been out there in a limited basis in practice. I think we'll have a meeting of the minds with a bunch of people, our medical team, and George himself, and Kyle (Shanahan), and make a good decision there that's best for George and best for our team."
Lynch also discussed defensive end Dee Ford's most recent injury. There doesn't appear to be a timetable for the veteran pass rusher's return. The general manager shared that it's not like a hamstring injury, for which you can approximate what the recovery time might be.
Ford is dealing with a back and neck injury that flared up last week.
"He wakes up, stiff neck," Lynch said. "Next thing you know, he's got some signals going on throughout his body. And next thing you know, some back (issues) with a guy who's had a little bit of history with that.
"What we understand, in talking to the doctors -- and it's not as if we don't have a plan. It's just there's a little bit of unknown to it. That thing has to quiet down, and when it does, we can build him back up and get him ready to play.
"I've talked to Dee. Dee's eager to do that. We've just got to kind of get through this. It's a little flared up right now, and it's got to quiet down before we start getting him ready to come back to play. But Dee's a big part of this team, and we're eagerly awaiting his return."
Then you have second-year wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who must sit at least one more game before he's eligible to return from injured reserve.
"Deebo's doing well," Lynch said. "He's really improving. We felt like he was close [at the start of] the season, and it didn't quite happen. But maybe it's a blessing. It allowed this thing more time to heal, and we know he's an impact player when he's there.
"He's such a great teammate, though. He's here with us at The Greenbrier, working his tail off. He's, already in Year 2, assuming a kind of vocal leader role on this team. It's fun to have him around.
"He's a fun guy, always laughing, and always in a positive mood. Aside from that, being a tremendous player."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Lynch below.
