Head coach Kyle Shanahan met with reporters on Monday as the San Francisco 49ers closed the book on their Week 18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and began preparations for a road Wild Card matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Coming off a physical, low-scoring divisional battle, Shanahan addressed the team's injury report, linebacker depth, and the challenges ahead against the defending Super Bowl champions.

Here are the top takeaways from Shanahan to start the week of postseason preparation:

Injury Report

Shanahan opened with updates from Saturday night's game, noting several players who will be evaluated throughout the week.

Linebackers Dee Winters (ankle) and Luke Gifford (quad), defensive lineman Keion White (hamstring), and safety Ji'Ayir Brown (rib) will all be monitored, with Brown listed as day-to-day. Defensive lineman Kalia Davis (knee tendinitis) is also day-to-day.

Linebacker Tatum Bethune suffered a groin tear and will be out for the remainder of the season, with Shanahan acknowledging surgery is a possibility.

"That's something they're still deciding," Shanahan said.

Shanahan also provided updates on players who missed the Week 18 contest. Tackle Trent Williams (hamstring) and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) will be evaluated throughout the week, with Pearsall dealing with a reaggravation of his PCL injury.

Meanwhile, wide receiver Jacob Cowing is expected to take a step forward this week, as Shanahan confirmed his practice window will open on Wednesday. Quarterback Brock Purdy checked out fine after taking a late sack against Seattle.

Confidence in Linebacker Depth

With Bethune sidelined and Winters' status uncertain, Shanahan expressed confidence in veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks stepping into a larger role.

"I'm real confident in Eric," Shanahan said. "He's been here long enough. These games he's gotten in the last couple weeks he's done a good job, and I'm glad that we've got him for this situation."

If Winters is unable to play, Shanahan said Garret Wallow and Curtis Robinson are both options at the weakside linebacker spot.

When asked about the possibility of Fred Warner returning later in the postseason, Shanahan said it's not something the team is considering at this point.

"I think it's too far off right now," Shanahan said. "It is a possibility as we got closer to a possible third game… but it's not something we're thinking about right now."

Turning the Page to Philadelphia

Once the Wild Card matchup was finalized on Sunday, Shanahan and his staff quickly shifted gears.

"We were excited that it was on a Sunday so we can have a normal seven-day week," Shanahan said. "Now we're getting going on Philly."

Though early in the game-planning process, Shanahan acknowledged the challenges Philadelphia presents on both sides of the ball.

"We know how good Philly is," Shanahan said. "They have a great defense. They've got a very talented and good offense in terms of how well they run the ball and some of the playmakers they have, and the issue that their quarterback presents."

Shanahan noted similarities between the Eagles and Seahawks defenses, particularly up front.

"They've got a really good pass rush and tight coverage," Shanahan said.

Embracing the Road Ahead

With the postseason now officially underway, Shanahan said the message to the team has been to embrace the challenge, regardless of opponent.

"That's what our guys are ready for," Shanahan said. "I don't think we cared who we played. The main thing was knowing that you've got to go to three on the road to get there to the last game of the season as opposed to two games at home to get there. So, that was the biggest thing in playing the hard way.

"Right now, you can't get picky about who you play, whether it's the defending champs or whether it's the seventh seed. This is the playoffs. Everyone's earned the right to be here. If you want to reach your ultimate goal, you've got to be good enough to beat anybody."

Wild Card Week

The 49ers now turn their full attention to the postseason, preparing for a Wild Card matchup at Lincoln Financial Field. With a normal practice week ahead, San Francisco will look to clean up execution and dial in on its first postseason opponent.