The San Francisco 49ers continued their weekly roster gymnastics. For the second consecutive week, the team released Ogbo Okoronkwo.
He played 17 snaps on Monday night. Nick Bosa didn’t practice all week. Head coach Kyle Shanahan ruled Bosa out. That means the 49ers will be down an edge rusher. The team will likely re-sign Okoronkwo to the practice squad on Saturday and elevate him to the active roster to play against the Falcons.
Shanahan said Bosa was “a little too optimistic” when he said a couple
of weeks ago that he would definitely play in Week 7. Shanahan added that Bosa was “a little sore” in his first workout after telling the media he’d play, which “surprised all of us.”
Shanahan said that wasn’t a great sign with a turf game coming up, then circled back to Bosa being overly optimistic about returning.
Mike Evans also missed Friday’s session. Shanahan ruled out Evans. The 49ers will play their first game of the season without their star wide receiver. Evans has missed time in a couple of games and remains the team leader in several categories.
Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said the ball will find Jordan Watkins. For Watkins and Jacob Cowing, Atlanta could be their last chance to impress the coaching staff in a live setting. The 49ers have a bye week in Week 8. Heading into Week 9, veterans Demarcus Robinson and Deebo Samuel could return to the lineup.
We’re headed for Christian Kirk’s debut. Because the team released Okonkwo, they don’t need to create another roster spot for Kirk, who practiced all week.
Here’s the injury report:
OUT:
WR Deebo Samuel
LB Garret Wallow
EDGE Nick Bosa
S Marques Sigle
WR Mike Evans
LB Luke Gifford
Questionable:
S Siran Neal
CB Upton Stout
WR Christian Kirk
Shanahan confirmed that listing Kirk on the injury report is a procedural move.
The 49ers will enter this game with fewer than the usual 48 players. Shanahan said players like Kurtis Rourke and maybe Enrique Cruz would be active on Sunday. He joked that those two would be the emergency receivers.
This will be the first game Shanahan has played with fewer than the maximum number of players. “I don’t think so. I don’t think here. I don’t think ever in my career. It’s a unique situation.”
Shanahan explained how you’re always a few injuries away from those types of situations. Still, the odds of having emergency players needing to fill in in spots they wouldn’t normally play go up with all of the injuries on the roster.
