Team news: San Francisco 49ers | Page 21

Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice will have surgery on Tuesday to determine the extent of the knee injury that he suffered eight days ago. Via multiple reports, he got some good news on Monday.

Via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Rice might have avoided a torn ACL. He nevertheless needs to have an LCL repair.

As Rapoport characterizes it, Rice’s season “is expected to be over.” Separately, Rapoport says that Rice could miss “potentially three months” due to the LCL repair. That timeline would not end his season.

Related players: Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson, Mecole Hardman, Skyy Moore, Travis Kelco

The news is starting to get a little more clear for Rice. Best case seems to be a return for the playoffs in three months. As the story said, Rice has eight felony accounts lurking. Florio went on to say that now that Rice will be sidelined due to injury, it makes sense to resolve the charges and take the suspension this year. While he would still lose his game checks, he would not lose the ability to play any more games than the injury will cause him to miss, the story pointed out.

Cooper Kupp has missed three games, and the Rams are on their off week this week.

Rams coach Sean McVay said Monday that Kupp’s return for Week 7 would be “an ideal target” but “by no means is that guaranteed.”

Related players: Puka Nacua, Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington, Colby Parkinson

Kupp has not played since Week 2 when he injured his ankle against the Cardinals. The Rams did not place him on injured reserve, hoping he would miss fewer than four games, the story said. Kupp's return will help a banged up Rams WR group that still has Nacua out of commission. Whittington went for 7-89-0 and was targeted 10 times as well Atwell who finished 6-58-0 last week. Robinson had the lone TD catch but had a 3-28-1 line on five targets. Parkinson was targeted a team-high 13 times and went for 7-52-0.

San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey has bilateral Achilles tendinitis, meaning he has it in both legs, per NBC Sports. McCaffrey recently went to Germany for treatment.

The 49ers said they expected to get a "better idea" on McCaffrey's status over the next few weeks. The team's plan was to ramp up his rehabilitation to "see how it responds." General manager John Lynch added that the team is aiming to "quiet down" the injury.

Related players: Jordan Mason, Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor

The story said Achilles tendinitis is described as "an overuse injury of the Achilles tendon, the band of tissue that connects calf muscles at the back of the lower leg to your heel bone," according to the Mayo Clinic. Some Achilles tendinitis can be treated at home, while more serious cases can lead to tendon tears that may require surgery. The story went on to say, until McCaffrey, the team and the medical specialists see how the area responds to more work, it's hard to make a call on when he will be back, if he does come back this season. NFL Media reported Sunday that McCaffrey should be back, at least, by early November, but the report of bilateral Achilles tendinitis could change things. For now, Mason remains the bellcow. He had 24 carries in Week 4 with Deebo Samuel getting two. Guerendo had a fumble on special teams and had just one carry in the game.

49ers TE George Kittle (hamstring) sounds like he expects to return on Sunday against the Patriots. Says he's "very excited to play football" and "feeling fantastic."

Related Players: Eric Saubert

With Deebo Samuel more or less in the same boat, the 49ers are looking forward to getting some reinforcements after a brutal stretch of injuries. Kittle would be an absolute must-start if he returns in time for Sunday.

And to top it off, 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey is seeing a specialist in Germany regarding his Achilles tendinitis.

Related players: Jordan Mason, Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor

This doesn't sound good for CMC. Now owners can't help but wonder if McCaffrey will be back after missing his four games on IR. Mason has filled in well, gaining 5.2 yards per attempt with two touchdowns on the season. But at this point, with CMC seemingly a huge question mark, it may be time to pick up players like Guerendo and Taylor. Guerendo was the only other back to get carries in Week 3, running five times for 19 yards.

There won’t be any suspense about wide receiver Cooper Kupp’s status this week.

Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters on Monday that Kupp has been ruled out for the team’s Week 4 game against the Bears.

Related players: Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Whittington, and Tyler Johnson

Kupp injured his ankle in Week 2. The story said the early decision to rule him out suggests he’ll be off the practice field again this week, but the team did not put Kupp on injured reserve so it would seem they expect him to play by Week 7 — they have a bye in Week Six — at the latest. Atwell led the way with a 4-93-0 line with Robinson going for 1-32-0. Whittington added a line of 3-28-0 and Johnson had 3-20-0. With Puka Nacua also out for at least two more weeks, the Rams WR situation seems a bit tricky for fantasy owners.

The 49ers ruled TE George Kittle out for Week 3 against the Rams with a hamstring injury.

Kittle was initially listed as doubtful on Friday. Another big injury to a 49ers offense that is also without Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel. Eric Saubert and Jake Tonges are the next men up. Both rank outside our top 30 tight ends this week.

49ers TE George Kittle (hamstring) is doubtful for Sunday vs. the Rams. WR Deebo Samuel (calf) is out as expected. DE Nick Bosa (rib) is questionable.

Related Players: Eric Saubert, Jake Tonges

This would be yet another blow to a 49ers offense that is reeling. Saubert doesn't need to be started in typical fantasy leagues, and Brock Purdy's fantasy outlook would also take another huge hit.

49ers TE George Kittle was not spotted at practice today and is experiencing tightness in his hamstring, per source. With no practice today, his status for Sunday’s game vs. the Rams is in question.

Related Players: Eric Saubert, Jake Tonges

This would be yet another blow to a 49ers offense that is reeling. Saubert doesn't need to be started in typical fantasy leagues, and Brock Purdy's fantasy outlook would also take another huge hit.

Rams star WR Cooper Kupp suffered a high-ankle sprain in LA’s loss on Sunday, and he’ll spend the next week or so in a cast helping the swelling calm down, sources said.

The team did not place him on Injured Reserve, as there is still a chance he’s ready within four weeks.

Related Players: Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington

A little bit of good news bad news here, as Kupp may not miss more than four games, but it still seems like it will be significant time. As it stands, Robinson is the most experienced option and will be the most likely option to lead the team in routes, with Johnson closely behind.

If you missed out on them through waiver runs and still want a piece of this offense, Whittington is the wild card, and should be targeted in deeper leagues.