Lynch says Jeff Wilson Jr. will start the season on the PUP list

The 49ers can’t seem to dodge the injury bug as we found out Jeff Wilson Jr. recently tore his meniscus. General manager John Lynch provided details about how Wilson Jr. got injured during a radio appearance Wednesday afternoon:

“He was sitting down, talking to some teammates, he got up and as he got up and turned, felt a pop in his knee and kind of got stuck. And he could tell something was wrong.”

The injury took place last Thursday while the 49ers were lifting weights as a team. File this under “you can’t make this up.” Seriously. He was injured from...standing up? Either this team is cursed, or Lynch is leaving out details.

Wilson underwent more imaging on Friday, according to Lynch. That’s where the team found out their leading rusher in 2020 had a “substantial” tear that left Wilson with no choice but to have surgery right away.

Lynch said he spoke to Wilson Jr., who was a little embarrassed about how the injury happened. Lynch said Wilson Jr. would start the season on the PUP list with a four to six-month timeline recovery. That means he’ll be ineligible for the first six weeks of the season.

Don’t expect the 49ers to add another running back. Here’s what Lynch had to say about the backfield as it currently stands:

“We still have five halfbacks and two fullbacks. So that’s a pretty healthy complement of backs. With the Mitchell pick in Round 6, we didn’t really intend on taking a back there. He was just there. I’m glad he was there because this helps insulate us there.

Obviously, Hasty and Gallman and Trey Sermon and Mostert, it’s still a group we feel great about. And Jeff is a big part of that equation. We just won’t have him at the beginning.”

Wilson Jr. signed a one-year deal this past offseason. The 49ers bye week falls on Week 6, so Wilson would miss five games if everything goes according to plan.

The issue for him is that the offense will have established a rotation in the backfield by that time. If guys like Sermon and Mitchell are in a groove, you’re not going to ruin whatever chemistry you’ve built up to make room for Wilson Jr.

Lynch says the team is behind Wilson Jr and will welcome him back with open arms:

“Looking forward to have Jeff being part of our team for however much we get him next year.”