Sports

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan shared a couple of bits of bad injury news when he spoke to reporters on Thursday.

Shanahan said at his press conference that safety Ji'Ayir Brown will be out of action until training camp. Brown recently had a surgical procedure on his ankle.

Brown appeared in every game and started 13 of them last season. He had 77 tackles and an interception in that action. The 2023 third-round pick had 35 tackles and two interceptions as a rookie.

The 49ers also have Malik Mustapha, Richie Grant, George Odum, Jason Pinnock, and fifth-round pick Marques Sigle at safety.

Shanahan also announced that wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will likely be out until camp with a hamstring injury.

Everyone is speculating on who the NFL players for the 2028 Olympics will be. Don't expect the world's greatest tackle player, Patrick Mahomes, to be one of the participants for the debut of flag football.

The Chiefs quarterback said Thursday he doesn't plan on going for the gold in Los Angeles three years from now.

“I’ll probably leave that to the younger guys,” Mahomes told beat reporters. “I’ll be a little older by the time that thing comes around.”

Mahomes turns 30 in September.

The flag football competition is scheduled for July 14-21, 2028, which is a week before most veteran reporting dates for training camp.

The NFL recently decided to allow its players to participate in the Olympics, and Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson is among those to express interest.

“It’s awesome, honestly,” Mahomes said. “Just to be able to showcase the NFL to the whole world through flag football.”

Current flag football players aren't on board with the decision, with star Darrell Doucette III has proclaimed himself "better than Patrick Mahomes" at flag football because of his "IQ of the game."

Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice's return from his season-ending knee injury appears to be going well.

Rice was under the weather for Thursday's OTA open to the media, but quarterback Patrick Mahomes shared his impressions of what he's seen from Rice so far this offseason. Rice's injury happened in Week Four and Mahomes said the timing allowed the wideout to be "up here working hard" shortly after the season ended with their Super Bowl loss to the Eagles.

Mahomes said Rice is now moving with "no limitations" and looking like the wideout who turned in a strong rookie season.

“He’s out there playing, he’s making plays on the football field," Mahomes said. "He’s explosive; he looks fast. You saw the start of last season. I think he can be one of the best receivers in the league."

The Chiefs were also without Hollywood Brown for much of last season and teaming both wideouts with Xavier Worthy is something the team has been waiting to see for some time.