49ers Lose Kyle Juszczyk to Concussion Against Saints

The San Francisco 49ers suffered another blow in their Week 2 game against the New Orleans Saints as fullback Kyle Juszczyk was ruled out with a concussion sustained in the second quarter. Juszczyk, who often serves as a makeshift tight end in the absence of George Kittle, left the game after being evaluated on the sidelines and will not return. With quarterback Brock Purdy and tight end Kittle already sidelined due to injuries, the 49ers are now relying heavily on running back Christian McCaffrey and backup running backs, while tight ends Jake Tonges, Luke Farrell, and Brayden Willis are expected to fill Juszczyk’s blocking role. The injury further complicates San Francisco's offensive struggles, as they managed only 48 rushing yards in the first half and have been forced to lean on multiple limited assets, including questionable starters Trent Williams and Jauan Jennings. Coach Kyle Shanahan emphasized the interchangeable roles of tight ends and fullbacks in their offense, which may help mitigate the impact of Juszczyk's absence. Additionally, starting left guard Ben Bartch left the game with an ankle injury, with rookie Connor Colby stepping in as his replacement.