San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters ahead of Friday's practice, providing some injury updates during the conversation. First, he revealed that offensive lineman Jaylon Moore would miss some time with a lower leg strain.
The other injury was to wide receiver Marcus Johnson, who is in the concussion protocol. The injury occurred on Tuesday, the same day as the brawls between linebacker Fred Warner and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. According Shanahan, Johnson was the recipient of a big hit from the star linebacker, causing the injury and sparking the scuffle.
"I love the intensity of it, but I don't think you have to fight to be intense, though," Shanahan said of the brawls. "Scuffles are scuffles. Then they lead to other stuff. I think that's why we had a guy in the protocol because we took an unnecessary shot on someone, which led to the big fight. And then we had a bunch of haymakers and stuff thrown in there, which only breaks hands.
"I think our team is pretty tough. I think we're pretty physical. I think if most people probably voted on who was the most physical team on tape last year, I think we'd win most of that, and we didn't get in one fight last year. So I don't think that totally pertains to toughness."
Shanahan added that he understood Aiyuk's vantage point and the receiver standing up for his wideout teammate.
Warner recently said that he is challenging Aiyuk on the football field to help the third-year wideout take his game to the next level. What does Shanahan think about that type of comment, considering the fights that broke out afterward?
"I want everyone challenging each other," Shanahan said. "I don't care how much crap each other talks. I don't care how close they get to fighting. They can do whatever they want to get themselves going and being as intense as they want, and bringing the best out of each other, which happens a lot that way. It's the same on the field. But once you throw a punch, you get ejected, or you get a penalty.
"We pride ourselves on—I want people to be irritants. I want people to get as close as they can to all that stuff. I want people to get right on the line to where they're about to black out. But you can't black out in football or you'll cost your team. But I love doing that to other people."
The 49ers announced that they have waived wide receiver Taysir Mack. He joined the team as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022.
