Javon Hargrave, last seen celebrating a sack against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday before departing with an injury, will need surgery for a torn triceps and will miss the rest of the season.
It was the latest in an injury wave that’s hit the 49ers, who are 1-2 after a 27-24 road loss to the Rams.
“It’s a big one,” coach Kyle Shanahan told local writers Monday on a conference call. “I thought he had his best game yesterday, thought he was a huge factor. Affected the quarterback in that game. It’s a big loss. He’s one of our better players. He was going in the right direction and he was going to have a big year.”
Shanahan said there’s a remote chance Hargrave could return post-surgery if the 49ers went deep into the playoffs, but it’s more likely he won’t play again until 2025.
“We’re recommending surgery and when you get surgery that’s a few months at least,” Shanahan said. “If there was a chance, it would have to be late in the playoffs.”
Hargrave was the 49ers’ prize free agent signing before the 2023 season, signing a four-year contract worth a maximum of $84 million after starring for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is the latest in an injury wave that includes 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendinitis), wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf strain) and tight end George Kittle (hamstring).
McCaffrey, who has at least two more games on injured reserve, has left the country to seek treatment, Shanahan confirmed.
Photos that circulated social media over the weekend showed McCaffrey boarding a plane for Germany.
“I’m not sure what doctor it is,” Shanahan said. “I know he’s going to a specialist that can help him with his Achilles process and he’s doing that over the next few days and hopefully it will help.”
In yet more injury news, Shanahan said Brock Purdy, a bright spot in the loss, has a sore back and is day-to-day. He underwent an MRI that came back clean, Shanahan said.
The flood of injuries is in contrast to last season, when the 49ers’ star players for the most part went wire to wire.
“I think last year with some of our main guys we were very fortunate,” Shanahan said. “This year it’s been totally different to start out, so that’s been real tough. I’d like to stay positive with it in that all of ’em are eventually going to come back, but that probably changed with Hargrave today so that was a tough pill to swallow there.
“We definitely haven’t had the luck we had last year.”
The good news is that Kittle, according to Shanahan may return to practice this week and be available to face the New England Patriots Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. Samuel is expected to be out another week. Cornerback Charvarus Ward, who was questionable against the Rams with hamstring and knee issues and struggled in coverage, is also good to go.
Running back Christian McCaffrey is heading to Germany to see a specialist to help with his Achilles tendinitis. A.P. Photo
REPLACING HARGRAVE
With Hargrave out, either Jordan Elliott or Kevin Givens could start alongside Maliek Collins, and Shanahan said the 49ers will also look to practice squad players T.Y. McGill and Evan Anderson. On some passing downs, a defensive end could move inside, with the most likely candidate Yetur Gross-Matos.
“We’ll always look to what’s available out there, but you usually go to your practice squad.” Shanahan said.
While not available this week, Shanahan also said Kalia Davis, who was having a strong camp and preseason before needing knee surgery, would also be back soon. Original estimates had Davis being out until midseason.
GREENLAW TIMELINE
By starting the season on injured reserve after Achilles surgery following the Super Bowl last season, Dre Greenlaw had to sit out a mandatory four games. He’ll likely be out a month after that at least.
“At the beginning of the year I was hoping midseason,” Shanahan said. “I haven’t asked in a couple of weeks, but that’s what it was at the beginning of the year and we’re still hoping that. That’s still a ways away.”
HUFANGA’S RETURN
Safety Talanoa Hufanga went right to fulltime duty against the Rams in his first game back after ACL surgery. He played 53 of 58 snaps and had seven tackles, second on the team to Ward’s nine.
“I thought it was a good first game back,” Shanahan said. “He wasn’t at the point of attack too much, but definitely made some plays. Had a good tackle on the sidelines. I think he held up pretty well. The film looked good and hopefully it was a step in the right direction and we’ll build forward on that throughout the season.”
J.J. AND J.R.
The 11 receptions for 175 yards and three touchdowns by Jennings made him just the second player in franchise history to have 10 or more catches, 175 or more yards and three touchdowns in the same game. Hall of Famer Jerry Rice did it twice — catching 13 passes for 225 yards and five touchdowns against Atlanta from Joe Montana in 1990, and 14 receptions for 289 yards and three scores against Minnesota from Steve Young in 1995.
Terrell Owens narrowly missed in 2001 against Atlanta with 183 yards receiving and three touchdowns with nine receptions.
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SNAP JUDGEMENTS
69: Trent Williams played all but two of the 71 offensive snaps. As bad as the day was for the 49ers, at least Williams got back up and walked off the field under his own power and was back in the game after an I.V. for cramps. The rest of the starting O-line played all 71.
61: Tight end Eric Saubert had a career high in snaps subbing for Kittle. His previous high was 49 for Denver in 2021. Jake Tonges had 15 snaps and Brayden Willis 4.
58: Nick Bosa played every defensive snap for the second time in his career. Bosa also played all 63 snaps last Oct. 29, a 31-17 loss to Cincinnati at Levi’s Stadium. He came in listed as questionable with a rib injury.
30: Second-year wide receiver Ronnie Bell had his third-most snaps, getting 31 in Week 3 against the New York Giants last season and 38 (Aiyuk was injured) in the regular season finale against the Rams when the 49ers were resting some starters. He had 10 more snaps than veteran Chris Conley.
6: Dee Winters, who was to rotate in for De’Vondre Campbell in passing situations, departed with an ankle injury in the second quarter and didn’t return. Shanahan said the plan was to work Winters in for Campbell but was scuttled with the injury. Campbell had issues in pass coverage against the Rams.
5: Corner Renardo Green and safety Malik Mustapha each played five defensive snaps in a game where the 49ers were beaten deep repeatedly. Green.
0: George Odum, who started the first two games at safety along with Ji’Ayir Brown, didn’t get any snaps defensively, reverting to his special teams roles with 21 snaps.