Source: Yetur-Gross Matos aggravates hamstring injury during 49ers practice “Gross-Matos, 27, a six-year NFL veteran, re-injured his hamstring in practice on Thursday and could be a candidate for injured reserve,
a source told NBC Sports Bay Area.”
Brock Purdy nearing 49ers return, could serve as Mac Jones’ backup QB vs. Giants
“Purdy is still not all the way back from his toe injury, Shanahan said. But he is moving closer toward being the No. 2 quarterback against the Giants. If Purdy suits up, Adrian Martinez would serve as the emergency No. 3 quarterback.”
As Jauan Jennings starts to feel better, 49ers hope WR becomes more of a factor (paywall)
““It goes against what probably most people would think, but Kyle always says that the receivers set the tone in the run game, which I don’t always agree with … Sometimes I think it’s the fullback or the halfback,” Juszczyk said with a smile. “But I understand what he’s saying because there definitely is something to receivers that are willing to mix it up, get in the box, block safeties and be physical. What could just be an 80-yard run pops into a 20-yard run, that type of thing.”
Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said that Jennings has been “pushing through it for the team.”
“It’s taking time for him to get to be feeling good, which is kind of weird,” Kubiak said. “You’re playing football and trying to get healthy at the same time, which doesn’t always go hand in hand, but he is getting better. He’s healing.”
49ers vs. Giants: The Standard’s 5 fast predictions (paywall)
“Kawakami: 49ers 27, Giants 24, in OT. The clock rewind gives the 49ers extra wake-up time on this 10 a.m. PT start. Can the 49ers’ wounded defense slow Dart’s offense just enough to pull this game out? I’ll guess it’ll come down to a tipped pass for an interception to set up a long Eddy Piñeiro game-winner.
Five important 49ers players to watch in Sunday’s pivotal game against Giants
“Matt Hennessy, the backup center, will get his second start in a row for injured starter Jake Brendel. The 49ers’ run game should have some chances for success against the Giants, whose defense allowed an average of 5.7 yards per opponent rushing attempt through the first eight games.”
49ers’ rookies feeling pressure as they’re forced into action more than expected (paywall)
“Going through this year that we’ve been going through, it made us closer, especially as a rookie class,” Williams said. “How many rookies are playing and experiencing the same type of stuff, we kind of bond over those experiences.”
The group has leaned on each other through high and low points. After an impressive Week 5 road upset of the Rams in which Collins punched out a game-saving fumble with Williams and Sigle in on the game-sealing stop on 4th-and-1, the rookies took leave to an Airbnb in San Francisco for a weekend of nice dinners and the occasional fishing trip. Everyone caught at least a couple of fish, Williams confirmed.
Saleh said his youngsters don’t need encouragement, but the belief that they will get to where they want to go in due time.
“I’ve always felt like a coach needs to make these young men feel like they can walk on water, and it’s our job to make sure we always put them in position and show ultimate faith, especially in a world of negativity,” Saleh said this week.
“I mean, shoot, we picked them and we believe in all of them. So you’ve just got to be patient.”
