It’s become a bit of a tradition that in any given season, the San Francisco 49ers will be the team with the most injuries in the entire NFL. The numbers back it up: Kyle Shanahan’s roster simply can’t stay healthy, and no one is quite sure why.
It’s become such a mainstream thought that a conspiracy theory has arisen, claiming that the team’s practice facility being located right next to an electrical substation is causing many of the players’ physical injuries. That theory has already been debunked by experts, but it didn’t stop the team from starting up an investigation. They want to get to the bottom of their injury problems.
They may have to look inward, though, if the words of a former player are anything to go by. Dre Greenlaw, who played for the Niners from 2019 through 2024, recently spoke about the change in practice habits between the Denver Broncos under Sean Payton and Shanahan’s 49ers.
Kyle Shanahan may have to push players harder in practice to avoid injuries
While Greenlaw didn’t outright criticize the more lenient ways of Shanahan’s training regimen, it begs the question whether the head coach needs to push his players harder during the offseason and during game weeks in order to get them properly, physically ready for a full season.
In discussing the 49ers’ injury woes, many have claimed that Shanahan makes the players practice too hard. In reality, it might be the complete opposite. While the Broncos’ practices may be deemed much tougher, they seem to work, as Denver has stayed relatively healthy since Payton joined the team. Perhaps Shanahan should take some pointers from his program.
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