Head Coach Kyle Shanahan Press Conference

Head Coach Kyle Shanahan

Press Conference – October 11, 2024

San Francisco 49ers

Opening comments:

“Alright guys, injuries from the game: [S] Malik Mustapha has a low ankle, he’ll be day-to-day this week, [K] Matt Wright had a shoulder, we’re still waiting for his MRI to get back. He did dislocate it, or it came out for a little bit, so we’ve got to make sure just to, and it went back in, but we’ve got to find out more on him when we get the MRI. And [RB] Jordan Mason, he had a shoulder, AC sprain, he’ll be day-to-day this week, also. Go ahead guys.”

Is there any concern about Wright’s availability for your next game?

“Yes. Yeah, we’re not sure. We know he’ll have a chance, but we don’t know for sure until we get that MRI back.”

Is there any update on RB Christian McCaffrey? I know his window could be open as soon as this week, or it could have been last week technically, but anything going on there potentially to start him practicing again this week?

“No. He is continuing to improve, but we we’re not opening it up this week.”

And how about WR Ricky Pearsall?

“Ricky, we do plan on opening up this week.”

Would he be able to practice Monday or would it be Wednesday?

“I believe Monday. With all those guys that, I’ll just mention them. [DL] Jordan Elliot with his knee is continuing to rehab, we’ll evaluate him early this week, [LB Demetrius] Flannigan-Fowles, his calf, we’re hoping he will be back at practice, [CB Charvarius Ward] Mooney with his knee, he’s day-to-day, [K] Jake Moody with his high ankle sprain, he is still expecting to miss a few weeks, and Ricky Pearsall, we’re going to open his practice window.”

With Pearsall, is there any consideration to him being able to play against the Chiefs or will he require a longer ramp-up period?

“Most likely, I would think it’d be a longer ramp-up period, but health-wise and everything, he is totally good to go. But I really won’t decide that stuff until we start watching him practice. We’re not going to rush it or anything. If he’s ready, he’s ready. And if he’s not, we’ve got a few weeks.”

When you watched the tape, how did you think your backup running backs, RB Isaac Guerendo and RB Patrick Taylor Jr. performed last night?

“I thought they both did a really good job. They both came in, we didn’t really miss a beat with it. They kept the whole rhythm of the offense going. They hit the right holes, they ran hard and made some plays for us. They were prepared and didn’t hesitate when they got their opportunities.”

Talking about DL Malik Collins, you can watch all the film you want and get all the second-hand info about a player, but you never really know what you have until he is in your building. What have you learned about Malik Collins since he joined, since you guys got your hands on him? And do you think it’s fair to say he’s gone above and beyond your initial expectations for him?

“I did have high expectations for him. I really loved his film at Houston, but I didn’t really know the type of guy we were getting fully. I heard some good things about him, but just how much of a man he is, day in and day out. Just such a pro, how hard he works and everything. He’s a guy you don’t have to worry about at all. You always know exactly what you’re going to get from him. He’s been the exact same from his first practice to his first game, just day in and day out and really good example of how a pro should be and takes his job as seriously as he does.”

The stat sheet said DL Nick Bosa had four tackles and no sacks, but obviously it doesn’t seem to reflect the impact he had. He always has good games, but what were just your thoughts on his performance?

“I totally agree. Stats sometimes can say a lot and sometimes they can totally not say anything at all. And I think that’s one of these cases because when I got on the plane and started watching the tape, he was all over, just affecting the quarterback, setting the edge, getting in on tackles. I thought he had hell of a game and I thought the whole D-Line played really well as a group, also.”

On the replay issue that happened last night, I know it doesn’t mean much to you, but do you get an apology? Is there anything, any sort of contact that you’ve received from the league about what happened there?

“No. You don’t get any apologies, but apologies aren’t that big of a deal. Once it happens, you’ve got to move on with your life. Apologies don’t make it better. I’m just glad that it all worked out and just move on.”

In watching the tape, how impressive is it that the secondary was able to hold Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf to so few targets without Charvarius Ward?

“I was real impressed with those guys. We kind of knew they would be up for the challenge. I think between [CB Isaac Yiadom] Ike and [CB] Renardo [Green], we all know how [DB Deommodore Lenoir] DMo is, those guys are some competitive, they’re three of the most competitive guys on our team. And to have all those three out there together, we thought they would be ready for the challenge. Especially Renardo, not having all the experience of it, but we knew he’d be ready for the challenge and was real happy with how they played. They were a big reason why we won.”

With the kickoffs, I guess for a number of reasons, one, your kickers are getting hurt tackling. Obviously, there was a kickoff return for touchdown. Was Wright being instructed to have touchbacks and just didn’t have the leg or what was the plan with that, at least last night?

“Yeah, we always try to go for the touchback, with both of our kickers. But it’s easier said than done. You can’t always get that done. And he had a couple of them, but not all of them come off the same way. And it happens with Jake, not as much obviously, but our plan is never to be short. We’re always trying to get touchbacks.”

If necessary, would you bring the three other kickers in next week for a tryout or would you have a guy in mind?

“I know we just had our one, so we’d probably do it again, I’m sure, just to see where they’re at a week later. You never know. But that’s definitely, we’re waiting on this MRI, so that’s definitely a good possibility of something we’ll have to do. But I thought Matt did a really good job and stepped up big time for us with those three kicks, being three-for-three. I don’t want him to have to make those tackles, but I respect the hell out of it for him putting his body in there. Wish it didn’t come down to it, but hopefully he’ll be alright. But if not, we’ve got to look into someone else, obviously.”

To be out last year’s leading rusher and then nine carries in to lose this year’s leading rusher and then to post the kind of rushing numbers you did, what can you say about the play of the offensive line?

“I thought they were great last night. Our runners ran real hard and real well. But the O-Line, I thought just blocking-wise starting with the O-Line, but to the tight ends to the wide outs I thought that was one of our better games. I thought that was a good defense we were playing against. And our guys just really blocked extremely well.”

Was the initial thought on Jordan that he was going to be okay?

“We take it as good news. It doesn’t guarantee this week or anything. He does have an AC sprain, but it was positive that it wasn’t worse than that. So, he’ll be day-to-day this week. Hopefully he’ll be good for the game, but no guarantees.”

He went back in and carried one time? Was that just a pain factor?

“I’m not sure exactly. Jordan’s as tough as anybody. I’m sure if he has a chance to play, he will. But we’ve got to just see how the shoulder responds. We’re only a day out.”

Are you just taking the three days off? What’s your schedule?

“Yeah, we gave everyone three days off. That’s what’s so great about these Thursday Night games. It’s kind of a miserable three days because you do cram, it’s not like we go short on the work. So, you cram a whole week into those days, but the payoff is you get three days off and your goal hopefully is to always have three happy days off instead of three miserable days off, which is only dictated by those three hours in that game. So, real excited to get a win, have everyone rest up a little bit, see the family some, catch up on some of your own studies that we do and come back Monday ready to go.”