Latest: San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has a press conference he gives a new injury update on Key Player, Well, that’s brutal news. He went from being week-to-week with his knee injury recovery to having surgery

Almost every time San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan holds a press conference, he updates the media on player injuries.

This trend continued on Tuesday when Shanahan shared some unfortunate news about veteran offensive lineman Jon Feliciano. Feliciano, who has been sidelined for a while due to a knee injury and was initially expected to be week-to-week, will now require surgery and won’t be ready for the season opener.

“He ended up having to get some type of surgery—I’m not exactly sure what kind it was—but he’ll likely start on IR and we’re hoping to get him back around the middle of the season,” Shanahan said.

This is a significant setback. Feliciano has gone from being week-to-week with his knee injury to needing surgery and possibly being placed on Injured Reserve. The specifics of his knee injury remain unclear, and Shanahan has not provided further details.

As a result, Feliciano will be unavailable for the 49ers for at least a few months, which is a blow to the team. Last season, Feliciano proved to be a reliable player, stepping in at both guard positions and eventually earning a starting spot over Spencer Burford.With Feliciano out, rookie Dominick Puni is expected to start at right guard, pushing Feliciano into a backup role. However, with Feliciano’s injury, it’s likely that Burford will take over once he recovers from his broken hand, as it’s increasingly unlikely he will start this year.

The 49ers continue to face injury issues, especially on the offensive line, and they’ll be hoping for a turnaround as the regular season approaches.