49ers’ George Kittle might play this week, but Brock Purdy’s return remains unclear (paywall)
“Head coach Kyle Shanahan said tight end George Kittle will return to practice Wednesday and the hope is that he will play on Sunday night against the Falcons at Levi’s Stadium after missing the past five games. Kittle was placed on injured reserve after he suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter of the 49ers’ win at Seattle in their regular-season opener on Sept. 7.
Shanahan was less definitive
about Pro Bowl quarterback Brock Purdy, who has missed four of the first six games due to a toe injury. Shanahan indicated Purdy could return to practice and “do a little bit more” after he was limited to work on a side field last week. Shanahan said the medical staff was “still evaluating” whether wide receiver Ricky Pearsall could return to practice this week from a knee injury that’s sidelined him for the past two games….Rookie wide receiver Jordan Watkins will return to practice this week after injuries have delayed the fourth-round pick’s NFL debut.“
49ers Week 6 rookie report: As injuries mount, so do demands on 2025 draft class (paywall)
“Sigle received the sixth-highest overall defensive grade for the 49ers via PFF, due in large part to his strengths as a tackler in the open field. His tackling grade was 79.9, good for second best on the team. … Stout allowed three catches for 35 yards. Three of his five tackles were considered stops. … Defensive tackles Alfred Collins and CJ West had a relatively uneventful evening, each tabbing one tackle apiece. West also recorded a quarterback pressure. … Left guard Connor Colby continued to struggle in pass protection with a 42.6 pass-blocking grade, allowing three pressures and a sack. Of his 69 snaps, 48 were designed pass plays: “Nothing’s perfect,” Shanahan said of Colby. “I think he’s got a number of good plays and a number of plays he’d like to take back. But this is a moment in his career that is going to help him going forward, and not hurt him.”
49ers minutia minute: How Tatum Bethune and the defense fared without Fred Warner (paywall)
“It was a rough outing for Puni, who was twice bulldozed to the ground by Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea and who committed a false start on fourth-and-1 late in the fourth quarter that preceded Jones’ second interception. The six pressures allowed were the most in Puni’s career.
Shanahan was asked whether Puni’s preseason knee injury was still affecting him.
“Yeah, I think Dom has played better before, in his rookie year,” he said. “I think his injury coming into this season was a big setback for him, and it made things more difficult. … But a lot of guys are battling stuff. And I’ve got a lot of confidence in Dom. He’s played at a high level before, so I expect him to do it again.”
Mac Jones’ moxie isn’t enough to offset the 49ers’ stunning loss of talent (paywall)
“Some reinforcements are on their way. Purdy could be back for next week’s prime-time game against the Atlanta Falcons. So could Kittle and Pearsall. And with Warner and Bosa out for the season, the 49ers will need plenty of offensive firepower from Kittle and others to remain competitive.
But the season already seems too precarious. Every time someone important returns to the lineup — for example, safety Malik Mustapha on Sunday — someone even more essential — Warner, for example — is lost. And when that happens, the margins for error grow even thinner.
“Fred’s our team captain, and he’s been the leader of this team for a long time,” Jones said. “Really, all you can do is pray for him and know that we have his back. I was disappointed that I didn’t play better for him today.”
Why Fred Warner’s season-ending injury must change 49ers’ trade strategy
“That means any possible conversation surrounding Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, for example, is a non-starter … unless the 49ers intend to sign him to a multi-year contract extension. And that does not seem realistic, either.
Hendrickson is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. Whatever it would take for the 49ers to acquire him is too much.
While there is no possible way for the 49ers to reach their ceiling this season without Bosa and Warner, it does not have to mean this year is lost.
The 49ers have 18 first- and second-year players on their 53-man roster. Many of those players are considered key components for the future. They have opportunities to gain valuable experience that will benefit them greatly in 2026 and beyond.
Then, when Bosa and Warner are back in the lineup, they will be surrounded by a better supporting cast.“
Kyle Shanahan provides 49ers updates after Week 6 loss vs. Buccaneers
“San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters during a conference call on Monday, the day after the team’s 30-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here’s everything he said.“
Shanahan sets the record straight on heated exchange with Jennings during 49ers-Buccaneers
“”I think when you’re in an intense football game and stuff, two people that know each other pretty well and are pretty competitive, [they] can have really, really intense conversations that don’t always come off as a normal conversation, just hanging out after a press conference with you. But it’s stuff that you don’t need to make too many assumptions about because it wasn’t anything that big of a deal.
“Yeah, we were aggressive and intense in our conversations, but I think conversations like that can also lead to making people closer and leading to a better outcome for people.”“
