San Francisco 49ers quarterback Josh Johnson (1) runs with the ball for long gain against the San Diego Chargers n the fourth quarter of a preseason game at Candlestick Park, in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (Ray Chavez/Staff)
SANTA CLARA — All 49ers received negative COVID-19 tests for a second straight day, and that includes wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, whose positive result Wednesday kept him and three other key players from Thursday night’s 34-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Coach Kyle Shanahan kept his gripes to a minimum Friday, even though the already short-staffed 49ers surely could have used Bourne and those high-risk contacts who joined him on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list, those being wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, and left tackle Trent Williams.
Pushing the game back to Sunday or Monday also might have helped as a buffer for such test results, but that was not an option the NFL offered.
“I know it’s frustrating but is what it is. It’s what everyone in world is dealing with now,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday. “They’re doing it for safety.
“It wasn’t necessary, but I understand why it did happen. You have to deal with it, and we obviously dealt with it last night.”
Shanahan told all players and coaches to take today off, and aside from coming to the facility to take their daily COVID tests, the 49ers won’t reconvene as a team until Monday.
Their next game at New Orleans on Nov. 15, and not only does Shanahan expect to have those four players available off the COVID-19 list, running back Raheem Mostert could come off Injured Reserve after a three-game absence with a high ankle sprain. Samuel would have missed Thursday night’s game with a hamstring injury regardless of his close-contact risk with Bourne, and he, too, could play against the Saints.
“Finding out that (Bourne’s test) was negative today, I was glad for Kendrick and those guys, not having to worry about at least being sick right now,” Shanahan added.
The NFL is still looking into whether Bourne violated safety protocol by not wearing a protective face covering as needed at the team facility. Shanahan is not expecting any discipline to ensue, though he is open to hearing any way the 49ers can enhance their safety measures, which includes handing out disposable masks to players at every meeting.
“When anything comes up and people think they have COVID, even if it’s negative, they’re going to look into it hard, and I’m glad for that,” Shanahan said of league and NFL Players Association investigators. “We’re doing a very good job. I’m always interested in how we can do better.”
Packers linebacker Krys Barnes has tested positive for COVID-19 after playing the 49ers, NFL Network reported. Three Packers went on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list earlier this week.
NO GAROPPOLO SURGERY
Jimmy Garoppolo will not undergo surgery for his most recent ankle sprain that did send him onto Injured Reserve on Thursday.
“Good news from doctors is that none of them are recommending surgery right now,” Shanahan said. “We will rest him the next four to six weeks. Hopefully he’ll heal up, be good to go then and not need surgery.”
The 49ers’ final four games are against Washington (Dec. 13), at Dallas (Dec. 20), at Arizona (Dec. 27) and against Seattle (Jan. 3). Technically, Garoppolo is 6-0 when coming off a loss, and he was on the hook for Sunday’s 37-27 defeat in Seattle after his ankle injury forced him out late in the third quarter.
MULLENS STILL STARTER
Nick Mullens will make a second straight start in place of Garoppolo when the 49ers’ visit the Saints. Backup C.J. Beathard has not started since 2018.
“It’s firmly Nick,” Shanahan said. “As I’ve always said, I feel good with Nick and CJ. I’m not going to bounce them back and forth. Nick wasn’t the reason that happened last night and why he’ll get the first opportunity against New Orleans.”
On Thursday night, Mullens fell to 1-2 as a starter this season. He completed 22-of-35 passes for 291 yards with one touchdown, one interception and one lost fumble on the Packers’ lone sack. Beathard is 23-of-37 for 232 yards with one touchdown and one lost fumble in relief duty, from last month’s losses to Philadelphia and Miami.
QB JOHNSON RETURNING
Veteran Josh Johnson, 34, will join the practice squad next week and participate in Wednesday’s practice if he passes through COVID-19 protocol, Shanahan said. Johnson was in the 49ers’ 2012 camp and part of their 2014 team as a backup to Colin Kaepernick.
Johnson, an Oakland native, had stints with 12 teams since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted him in the fifth round in 2008 out of San Diego. He is 1-7 as a NFL starter (0-5 with Tampa from 2009-11; 1-2 with Washington in 2018). He’s also played in the now-defunct United Football League and Alliance of American Football.
SECONDARY INJURIES
Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt left Thursday’s game with a foot injury believed to be turf toe, which the 49ers hope to determine via an imaging exam. Tartt missed Sunday’s loss at Seattle with a groin injury. Marcell Harris has replaced Tartt at strong safety repeatedly over the past two years.
Harris and Tartt each played 50 percent of Thursday’s snaps. Backup safety Tarvarius Moore had just four defensive snaps, his first since starting in place of Jimmie Ward in the 49ers’ Week 7 win at New England.
Nickel back K’Waun Williams’ injury-plagued season now a potential high-ankle sprain. That injury has kept Garoppolo, Mostert and running back Jeff Wilson out of action this season.
JORDAN REED’S RETURN
Why was Jordan Reed’s return from a Week 3 knee injury considered a success when he only had a 3-yard catch to show for his limited, 13-snap cameo? Because he did not aggravate the injury.
“I was excited to get him out healthy,” Shanahan said. “It was extremely tempting to use him more because of how good of a player he is, but he hadn’t practiced since the New York game. For a guy just cleared and with only two walk-through practices, that wouldn’t have been fair to him.”
NO SANU REUNION
For those curious if the receiver-thin 49ers might re-sign Mohammed Sanu after releasing him a month ago, that wasn’t in the works. He’s signed with the Detroit Lions, they announced Friday.
