CARSON -- The 49ers believe neither tackle Joe Staley nor wide receiver Dante Pettis sustained long-term knee injuries Sunday in the team’s 29-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Staley and Pettis suffered injuries in the first half and did not return to action. Pettis injured his left knee on a punt return in the first quarter, and Staley went down with a right knee injury in the second quarter.
After the initial diagnosis, neither of the injuries is believed to involve damage to the anterior cruciate ligament. Staley and Pettis are expected to undergo MRI examinations Monday.
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Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo last week sustained a torn ACL. He did not make the trip to Southern California as he awaits season-ending surgery.
Three of the 49ers’ offensive linemen had to exit the field Sunday because of injuries. Center Weston Richburg missed just one snap with a knee injury, and rookie right tackle Mike McGlinchey sustained a knee injury late in the second quarter. McGlinchey sat out the first series of the third quarter and clearly was hobbled the remainder of the game.
“I know it wasn’t perfect, and we need to play better, but I was happy with how hard the guys battled,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “Losing both of our tackles there for a while was scary. We had to finish the first half without them.
“McGlinchey toughed it out. Obviously, it wasn’t as bad as Staley’s, but I know it was hard for him to go in the second half. I’m real proud of our center. He got hurt on the first play of the game and had to come out, but he battled through the entire game when we needed him to.”
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Erik Magnuson played center for one snap in place of Richburg, who quickly returned to action. Later, Magnuson went into the game at right tackle for McGlinchey for a series, and veteran backup Garry Gilliam entered in place of Staley and played the remainder of the game.
Other players who were injured were able to return to action, including quarterback C.J. Beathard, who had the wind knocked out of him in the fourth quarter, wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (hamstring), running back Matt Breida (shoulder) and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas (shoulder).
