Transcript: Kyle Shanahan previews 49ers-Falcons Week 7 matchup

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed reporters ahead of Wednesday's practice as the team gears up for its Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Here's everything he said.

Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.

Opening comments:

"Injuries for today. We've got [DL] Yetur [Gross-Matos], knee/hamstring, will be out. [WR] Ricky [Pearsall], knee, will be out. [WR] Skyy Moore, ankle, will be out. [T] Trent Williams, vet day. [RB] Christian [McCaffrey], vet day. [WR] Jordan Watkins, calf, limited. [QB] Brock Purdy, toe, limited. [QB] Mac Jones, knee/oblique, limited. [OL Dominick] Puni, knee, limited. [DL] Kevin Givens, pec, limited. [WR] Jauan Jennings, ankle/rib/shoulder, limited. [CB] Renardo Green, neck, limited. [DL] C.J. West, thumb, limited. [TE] George Kittle, hamstring, limited. [DL] Kalia Davis, hand, limited. Go ahead."

Has Ricky's knee turned out to be more problematic than anticipated?

"I mean, we hoped it would go faster, but that's a thing that's normal and just it's not going faster than expected. But, he's better this week than last week and hopefully it continues."

As far as LB Fred Warner's surgery, did that go as expected? Then follow-up question, you said three months, people do the math and come up with mid-January and think, oh, is playoffs a possibility if the 49ers make the playoffs?

"You distracted me. What were the other two questions before that one (laughter)?"

How did the surgery go?

"The surgery went good. Just talking to everyone, they said it went great. I just threw out there three months, but we haven't thought about that yet. I mean, he just had surgery yesterday, so we'll see how that goes, but not thinking about that right now."

What kind of boost does George give you coming back and on running game especially?

"Just having another good blocker always helps. I thought the other tight ends have blocked well though. Just having him back in the pass game, I think is huge. Just having an explosive athlete out there who can run away from people. But both, just having him on the field on every offense play helps."

In the interior offensive line, how much was it your guys' struggle and how much of it was Tampa Bay Buccaneers NT Vita Vea just wrecking a lot of things?

"I think it's a little both. Vita's a real good player. So, he is going to have some of his. I thought there was a number that we could have done better on, but wasn't as simple as one answer. A little bit of both."

What's been your assessment of WR Kedrick Bourne? He's obviously put up some big numbers, but then there's been some pre-snap stuff, some blocking questions. Overall, where do you assess his play? Has it gotten better since he got here?

"Yeah, definitely. I mean, for someone just to hop in here Week 2 and get thrown into a starting role by Week 4, I've been very appreciative that we've been able to have Bourne here. He's helped us out a lot. By no means is it perfect, like anybody, but he's getting better each week at catching up with the offense and stuff like that. I feel we've been fortunate to have him though."

When he was a rookie, like a lot of rookies there were issues with him being on time and everything. He's a 30-year-old man now. Can you discuss the ways in which he's matured?

"Yeah, he's unbelievable now. I think he is like one of the more adults in the building, which I don't think I would've ever said that six years ago. But, K.B. was late like his first few weeks and then he corrected that before his rookie year ended. He got really consistent with being on time after he started out a little bit bad, but by the time K.B. left here I thought he was extremely mature and had come a long way in his four years I believe he had with us. Then just now seeing him four, five, six years later, whatever it's been he's a grownup. Speaks like he went to an Ivy League now. Got a very good strong foundation in his faith and love having him in the building, always have. It's just as good now if not better."

How has Brock handled being out these four games? Just having to live vicariously through the film and watch more than he ever has since becoming a starter?

"You can ask him to know for sure, but I'm sure like a lot of players, it sucks to be such a big part of it and something that you work for year-round and then not to be able to do much because of injuries. So, I know injuries frustrate people, but Brock's handling it right, like he does everything, but I know he is itching to get back and feel good again."

Would you say that Mac is more limited than Brock right now or are they sort of the same?

"No. Brock's more limited than Mac."

How is George Kittle handling being off the field? Also, now that he's itching to be back in, what is he saying to you guys?

"Today has been good. Just had a good meeting, had a good walk-through and he is ready for practice today. So, I think same answer. When guys are out, George loves playing football and he works all year around for it, so when they're not able to do that it's frustrating for them. He had a big hamstring pull, which there's a lot of different degrees of it, his was a big one. He has rehabbed so hard to get back and I know he is excited to get back."

I was looking at Atlanta's numbers, they have 14 sacks, but it's from 10 different guys. What do you see when you watch their defense?

