Javon Kinlaw last appeared in a game on September 25. According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, the defensive tackle could be nearing a return from the injured reserve list. The San Francisco 49ers have brought back six players from injured reserve this season. That leaves the team with the ability to do so again twice more.
On Friday morning, Shanahan again shot down the speculation that quarterback Trey Lance could return to serve as Jimmy Garoppolo's backup if the 49ers made a deep playoff run.
"He's still going through his rehab," Shanahan said on KNBR. "That would be too soon for him, so that's pretty out of the question."
How close is Kinlaw to using up one of the two remaining designations for return from injured reserve?
"I do believe it's getting close," Shanahan responded.
Reporters pressed the coach for more details. Could it be any week now?
"It could be any week now. Very close to that," Shanahan answered.
The coach obviously isn't looking to reveal any specifics regarding the team's plans for the defensive tackle, knowing that the 49ers have to be pretty strategic with their remaining opportunities to bring injured players back.
IR decision coming for Elijah Mitchell
It was assumed that Elijah Mitchell returning to the injured reserve list after suffering his second MCL sprain of the season was a given. However, that may not be the case, even though the running back is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
"You're allowed eight, so that's the biggest thing," Shanahan explained. "I think we need to use them by [the start of the playoffs] because the playoffs aren't four weeks long. ... But that's the stuff that goes all into it. That's why we didn't decide to do it with [defensive tackle] Arik [Armstead], even though it was a long time ago. We just weren't sure how many we'd have at the end of the year.
"We feel pretty good, [with] six games left, where we're at. But we'll make a decision on Elijah, most likely, in the next 24 hours."
Shanahan and the 49ers hope to get Mitchell back for the playoffs, assuming the team can make a deep run for the second consecutive season.