San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula spoke to the media today and touched on a number of topics following the team's 19-13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
TE Garrett Celek, who went down during the first quarter on Sunday with what was described as a high ankle sprain, is scheduled to have an MRI today to determine the severity of the injury. The team does not believe it to be a fracture.
When asked about the roughing-the-passer penalty on DE Quintion Dial as he sacked Cardinals QB Carson Palmer, Tomsula believed that Dial was aiming for the quarterback's strike zone. However, he would not speak on the officiating in general. "Things happen on a football field in real time. My vantage point of the play was we came in and Dial was working to get to the strike zone – between the knees and the shoulders – and I did see him lower to get in the strike zone. But I am not here to critique officiating."
When asked why CB Marcus Cromartie did not play, Tomsula said, "[CB Kenneth] Acker was on it. Quite frankly, he was playing well."
When asked about the penalties in the game, Tomsula said that part of the problem may have been aggressiveness. "There's aggressiveness and there's aggressiveness within the rules," Tomsula said.
RB Carlos Hyde missed his fourth straight game as he recovers from a stress fracture in his left foot. Tomsula was asked if there had been any discussion on the injury and possibly closing him down for the remainder of the season. He stated that he listens to the doctors and the medical staff on the best course of action for all of the players and not just Hyde. "Coaches and medical decisions is not a good thing," Tomsula said. The 49ers running back remains day-to-day and they are looking to see how his foot is responding.
RB Shaun Draughn made another start in place of Hyde. Tomsula complimented his pass protection against the Cardinals and said, "Shaun has done a really nice job ... He's running well. He's running hard."
QB Colin Kaepernick, who had surgery on Tuesday to repair the torn labrum in his left shoulder that forced the end of his 2015 season, is at the 49ers facility today to begin his rehab. His recovery is expected to take four to six months.
