The San Francisco 49ers just can’t catch a break with injuries, and HC Kyle Shanahan’s latest update makes things even more concerning. Rookie cornerback Upton Stout had quickly locked down the starting nickel role during camp. But a calf injury has kept him out of practice for almost a month. Shanahan had recently stated that Stout would be ready by Week 1, but now that feels far less certain. The same goes for rookie defensive end Mykel Williams. 

A few days ago, the 49ers’ defensive end went down awkwardly during red zone drills. He clutched his left knee, limped off the field, and headed to the locker room. But Kyle Shanahan had calmed fears back then. While addressing the media after Mykel Williams got injured at camp, the head coach had said, “He had a good exam. Hopefully just hyperextended his knee. We’re going to get a further evaluation now, but it looked good when we examined him.” Those were some positive words from Kyle Shanahan, but the situation looks different now. 

Recently, The Niners Wire reporter Rob Lowder took to X to share, “The hope is that rookie(s) DE Mykel Williams and CB Upton Stout (both likely starters) return to practice this week, but Kyle Shanahan said that he won’t know until tomorrow, as he gets word on how their workouts went today.” So now it turns out that Mykel Williams and Upton Stout might not even be ready before Week 1. These two rookies had shown potential at the 49ers camp, so they were expected to be starters on the 53-man roster. And Williams, in particular, will be hard to replace. 

When the 49ers desperately needed help rushing the quarterback, DE Nick Bosa was doing the heavy lifting last season, often without consistent support. That’s why Kyle Shanahan used the No. 11 overall pick on Williams this year. But throughout his college career, the DE battled nagging ankle injuries. Still, while playing for Georgia, he tallied 14 career sacks and 23 tackles for loss, proving that when healthy, he can be dominant. In the 49ers camp, Williams already looked like a strong run-stopping lineman. But now what happens if this knee issue lingers? It can stunt his growth as a pro or even worse. It raises questions about whether his ankle problems are part of a longer-term trend. That’s the worry Kyle Shanahan might not want to admit.

On the other side, Upton Stout’s absence opens the door for CB Chase Lucas. Could Lucas be the silver lining here? The corner has been one of the 49ers’ most consistent defenders in the preseason. His aggressive play in the CB slot stood out in two preseason games. 49ers DC Robert Saleh even praised him before the preseason finale.“With all the injuries we’ve had in the secondary, he’s gotten a lot of opportunity, and to his credit, he’s taken advantage of it. Hopefully, we get a good look at him at the corner this week,” Saleh had said. The latter part of that comment, though, suggested that the 49ers weren’t fully convinced of Lucas’ performance. But now the situation has changed after what happened with another 49ers CB, Jakob Robinson, in the preseason finale.

Kyle Shanahan provides an update on Jakob Robinson’s injury

The 49ers’ injury problems at the OL only grew worse in their preseason finale against the Chargers. Cornerback Jakob Robinson went out with a forearm injury, and it just sounded like the most pressing matter, according to Kyle Shanahan’s postgame remarks. “It was at the end of the game, but I think he (Jakob Robinson) broke it. You know, he didn’t return… I just got that before I came in. We’ve got to X-ray it for sure and everything, but that’s what it sounded like,” the 49ers head coach told reporters. 

Jakob Robinson had been making a case for a roster spot, but now it sounds like he has a broken arm. The undrafted free agent brought experience and leadership. At BYU, he collected 11 career INTs in 54 games and rarely missed time due to injuries. Robert Saleh even praised his performance earlier in camp. “A competitive young man… The game’s not too big for him… I think he’s gotten the attention of the entire organization in terms of how he works and how he approaches it,” Saleh had said. Now, all that momentum is in doubt. 

So what does San Francisco’s cornerback room look like now? At the top, they still have Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green. But behind them? It gets murky. Upton Stout? He will be recovering, and Jakob Robinson just got injured. Chase Lucas has been promising, but unproven. The team signed Tre Brown this offseason, yet he worked mostly with the third-stringers during preseason. Other names like Dallis Flowers and Darrell Luter exist, but can the 49ers trust them in real games? That’s a huge gamble.

Moreover, the 49ers’ GM had just preached competition before roster cuts. But competition is only valuable if you have enough healthy players to compete. Right now, the 49ers’ depth in the cornerback room feels paper-thin. If Week 1 started today, would Kyle Shanahan feel confident in this secondary? Probably not. So, as it turns out, Shanahan may now have to scour the waiver wire or trade market to patch holes. That’s not ideal, but it’s better than the team entering the season scrambling for answers.