The optimism surrounding the San Francisco 49ers‘ injury situation as they enter Week 6 faded quickly Wednesday upon the release of their first practice report.
There was some hope after the team played Thursday in Week 5 that they’d have time to regroup and get some players healthy for a massive Week 6 showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That didn’t turn out to be the case as 12 players were either absent or limited from the week’s first practice session due to injury. Not to mention the continued absence of tight end George Kittle who will remain on IR for at least another week while he works back from a hamstring injury he suffered in the season opener.
Among the injured players not practicing is quarterback Brock Purdy. His backup, Mac Jones, was among those limited while he deals with knee and oblique problems coming out of Week 5.
Fortunately for the 49ers there’s nothing final about Wednesday’s practice report, and some players who were out Wednesday could be back in action in time to play Sunday. Given the nature of the 49ers’ injury woes this year matched with their strong 4-1 start, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the team was extra cautious in bringing key starters back.
Here’s the full practice participation report from Wednesday’s session:
Did not participate
- DE Robert Beal (ankle)
- DT Alfred Collins (knee)
- DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee, hamstring)
- WR Jauan Jennings (ankle, rib)
- RB Christian McCaffrey (not injury related – resting player)
- WR Ricky Pearsall (knee)
- QB Brock Purdy (toe)
- WR Jordan Watkins (calf)
- LT Trent Williams (not injury related – resting player)
Neither Pearsall nor Jennings being ready to go by Wednesday isn’t promising for either player’s status in Week 6. Purdy’s continued absence is a red flag as well. Collins is coming off perhaps the best game of his professional career, but head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Friday that Collins is dealing with a knee sprain that could cost him Week 6.
Limited participation
- DT Kalia Davis (hand)
- DT Kevin Givens (pectoral)
- QB Mac Jones (knee, oblique)
- CB Upton Stout (ankle)
- DT CJ West (thumb)
Givens coming back from a pectoral injury he sustained in the preseason is a welcome sign for a defensive line that has been hit hard by injury. If he’s able to suit up Sunday it would help make up for Collins’s potential absence.
Full participation
- WR Kendrick Bourne (rib)
- P Thomas Morstead (back)
- S Malik Mustapha (knee)
- DE Mykel Williams (wrist, oblique)
While this list doesn’t come with at on of good news, Mustapha returning as a full participant is a great sign for the second-year safety who became a starter as a rookie last season. He’s working his way back from an ACL injury he suffered in the 2024 season finale.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers 1st practice report full of bad news before huge Week 6 game
