The San Francisco 49ers may have to make do without three more offensive starters in Week 3.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday spoke with reporters on a conference call and started with updates on players injured in Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Saints.
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“Injuries from the game. (FB Kyle Juszczyk) Juice will be in the protocol this week,” Shanahan said. “Ben Bartch had a high ankle sprain, he will be out for a while. Siran Neal will also be in the concussion protocol, reported some symptoms today. Spencer Burford hurt his knee. We’ll have to evaluate him throughout this week. Jauan Jennings hurt his ankle. We’ll have to evaluate him throughout this week.”
Bartch went down early in Sunday’s game and never returned. Rookie seventh-round pick Connor Colby filled in for him and figures to do so for as long as the starting left guard is out. It’s unclear whether San Francisco will place Bartch on IR. That may be a decision that comes down to his early recover from the ailment.
All eyes will be on Juszczyk and Jennings throughout the week. Juszczyk’s status is out of the 49ers’ hands since he’ll have to pass the NFL’s concussion protocol. He left Sunday’s game in the first half and the 49ers had to make do with more tight ends on the field to mitigate losing Juszczyk. It stands to reason the 49ers will be better prepared to withstand his absence with a full week to game plan for him being out if he’s unable to clear the protocol by Sunday.
Jennings’s ankle showed up during the game when he hobbled to the sideline after falling down on a route. He got his ankle taped and returned to the game, posting a career-long 42-yard touchdown in the win. That would seem to be a good sign that he’s on track to play in Week 3, but we also saw Brock Purdy get hurt in the second quarter vs. Seattle only to have his injury worsen in the hours after the game.
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If Jennings is unable to go, the 49ers may turn to rookie WR Jordan Watkins who was a healthy scratch in Week 2 after missing Week 1 with an ankle injury he suffered in the preseason.
San Francisco gets a day off Tuesday. When they return to the practice field Wednesday they’ll issue a practice report that will give us a better idea of how Sunday’s injuries may impact the 49ers’ Week 3 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers injury updates on Kyle Juszczyk, Jauan Jennings after Week 2
