NFC West Notes: 49ers, Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks

49ers

• 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said Monday that OLB Dee Ford’s issue is to the same quad/knee problem he dealt with this summer. As of now, Ford’s status for Wednesday’s practice is in question. (Matt Barrows)
• Shanahan said there’s not a ton of great options at left tackle available right now. 
• Matt Maiocco says the 49ers appear to be going with Justin Skule at left tackle in place of Joe Staley, who is out six to eight weeks.
• The 49ers tried out P Brad Wing on Friday. (Howard Balzer)

Cardinals

• Cardinals RB David Johnson suffered a left wrist injury during Sunday’s game, but later returned. He said afterwards that he’s “good” and he feels “good to go.” (Josh Weinfuss)
• Johnson added that it was a “big relief” that it turned out to not be a serious injury. Although, he admitted that he was “a little nervous” when it happened, given that he “landed weird.”
• On Monday, Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury confirmed Johnson should be fine to play Sunday against the Panthers. (Darren Urban)

Rams

After incessant questions about the state of his knee all offseason, fueled in part by the Rams’ insistence nothing was wrong despite a decrease in his workload down the stretch last year, Rams RB Todd Gurley appeared to confirm the worst fears of some by splitting the workload almost evenly with backup RB Malcolm Brown in Week 1. 

In Week 2, however, Gurley took more of his customary workload, finishing the game with 16 carries and three catches. 

“It’s going to be something that’s by game,” Rams HC Sean McVay said via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “And really, it’s more in the flow and the feel and how he’s doing it as much as anything else. Because Todd’s a big part of our offense, he’s going to continue to be a big part of our offense. And the nice thing is that we feel good about Malcolm Brown being able to spell him. Because of the confidence we have with those two guys, it’s been a good deal the first couple weeks. And in all seriousness, [I can’t] tell you that’s going to be what it is, because then Todd gets the hot hand and you feel like he’s going to end up with 25 carries. I don’t think that’s out of the question either.”

• According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Rams TE Tyler Higbee left Sunday’s game with a chest injury and was diagnosed with a lung injury at the hospital that had him coughing up blood. Higbee isn’t expected to be out long, however. 
• Rams OL Austin Blythe will have an MRI on his injured ankle, with the team hoping he can avoid injured reserve. (Vincent Bonsignore)

Seahawks

• Per the Seattle Times’ Adam Jude, Seahawks HC Pete Carroll says he expects DE Ezekiel Ansah (shoulder) to make his 2019 debut on Sunday against the Saints. 
• Carroll adds DT Poona Ford (calf) and WR David Moore (shoulder) could also return from injuries this week.