Kyle Shanahan not optimistic about Week 13 return for Adrian Colbert

The San Francisco 49ers were without free safety Adrian Colbert on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, and that’s disappointing after he flashed some serious potential against the New York Giants prior to that. Colbert himself said he’d be ready to face the Chicago Bears in Week 13, but head coach Kyle Shanahan isn’t completely certain

“I’m expecting him to practice [on Wednesday]. He’ll be limited,” Shanahan said. “We’ll see how the week goes with him and how it heals and how he feels. There is a chance he could play this week.”

Colbert is a rookie who showed enough in a single start that some 49ers fans believe he could seriously change the team’s plans at the free safety position, currently manned by Jimmie Ward, who is dealing with a significant injury history. Colbert broke his thumb against the Giants and had to undergo a procedure.

“Feel definitely better about him the following week versus Houston, but there’s a chance,” Shanahan said during his press conference on Monday following the loss to Seattle.

Colbert is an interesting player for certain. I think what has so many people excited about his potential is a combination of two things. For one, he looked completely ready to start in his one game thus far, even against the Giants. An NFL game is an NFL game, and looking good in his first start is a big deal.

For two, Colbert plays a lot like Ward, at least from where I’m sitting. He’s got the same range as Ward and has shown some solid instincts, but he definitely plays a bit more physically, as evidenced by some big hits against the Giants. Hopefully he’ll be good to go against the Bears, another bad team.