SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan suffered non-life-threatening injuries, including a concussion, in a car accident earlier this month, the team said in a statement.
The statement said Shanahan will participate in team activities on a limited basis at the start of training camp.
According to a Palo Alto police report, the accident occurred at 6:13 p.m. on July 14 at the intersection of Alma Street and Hamilton Avenue in Palo Alto when Shanahan collided with an SUV, resulting in fractures to the head coach’s nose, ribs and hand. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital; the driver of the SUV was not injured. No one has been cited in the collision and drugs and alcohol are not believed to be involved, according to the police report.
General manager John Lynch on Saturday said the 49ers would treat Shanahan’s concussion as if he’s a player who suffered one.
“Kyle basically is going to be in the protocol,” Lynch said. “We’re going to let the condition, the doctors dictate how he comes back, when he comes back.”
Lynch said Shanahan has made notable progress since the accident and that the black eyes sustained in the crash have nearly gone away. Shanahan required 40 stitches in his face, a source with knowledge of the situation said.
The accident occurred before coaches and rookies reported for training camp later that week. Shanahan mostly has been working from home, though he’s recently made brief trips to the team facility.
Shanahan’s longtime assistant Chris Foerster, whose title is assistant head coach/offensive line, will run training camp with an assist from defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and others. The 49ers’ veterans report for training camp Saturday and the first practice is scheduled for Sunday.
Lynch said Shanahan might be on the field at times during training camp but that Foerster and others will handle the practices.
“We’re not going to blink,” Lynch said. “We feel like we’re well-equipped for something like this.”