"I see a bunch of good guys. They're all very active. They're young. They play with an extremely good motor. Every one of them has the ability to rush the quarterback. I think their scheme and just how they coach them, their effort and everything is very good. They're playing the right way and they're talented."

What have you seen from WR Demarcus Robinson? Is he a little rusty coming off the suspension?

"Yeah, I think it's always hard for guys, especially him not being here before this year and then having a month where he had to be away. But, D-Rob's catching up with that stuff and he's helping us when his number's called."

How much can George impact the team as a leader?

"I think George always can. George is one of our leaders here. All the guys who've been around for a while, George has been here since the beginning and also is one of our better players. So, anytime you have guys like that, I do think they're always a big impact."

How has Trent handled playing with OL Connor Colby who understandably is trying to figure out a lot of things? Just thinking that might add some difficulty for him.

"For Trent just playing next to him? I don't think so. I think that stuff's a little bit overrated. Everyone moves in unison. The guys next to each other do it more often than not, but I feel it's all five guys moving together. But, I don't think it's affected Trent."

When you went back and watched the film, what was your impression of the performance that LB Tatum Bethune had?

"I thought Tatum did a real good job. He had a couple mistakes which were understandable, kind of what I think I was saying on Monday. But, there was a lot of clips that, I was telling everyone when I get on the plane and I start watching the tape and it starts off a little depressing for me, just how the game went and thinking about it without Fred and then I stopped and re-watched it a different way from a different light and it was very inspiring watching how Tatum played. A bunch of our young guys, there are some good things on that tape. Got to clean up some mistakes that we made, but I liked how the film looked and how the guys played."

Will you have LB Dee Winters continue to wear the green dot and control communication or would Tatum take that?

"Tatum. Yeah."

In Fred Warner's absence, Christian McCaffrey went on social media and shared we go to war for our brothers. Just wondering if any inspiring speeches, conversations or just any type of talk amongst the team itself have happened since the loss of DL Nick Bosa and Fred Warner?

"Oh, I'm sure guys do individually. We don't have a big kumbaya or anything over that and have everyone share an inspirational deal. But, we address it and we talk about what we have to do to handle it. You could ask those guys individually. I'm sure talking on the plane, those guys just talking in our locker room, everyone knows how special Fred is to this team as a player and as a person. So, I'm sure there are plenty of them."

With Skyy Moore out, does Jordan Watkins do punt return today in practice?

"Yeah, that he's back, he'll get a shot at it. So, we'll see how this week goes. We still know that Skyy has got a chance to play, but that's stuff we will evaluate all week."

There's a lot involved with that MIKE position. Curious what makes Tatum a good candidate for that?

"I think it has to start with how you play linebacker. Can you run? Can you hit? Can you make tackles? Can you cover people? I thought he did that at a very high level in college and he's done it very well since he's gotten here. This is why he made our team. What was he a seventh-round choice or an undrafted free agent? I'm not sure which one. Can't remember. But, we've liked him since the beginning. He's shown that ability. I think it's been good for him to be behind someone like Fred and see how he does it. Tatum, to me, is so made of the right stuff and he's so handled this year and a half the right way that he's definitely more than ready for this opportunity."

Is there an opportunity for LB Nick Martin to get some more reps?

"Yeah, definitely a huge opportunity for Nick to get on the field. Just losing a linebacker should give him his opp."

How has he been?

"I think he's been good. He works his butt off every day, still working to find a way to get up. This is his opportunity to get up. We'll see how this week of practice goes and we'll decide for Sunday most likely on Saturday."

With MIKE linebacker, obviously you have to be trained, it's a very specific thing. Who, is it Bethune and LB Curtis Robinson? What is the pecking order there? Are there other guys that could reasonably fill in?

"It's similar to center. You have your pecking order. Curtis would be able to do it, probably as the third guy right now. Fred then Tatum then him. But, just like a center, you don't always have more than one center. Sometimes you don't have more than two up on game day, so everybody's got to be able to go there if something happens. But, who gets the most reps at it, that'd be the order of it."

Why was RB Isaac Guerendo taken off of kick return? Was that a ball security concern?

"A little bit of both. We just wanted to give [RB Brian Robinson Jr.] B-Rob an opportunity. Nothing overly bad for Isaac to lose it or anything, but nothing overly good to keep it. So, we wanted to give someone else a shot, see how it went and something we'll keep evaluating."

Is there a coaching point on fielding punts with Skyy Moore? He fielded a couple more inside the five. Is that a yes or a no?

"That's a no, big no. So, we're still working on that."