49ers injury updates: Kittle and Greenlaw are OUT; Witherspoon is questionable

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan met with the media Friday morning to provide a few injury updates. The question was whether George Kittle would suit up after practicing this week. Shanahan ruled Kittle and Dre Greenlaw, who is battling a thigh contusion, out for Sunday’s game. That’s the correct decision, and I’m glad the team had the “big picture” in mind. The playing surface had to have something to do with the decision to rest Kittle, as did the 49ers opponent and Kittle’s recent bone bruise. Rest up another week or two, and come back when you’re fully healthy, George.

As for Greenlaw, that means we’ll see Azeez Al-Shaair start at SAM LB. We’ll see a lot of Al-Shaair as the Giants use three tight end packages more than any team in the league. Al-Shaair will need to be sound and night bite on play-action. He’ll also need to do a great job at setting the edge.

Shanahan said that Ahkello Witherspoon is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Giants as he’s suffering from hamstring tightness that happened during Thursday’s practice. That opens the door for Jason Verrett to start, who Shanahan said had a “real good” practice, and the team is “confident” in Verrett if Witherspoon can’t go. If Witherspoon doesn’t suit up, that would mean Dontae Johnson is your emergency cornerback.

Shanahan on Dee Ford (back) who is out for Sunday: “I’d be surprised if he’s there next week, but I wouldn’t rule him out. Again, it’s something that we’ll see week to week with that (injury).”

Shanahan had some good news regarding wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who “looks real good.” Kyle said he is optimistic the 49ers wideout will be back at practice next week. The team will see how Samuel looks throughout the week and determine whether he’d suit up for the following game.

Here is the injury report:

OUT

RB Tevin Coleman (knee)

DE Dee Ford (back)

QB Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle)

LB Dre Greenlaw (quadricep)

TE George Kittle (knee)

RB Raheem Mostert (knee)

Questionable

CB Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring)