Golden Nuggets: Witherspoon and Goodwin Limited, Tartt Did Not Practice

Good morning folks, and a happy Thursday to you. Although the NFL has been pushing “Thursday games are good!” in their commercials this year, they’ve scheduled what should be marketed as the Toilet Bowl, in a game between the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns. Last year, these two teams were among the worst in the league, as the Jets finished with the 6th overall pick, and the Browns cemented their place in history with a 0-win season.

Luckily for both, they seem to be improved, but this still promises to be an ugly game. The Browns compiled their first not-loss since December 2016 this season in a tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and played the New Orleans Saints down to the wire. The Jets started the season with a bang, opening up with a blowout against the Detroit Lions. While both teams have promising young talent (acquired as a consequence of high draft picks), it remains to be seen if either team will make a meaningful step forward this year.

As usual Wednesday is injury report day - and there’s a fair amount of information to process. Starting with the opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs sat Eric Berry and Chris Jones (not the same Chris Jones we had, their version is productive from the interior). In the grand scheme, this means very little, as that team is built to win on offense. Our injuries are a little bit more concerning, however. Jaquiski Tartt remains sidelined with a shoulder injury he suffered late in the Lions game, and the perpetually-injured Joshua Garnett has not yet returned to practice. Mike Person has been limited, as he continues to work through a foot injury. It seems likely that he gets the start against the Chiefs, although it’s not like that a huge victory.

More importantly, however, Ahkello Witherspoon has been limited in practice while nursing an ankle injury, and Marquise Goodwin is still having issues with his hamstring. Neither has yet been explicitly ruled out for Sunday, but these lingering leg issues on the perimeters could be a problem if either were to start. The Chiefs have a ton of speed on offense, and a banged-up Witherspoon would likely end up with a target on his back for the second straight week if he were to play . The lack of Goodwin’s speed hurt the 49ers last week against the Lions, and would be an enormous loss to the team against the Chiefs, as the two teams enter what should be a shootout.

Analysis & Review

Robbie Gould wins NFC Special Teamer of the week | Almquist, KNBR | Madson, Ninerswire

49ers lead league in 1st down yards/carry | Madson, Ninerswire

Roster & Injury Reports

Reuben Foster activated, Matt Tobin released | Ochoa, 4th & 9 | Biderman, Sac Bee | Madson, Ninerswire

49ers-Chiefs injury report | Maiocco, NBC Sports Bay Area | Madson, Ninerswire

Marquise Goodwin’s status for Sunday “noncommittal” | Maiocco, NBC Sports Bay Area

No decision yet made on LBs for Sunday | Madson, Ninerswire

Miscellaneous

This ‘n that | Almquist, KNBR