49ers to Be Without Garoppolo, Kittle for Next Several Weeks

• QB Jimmy Garoppolo expected to miss at least six weeks due to an ankle injury
• TE George Kittle may be done for the season after fracturing his ankle vs. Seahawks
• 49ers will host Packers on Thursday night

The lack of an offseason training program combined with the elimination of the preseason schedule has seemingly resulted in teams around the NFL dealing with more injuries than usual in 2020. Injuries shake things up every year, but the San Francisco 49ers have been bitten by the injury bug early and often this season.

The Niners opened the season as odds-on favorites to win the NFC after making it all the way to Super Bowl 54 last year. While the team is off to a passable 4-4 start, it’s hard to imagine another Super Bowl appearance is in the cards this time around. The 49ers have already lost a number of key players, including Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel, Raheem Mostert, and Jason Verrett, to injuries.

Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to be sidelined a minimum of six weeks and possibly longer if surgery is needed, per source.

George Kittle is out eight weeks with a broken bone in his foot, which means his season could be over.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 2, 2020

On Sunday, the Niners were thrashed in Seattle by the Seahawks, 37-27. The game wasn’t as close as the final score may indicate, and the 49ers were dealt a few more cruel blows when both Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle left the game in the fourth quarter. Neither player returned to the field.

Garoppolo’s Ankle Injury

Garoppolo seemed to injure his ankle early in the game, but he wound up playing through most of the game before leaving with about 14 minutes to play. The Niners announced Monday that Garoppolo suffered a high-ankle sprain that will likely keep him sidelined for at least six weeks. If he needs surgery, he could be done for the season.

Kittle left the game in the fourth quarter shortly after catching a pass from Garoppolo’s backup, Nick Mullens. He hobbled to the sidelines before leaving for the locker room. The Niners revealed on Monday that Kittle suffered an ankle fracture on the play, which is expected to keep him out of the lineup for at least eight weeks.

Kittle Done for the Season?

There is a very real chance that Kittle will be lost for the rest of the season. The former Pro Bowler has caught 37passes for 474 yards with two touchdowns on the year, but he has played in just six games due to injury. Kittle missed the team’s game in Week 2 against the New York Jets with a knee issue.

Running back Tevin Coleman also left Sunday’s game with an injury. Coleman re-aggravated a knee injury he suffered earlier in the season. He has already missed five games with injuries on the year, and he is unlikely to be ready to play in the 49ers’ next game.

JaMycal Hasty and Jerick McKinnon will likely continue to share backfield duties for San Francisco moving forward.

To make matters worse, the 49ers have just three days to prepare for their next game, which comes on Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers. The Packers will be out for revenge after losing the NFC Championship Game at the hands of San Francisco by a score of 37-20 back in January.

Packers Coming to Town

The Green Bay Packers (5-2) were handed their second defeat of the season on Sunday when they were beaten at home by the Minnesota Vikings, 28-22. Green Bay opened as a three-point favorite for Thursday’s matchup in Santa Clara, but the line has since moved to Packers -6 in light of the Niners’ injury woes.

Green Bay was forced to put running back AJ Dillon on the reserve/COVID list on Monday. With Aaron Jones’ status already in doubt due to a calf issue, Green Bay may have to lean even more heavily on backup Jamaal Williams to shoulder a heavy load in the running game.