'Got folded': Aussie NFL star suffers concussion after brutal hit
San Francisco 49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky is in a race against the clock to be fit for the NFL playoffs after suffering a concussion in the 49ers 27-24 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday morning (AEDT).
Wishnowsky had to be helped from the field after he was on the receiving end of a brutal hit from Rams safety Antoine Brooks Jr during a 31-yard punt return by Brandon Powell.
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Mitch Wishnowsky got folded lmao.
Forced the play inside though! pic.twitter.com/0imExbFgV5— Will Blackmon 🍷 (@WillBlackmon) January 9, 2022
The 29-year-old Aussie was assessed in the medical tent on the 49ers sideline before eventually being taken to the locker room for further evaluation.
He was later ruled out of the game.
One apparent advantage the Rams had entering the game was on special teams. Even after losing P Mitch Wishnowsky to a concussion, the Niners got strong work from that group and K Robbie Gould had himself a day. Credit to FB Kyle Juszczyk for handling holder duties as well.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) January 10, 2022
Robbie Gould is the MVP of this Rams 49ers game.
That 47 yd punt near the end of the game backed up in his own end zone was insane filling in for an injured Wishnowsky (punter). #NFL— 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝘆𝗻𝗲𝘀 (@lt4kicks) January 10, 2022
#49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky is being taken into the team’s locker room after sustaining an injury while attempting a tackle.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) January 9, 2022
San Francisco place kicker Robbie Gould was called upon to handle punting duties in Wishnowsky’s absence, averaging 45 yards on two punts, while fullback Kyle Juszczyk was required to hold on kicks.
🗣🗣 Atta Baby @RobbieGould09 pic.twitter.com/YNc1i8kLBe
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 9, 2022
Hey… @JuiceCheck44
All freak athletes can hold well.. we all knew you’d do fantastic #ForTheBrand pic.twitter.com/cQHeAbwtLn— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 9, 2022
Gould would later kick a 24-yard game-winning field goal in overtime as the 49ers completed a dramatic 17-point comeback to finish the season with a 10-7 record and clinch a spot in the playoffs.
Speaking after the game, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was glowing in his praise of Gould and the way his players responded in the face of adversity.
“The way we did it, with how many guys were down and how many guys had to step it up. I was just so proud of everyone in that locker room,” Shanahan said.
“Losing Mitch is an issue and they’ve got a good punt returner and a good punt return team.
“Robbie hit that one where we got that good roll. Robbie was huge today. He kicked off really well, especially there at the end, kicking it out of the end zone and making it much tougher for them to get that field goal at the end.
“I was real proud of those guys, out was huge.”
Coach confident Mitch Wishnowsky will return
Shanahan was optimistic Wishnowsky would be available for the 49ers playoff matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
“Hopefully things will go well for Mitch this week and hopefully we get him back,” Shanahan said.
Wishnowsky was placed on the reserve/Covid-19 list at start of the new year, but did not miss any game action.
The Western Australia native is in his third season with he 49ers after being drafted by San Francisco 110th overall in 2019 draft.
He was part of the 49ers team that lost Super Bowl LIV to the Kansas City Chiefs in his rookie year.
Wishnowsky is averaging 45.1 yards per punt on the season, having downed the ball inside the opponent’s 20-yard line on 21 occasions.
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