NFC Notes: 49ers, Seahawks, Vikings

49ers

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan announced after Sunday’s game that RB Jeff Wilson Jr suffered a high-ankle sprain. 

“We knew on Monday if Jeff was healthy, he’d be starting. We weren’t sure until he got a lot of practice Thursday. Otherwise we would have gone with Hasty. We were able to rest Jet, play him only on 3rd down and that will help him going forward,” Shanahan said, per Cam Inman. 

• Shanahan said RB Jerick McKinnon‘s light workload this week was on purpose as they wanted to rest him after he’d shouldered a heavier load the previous two games. (Matt Barrows)
• After San Francisco had a couple more receivers get dinged up, Shanahan was cagey on if that would impact WR Dante Pettis‘ rumored availability via trade: “I mean, I don’t think it was real likely before… I know Dante got mentioned a few days ago. We’ll see if there’s anything that comes up that helps our team. If it doesn’t, I know Dante can help our team being on it, too.”

Seahawks

• Per NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo, the Seahawks’ interest in WR Antonio Brown was largely driven by QB Russell Wilson and Seattle was waiting until after his suspension to sign him. 
• Garafolo adds the Seahawks are now waiting on WR Josh Gordon to be reinstated, which he guesses could be Week 8 or Week 10. 
• Seahawks RB Chris Carson appears to have a midfoot sprain and will be week-to-week. (Ian Rapoport)
• The team doesn’t believe the injury to be significant, however, indicating he might not miss much time. (Bob Condotta)
• Seahawks CB Shaquill Griffin is in the concussion protocol. (Michael-Shawn Dugar)
• Seahawks HC Pete Carroll noted second-round DE Darrell Taylor and RB Rashaad Penny are close to returning to practice from the NFI list and PUP list respectively. (Brady Henderson)

Vikings

When the Vikings traded for DE Yannick Ngakoue during training camp, they obviously felt they would be much better than 1-5 to start the season. After dealing him away at a loss, Vikings HC Mike Zimmer commented on how their mindset changed. 

“We sat down and discussed it and we felt like at this time it was best for the organization overall. You know, we’ve lost a few good players this year,” Zimmer said via Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “So that part is what it is, whether it be an injury or whether it be a suspension or whatever it is. We just go out there and try to fight like crazy and try and get these guys better every day.”