Kyle Juszczyk will miss several weeks after sustaining a hyperextension and bone bruise in his right knee during the San Francisco 49ers’ 24-14 victory against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The 35-year-old fullback left the game late in the fourth quarter after a collision with Broncos cornerback Jahdae Barron, remaining on the field for several minutes before walking off and eventually sitting out the rest of the match.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Monday that Juszczyk avoided a major knee injury, including an ACL tear, following an MRI scan. “It appeared to be a knee sprain,” Shanahan said, ruling out the worst-case scenario. The team expects Juszczyk to be sidelined for “a few weeks,” which could mean missing two or three games.
If Juszczyk misses three games, the 49ers could give him four full weeks of rest due to their schedule, which includes matchups against the Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commanders, and Atlanta Falcons before their bye week at the end of October. A return on October 25 against Atlanta remains possible if he misses only two games.
Juszczyk has been a durable presence for San Francisco, missing just seven regular-season games in his 14-year NFL career. His last missed game was on October 30, 2022, due to a broken finger. This season, he has averaged about 28 snaps per game and is a regular part of the 49ers’ two running back sets, which Shanahan said are used on roughly 41% of offensive plays. Juszczyk often shares the field with Christian McCaffrey in these formations.
The 49ers do not currently have a backup fullback on the roster. Left tackle Trent Williams noted after the game that the “next man up” approach doesn’t apply in this case. Shanahan said the team plans to rotate tight ends Brayden Willis, Luke Farrell, and occasionally George Kittle to fill the void while Juszczyk recovers.
In other injury news, wide receiver Mike Evans continues to play through a rib injury that limited his practice participation earlier in the week. Shanahan indicated Evans was likely still in pain but had no setbacks following a five-catch performance against Denver. The team could hold Evans out of practice for much or all of this week as they manage his recovery.
San Francisco is also preparing to activate defensive end Mykel Williams, a 2025 first-round pick who tore his right ACL last November. Williams began participating in team drills last week after the 49ers opened his 21-day practice window. Shanahan expects Williams to continue this week and could activate him by the end of the week, adding depth to their defensive front amid ongoing absences.
Conversely, defensive end Nick Bosa remains sidelined with a calf injury and will not return to practice this week. Shanahan said Bosa was not placed on injured reserve after his injury before the September 24 practice, suggesting a return is possible before the team’s bye week, but not for the upcoming game against Seattle.
The 49ers’ secondary also suffered setbacks Sunday. Safety Marques Sigle left early with a high ankle sprain and is expected to be out for “some time,” likely four to six weeks. Nickel back Upton Stout exited with an AC joint sprain in his shoulder but is considered day-to-day. Shanahan said the team will monitor Stout’s workload this week in hopes he can play against Seattle.
Malik Mustapha, praised by Shanahan for his performances in the first four weeks, is the likely replacement for Sigle. If Stout cannot play, the 49ers might shift cornerback Deommodore Lenoir into the slot and move Jack Jones outside. Another option is activating Nate Hobbs from injured reserve, who is nearing a return from a groin injury suffered in August.
The 49ers remain cautious as they manage injuries to several key players, with Juszczyk’s absence marking one of the more significant losses to their offensive unit. Shanahan’s adjustments in personnel and formations will shape San Francisco’s approach in the coming weeks.
According to Yahoo Sports.
