The San Francisco 49ers are activating defensive lineman Trevis Gipson and offensive lineman Nick Zakelj from the practice squad as standard elevations for their Week 8 game against the Houston Texans
on Sunday.
Gipson was promoted to the active roster last weekend during a flurry of moves to save his third and final standard elevation, which will come this weekend for the 49ers.
Zakelj, on the other hand, was also activated last weekend as a standard elevation. He saw some early snaps rotating with Connor Colby at left guard, but seemed to take over the backup center role behind Matt Hennessy after Jake Brendel suffered a hamstring injury. It was Zakelj’s first game of the season.
In addition to the two promotions, the 49ers downgraded offensive tackle Spencer Burford from questionable to out. Burford was placed on Injured Reserve after suffering a knee injury in San Francisco’s Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints. He was designated to return this week and recorded three straight limited practices, but his return will be delayed at least another week.
The 49ers will now be without Burford, Brendel, Brock Purdy, and Ricky Pearsall against the Texans. Deommodore Lenoir and Luke Gifford are questionable, with head coach Kyle Shanahan sharing optimism for the cornerback playing on Sunday.
San Francisco did not elevate a receiver this week after elevating Malik Turner last weekend. That could mean Jordan Watkins is ready to make his season debut after being an inactive again last week. Watkins was not on the Injury Report at all this week and could join a receiver corps that includes Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson, Kendrick Bourne, and Skyy Moore.
San Francisco has an early kick on Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time. The game will be streamed on FOX.
