49ers hope to keep Kwon Alexander off injured reserve; Kyle Shanahan provides Richard Sherman update

The San Francisco 49ers are hoping to get linebacker Kwon Alexander back this season. How soon that will happen remains unclear, but head coach Kyle Shanahan informed reporters on Friday that the team isn't talking injured reserve just yet.

"We don't think [injured reserve is a possibility] right now," Shanahan said. "I never like to say 'minor high-ankle sprain' because high-ankle sprains are always a big issue, but it wasn't your typical one where they for sure go on IR. That's why we haven't put him on that yet, and we're hoping to keep him off."

Shanahan also provided an update on Richard Sherman, who has been sidelined with a calf injury since Week 1. The 49ers had hoped to get him back this past weekend, but the cornerback had a setback last week.

Shanahan had informed reporters that the team was giving Sherman shots to reduce the inflammation and increase his chances of returning soon.

"Sherm got the injections and stuff," Shanahan said. "I know now is a matter of time resting it, and you don't go out and see if they've worked yet. You let the injections do their course, and you see how it is, whether it's next week or the week after."