San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said after a 19-13 preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans that starting slot cornerback Nate Hobbs will be unavailable for several weeks after pulling his groin in a joint practice against Tennessee earlier in the week.
49ers lose slot cornerback Nate Hobbs to groin injury for several weeks
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said after a 19-13 preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans that starting slot cornerback Nate Hobbs will be unavailable for several weeks after pulling his groin in a joint practice against Tennessee earlier in the week.
Shanahan described the injury in direct terms: 'Nate Hobbs in the practice versus the Titans pulled his groin. So, he's going to be a few weeks.'
The absence will keep Hobbs out of the remainder of the preseason and reduce his time competing for the starting slot cornerback position against Upton Stout, who held the primary nickel cornerback role the previous season. Stout appeared in 16 games last year and recorded 82 tackles, 5 pass deflections, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble.
Hobbs, now in his fifth NFL season, has dealt with recurring injury issues. While with the Green Bay Packers last season, he suffered a partially torn meniscus in the preseason opener, missed their Week 1 game against the Detroit Lions, and appeared in only 11 games as the knee injury persisted. He also missed extensive time the prior season with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Hobbs was not the only defensive back to suffer an injury during the preseason game. Free-agent signing Jack Jones exited Thursday's contest with a hand injury on the defense's first possession and is also expected to miss time.
The 49ers are facing additional injury concerns across the roster. Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has been lost for the season, defensive end Nick Bosa remains week-to-week, tight end George Kittle is working back from an ACL injury, and running back Christian McCaffrey is experiencing tightness, according to the source.
- The source does not state the specific number of weeks Hobbs is expected to miss beyond characterizing it as 'a few weeks.'
- The source does not state the severity or expected timeline of Jack Jones's hand injury.
- The source does not state the expected return timeline for Nick Bosa, George Kittle, or Christian McCaffrey.
- The source does not state whether Hobbs or Jones will be placed on an official injury designation list.
- The source does not include any comment from Hobbs, Jones, or other players regarding the injuries.
Read the original at New York Post