SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Coach Kyle Shanahan is not ruling out Tevin Coleman for Super Bowl LIV despite losing the starting running back to a dislocated shoulder in Sunday's NFC Championship Game.
"I expect him to have a chance to play," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "Can't hold me to that. We'll find out more after the imaging (tests). But I expect him to have a good chance to play."
Coleman underwent an MRI on his right shoulder. Although Shanahan did not yet have the results, he did not consider it an injury requiring surgery. Rather a week's rest could do the trick if the shoulder gets back in place, a "Lethal Weapon type of thing," Shanahan said in reference to Mel Gibson's movie character who fixes his dislocated shoulder by slamming it into a wall.
The 49ers will face the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 2 for the Lombardi Trophy in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Coleman's exit in Sunday's 37-20 win over the Green Bay Packers did not derail a historic night by the 49ers' rushing attack. Raheem Mostert ran for a franchise-record 220 yards and scored four touchdowns, the first player in NFL playoff history to score that many and also rush for over 200 yards.
Coleman had six carries for 21 yards before getting hurt and carted off 9 minutes before halftime. He was coming off a 105-yard two-touchdown effort in the 49ers' playoff opener against Minnesota.
Although Coleman started Sunday night and did so 11 times in the regular season, the 49ers have mostly relied on Mostert in his breakout season. Coleman was their third-leading rusher (544 yards) behind Mostert (772) and Matt Breida (623).
