49ers DE Leonard Floyd (knee) avoids serious injury

Field Level Media|published: Sun 25th August, 21:42 2024

Aug 23, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Leonard Floyd (56) is helped off the field after sustaining an apparent injury while playing against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Prized free-agent acquisition Leonard Floyd avoided a serious knee injury in San Francisco's preseason finale, 49ers coach Mike Shanahan said Sunday.

Floyd injured his right knee during the first quarter of Friday's 24-24 tie against the host Las Vegas Raiders. He underwent an MRI exam on Saturday.

Shanahan termed Floyd as "day to day" on a conference call with reporters on Sunday.

Floyd, 31, matched his career high of 10.5 sacks while playing for the Buffalo Bills last season. He signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the 49ers as a free agent in March.

Floyd has 39.5 sacks over the past four seasons, recording at least nine in each of the campaigns. He is expected to provide the 49ers with an improved pass rush on the other defensive side of 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa.

Overall, Floyd has 58 sacks in 121 games (120 starts) in eight NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears (2016-19), Los Angeles Rams (2020-22) and Bills (2023).

Another defensive end, Yetur Gross-Matos, also injured his right knee against the Raiders. Shanahan termed Gross-Matos as "week to week" after getting his MRI results back.

While Shanahan is hopeful Gross-Matos won't need to be placed on injured reserve, he also wasn't ready to predict that Gross-Matos will be ready for the season opener against the visiting New York Jets on Sept. 9.

"We'll see how this week goes, and hopefully he'll have a chance to get back in practice for Week 1," Shanahan said of Gross-Matos. "But we haven't mentioned anything about IR."

Gross-Matos, 26, signed a two-year, $18 million deal as a free agent in March.

Last season, Gross-Matos had a career-high 4.5 sacks in 12 games with the Carolina Panthers. He missed five games due to a hamstring injury.

Overall, Gross-Matos appeared in 55 games (32 starts) with 142 tackles and 13 sacks in four seasons with the Panthers.

Also, Shanahan said that Talanoa Hufanga (knee) might open the season on the physically unable to perform list, a move that would require the standout safety to miss the first four games. Shanahan said a decision would be made prior to Wednesday's practice.

Hufanga sustained a torn ACL in his right knee against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last November. The 2022 Pro Bowl selection has seven interceptions and 181 tackles in 42 games (30 starts) over three seasons.

--Field Level Media

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