What’s reported in Vegas actually started in Santa Clara.
After the first day of joint practices between the San Francisco 49ers and the Las Vegas Raiders, 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that WR and punt returner Ray-Ray McCloud broke his wrist during Tuesday’s practice, and he is likely to miss eight weeks.
“It’ll be some time,” Shanahan said. “We won’t know for sure until they go to surgery. They always say around eight weeks at that time. Could be a little less. Hopefully it is. We’ll see. I think he’s getting surgery Friday.”
Eight weeks means that McCloud will most likely miss the first four regular-season games of the season, which means they need a punt returner, stat.
“Kyle Juszczyk is one of the most comfortable natural punt return captures there is, but hopefully we have a few other guys before our fullback is out there,” Shanahan joked. “…[I]t’ll be an open competition and it’ll be fun to watch.”
A name to watch is rookie wide receiver Ronnie Bell, a 2023 seventh-round draft pick out of the University of Michigan. He had an average of 11.5 yards on 13 punt returns in college and had two kickoff returns.
“He’s done a good job,” Shanahan said. “He’s a natural catcher. He’s comfortable back there, so he’ll have an opportunity.”
Shanahan also pointed to rookie cornerback D’Shawn Jamison as someone in the mix for the role.
More Injury News
- TE George Kittle has a strained adductor.
- LB Dre Greenlaw tweaked his hamstring early in Thursday’s practice and will most likely be out the rest of the week.
- DL Drake Jackson is dealing with a hamstring injury.
