The San Francisco 49ers’ linebackers room took a major hit in Saturday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks, with Tatum Bethune out for the rest of the year with a torn groin and Dee Winters (ankle) and Luke Gifford (quadriceps) iffy for Sunday’s wild-card playoff game against the run-heavy Philadelphia Eagles.
Kyle Shanahan said it’s possible Fred Warner, who had surgery on his ankle in October, returns from injured reserve this month, but the coach added that the 49ers would have to win a couple of playoff games for that to happen.
“I think it’s too far off right now,” Shanahan said in a Monday conference call. “It is a possibility as we get closer to a possible third game here, a championship game. But it’s not something we’re thinking about right now.”
With Bethune out, the 49ers will turn to their fourth middle linebacker of the season, Eric Kendricks, whom the team added in late November. San Francisco’s middle linebacker calls the defensive plays and gets the unit organized before the snap.
“I’m real confident in Eric,” Shanahan said of Kendricks, an 11-year veteran. “He’s been here long enough, he’s gotten in (the game) in the last couple of weeks. And I’m glad we got him for this situation.”
Shanahan said Winters and Gifford would be evaluated throughout the week. Neither finished Saturday’s contest. Should Winters miss the Eagles game, Curtis Robinson or Garret Wallow would step in at the weakside linebacker spot.
The team has one more linebacker, Jalen Graham, who could be called up from the practice squad. Rookie Nick Martin must miss one more week after going on injured reserve last month. Shanahan wasn’t sure whether Martin, who suffered a concussion on Nov. 30, was still in the concussion protocol.
Shanahan reported three more injuries on defense. He said lineman Keion White (hamstring) will be evaluated during the week and that safety Ji’Ayir Brown (ribs) and lineman Kalia Davis (knee tendinitis) are day to day.
He said offensive tackle Trent Williams (hamstring) and receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) would also be evaluated throughout the week. Both missed the Seahawks game, although Shanahan previously said they were close to playing.
The coach said the team would open the practice window for receiver Jacob Cowing and that Cowing would take part in Wednesday’s practice. Cowing suffered a hamstring injury on the first day of training camp, then aggravated the injury multiple times during his rehabilitation.
Quarterback Brock Purdy is healthy and ready to go for the playoff opener, Shanahan said, despite suffering a stinger in his left shoulder and hitting his thumb on a helmet late in the loss to the Seahawks.
