San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan provided some injury updates ahead of Wednesday's practice. The most concerning new development might be that tight end George Kittle is dealing with a groin injury and is day-to-day. He obviously will not join his teammates on the practice field on Wednesday.
How serious is the injury?
"I'm not sure," Shanahan responded. "I was hoping it would be good today. He did a little on Monday and not feeling good today, so we'll have to see day by day."
Offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill also won't practice as he continues to try to return from his hamstring injury.
Team captains
Shanahan also revealed the team captains for 2022. They are listed below.
- DL Arik Armstead
- DE Nick Bosa
- TE George Kittle
- S Jimmie Ward
- LB Fred Warner
- OT Trent Williams
This is Bosa's first season as a captain and Ward's second. The others have been captains with the 49ers for three seasons, except for Kittle, who has been a captain for five seasons.
Trey Lance not being named a captain
Shanahan was asked about quarterback Trey Lance, the team's starter moving forward, not being a captain. The coach revealed that Lance came in seventh in the voting for team captains.
"I just didn't want to put seven on there," Shanahan said. "Deebo (Samuel) was eight. ... We just wanted to go with six. They don't allow eight to the coin toss, I don't believe. It's also his first year of starting for us. There's not many rookies who end up being the captains. I know this is his second year, but he's a rookie for us in terms of this is his first time being our starting quarterback."
As for Lance himself, he doesn't have an issue with being left off the exclusive list.
"Obviously, that's a goal of mine," Lance said, "but I don't think you can look at any six of those guys and be like, 'That guy's a bozo,' because those guys have played football at a very, very high level. So yeah, the situations are different. I voted for every single one of those guys, so I think each and every one of them deserves it. But yeah, it's definitely a goal of mine moving forward. But those guys have all proved it, and that's what this league is all about."