When Kyle Shanahan was asked if the team was overly concerned about either injury, the head coach stated, "No. They definitely were trying to go, but Kittle's having some back spasms. So once that was happening in pregame, we shut him down."
The linebacker's status also seems relatively unconcerning, with Shanahan adding, "Dre had some Achilles tendonitis, so that was acting up a little bit more before the game. We had heard about it, and once we heard that, we were safe with him."
Sidelining Kittle and Greenlaw were precautionary moves. Since Sunday's game was meaningless for the 49ers, who had already secured the top seed and home-field advantage in the NFC, the decision to sit both players was easy.
San Francisco will await the weakest-seeded NFC winner from the Wild Card Round, playing its first game at Levi's Stadium on the weekend of January 20.
Other setbacks from the game were defensive end Clelin Ferrell suffering a knee injury and safety Tayler Hawkins sustaining a wrist injury.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers find Dre Greenlaw replacement in mock draft
One of the San Francisco 49ers' most significant offseason departures was linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who signed with the Denver Broncos after six seasons in Santa Clara. Replacing him will be a top priority, and one internal candidate is third-year linebacker Dee Winters. "He... -
John Lynch addresses 'last-ditch effort' by 49ers to keep Dre Greenlaw
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch has always been fond of Dre Greenlaw and hoped to keep him on the roster in 2025. However, the linebacker's injury history complicated matters, leading the team to take a wait-and-see approach regarding his market value in free... -
Report: 49ers outbid Broncos for Dre Greenlaw, but the linebacker sought 'fresh start'
Several factors contributed to Dre Greenlaw's departure from the San Francisco 49ers this offseason. Money played a significant role, as the linebacker signed a three-year, $31.5 million deal with the Denver Broncos. Greenlaw's exit is seen as one of the 49ers' most impactful... -
49ers Brandon Aiyuk trade: Why moving him now makes sense—and why it doesn't
The 49ers' return window for Brandon Aiyuk closes April 1, offering the Niners one final opportunity to trade him and move on from a contract decision they reportedly never wanted to make. No, it's not April Fools, but it sure feels a lot like Groundhog Day. Just months after...