Total Pro Sports
As the San Francisco 49ers navigate through an onslaught of injuries at wide receiver, they’re prepared for the possibility of losing another to suspension.
On Monday, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan gave the first worrisome update: They don’t expect All-Pro wideout Brandon Aiyuk (recovering from ACL and MCL tears) to return until Week 6.
Additionally, star wideout Jauan Jennings is nursing a calf injury that he suffered in training camp. Equanimeous St. Brown (foot) is on the injured reserve, and rookie Jordan Watkins could miss Week 1 with an ankle sprain.
As if the hits there aren’t concerning enough, the San Francisco 49ers face a strong possibility of losing veteran wide receiver Demarcus Robinson for three games. Last month, Robinson pleaded no contest to a DUI charge, and the NFL baseline suspension for such an offense is three games.
Speaking to reporters on Monday (via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio), Shanahan addressed Robinson’s situation as they prepare for a potential suspension:
“There is an appeal process. I’m not sure how it’s going. So, I always just plan for the worst and hope for the best. But he’s done a good job here. We’ve really enjoyed him as a guy, knowing he won’t be in there, most likely for those first few games. He’ll play a lot more in the preseason, but hopefully we can shorten that with an appeal process.”
The 49ers’ 2024 season was derailed because of injuries to key players like Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams and Nick Bosa. Week 1 is still nearly four weeks away, but it already looks like San Francisco will kick off the new season short-handed. Once again.
The 49ers begin their 2025 season with a road contest against the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Sept. 7 (4:05 p.m. EST). San Francisco has owned the rivalry since Brock Purdy’s 2022 rookie season, winning six of the last seven matchups, including the 2022 Wild Card Round showdown.
