SANTA CLARA — For the first time this season, the 49ers seem stressed.
They’ve rushed wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders into action, even though they traded for him less than a week ago. “He’s going to play a lot,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday.
They have rushed 35-year-old left tackle Joe Staley back to the practice field from a broken fibula he suffered less than six weeks ago. They list him as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, but won’t rule him out.
“Haven’t ruled him out because he does have a chance to play and I know how badly he wants to,” Shanahan said.