SANTA CLARA -- Linebacker Reuben Foster is expected to be sidelined for multiple games after tests revealed he sustained a high-ankle sprain Sunday in his NFL debut.
"It's a high ankle sprain,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said on Monday. “Not exactly sure on the timetable. We'll see how long it takes him.
"We're going to put him in a boot for a little bit. But those tend to be a month or more. But I can't put an exact date on it."
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
It is common for players with high-ankle sprains to be sidelined four to six weeks. Shanahan said he was not aware of the exact severity of Foster's injury.
Foster sustained the injury on his 11th play on defense. Foster had three tackles and one pass broken up before the injury.
His right ankle was caught underneath his body weight as he tackled running back Christian McCaffrey while Carolina offensive lineman Matt Kalil
After being carted off the field and taken to the 49ers’ locker room for observation, Foster returned to the 49ers’ bench area just minutes later. He stood on the team’s sideline for the remainder of the game.
San Francisco 49ers
Ray-Ray Armstrong took over for Foster and registered six tackles. He is expected to remain in the starting lineup for as long as Foster is sidelined.