Veteran receiver Pierre Garçon of the 49ers needs arthroscopic knee surgery and will end the season on injured reserve, coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday.
It could also mean Garçon has played his last game with San Francisco, but Shanahan knows Garçon wants to continue his career.
“I know he plans to play,” Shanahan said.
The 49ers could save some $6 million in 2019 by releasing Garçon and clear $18.5 million combined the following two seasons. Moving on would make sense given the team’s movement toward younger players on top of Garçon’s injury issues since joining the team.