Team news: San Francisco 49ers | Page 3

Kyle Shanahan says the team hopes TE George Kittle (hamstring) returns to practice this week.

The 49ers could certainly use some good news on the injury front. Kittle has been out with a hamstring injury since Week 1, when he caught four balls for 25 yards and a TD. He would likely be a big-time target for whoever is playing quarterback for the 49ers. It's a Sunday night game against Atlanta in Week 7, so owners will need to monitor Kittle this week and have a plan in place.

No Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall at today's practice, but Jauan Jennings was back.

Meanwhile, Mac Jones, (ankle, oblique) was on hand but was jogging gingerly between drills and didn't seem to be doing any throwing.

The 49ers injury list has looked like a scroll to this point in the season but they *do* seem to be getting on the mend. For Week 6, we should treat Jennings as a WR2 against the Buccaneers if he's fully back to health (and Pearsall misses), while Kendrick Bourne makes for an interesting WR3 if both are forced to miss.

49ers QB Brock Purdy also not practicing today due to his toe injury, putting Mac Jones on track to start Sunday at Tampa.

Jones is also dealing with a minor injury, but he looks to be in line to get the start. The Buccaneers actually present a pretty good matchup, which would put him near the top-15 conversation for QB streamers.

Through five weeks, one of the league’s most effective rookies has been Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt — who may be better known by the simple nickname, “Bill.”

A seventh-round pick in this year’s draft, Croskey-Merritt was good enough in the offseason program, training camp, and preseason that Washington felt comfortable trading Brian Robinson to the 49ers in August. But Washington has continued to see his growth and development, giving Croskey-Merritt his first start in Week 5 against the Chargers.

Croskey-Merritt made that decision pay off with 111 yards rushing on 14 carries with two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 39 yards.

Related players: Chris Rodriguez, Jeremy McNichols

Head coach Dan Quinn told reporters in his Monday press conference that the Commanders elected to lean into aspects of their scheme in which Croskey-Merritt excelled, and the young running back had a strong week of practice, the story said. The story added though he’s had limited carries in the first five weeks, Croskey-Merritt leads the league with 6.6 yards per carry. He’s tallied 283 yards rushing with four touchdowns and caught five passes for 54 yards. "Bill" is probably a familiar names to those in dynasty leagues as our friends at Dynasty League Football suggested to take him later in dynasty drafts this spring. But now he's officially a useful option in redraft leagues as well. Rodriguez had just five carries and McNichols had two touches, so his outlook going forward is strong.

Brock Purdy (toe), Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) are OUT for Thursday’s 49ers-Rams game.

Related Players: Mac Jones, Christian McCaffrey, Kendrick Bourne, Demarcus Robinson, Jake Tonges

Sheesh. With the lack of firepower, Jones should be more of a desperation streamer if your waiver wire is barren. Bourne and Robinson can probably be left off of lineups as well.

49ers GM John Lynch told @KNBR that QB Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall will both be questionable for the TNF Rams game.

“We will take every precaution to make sure Brock’s all right. I think he is, now can he turn it around on a short week?”

Related Players: Mac Jones, Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne

The injuries don't seem to be backing off any time soon. If Pearsall is out and Jennings is available —which isn't guaranteed— the latter should be considered more of a WR2 than a WR3. Christian McCaffrey is a must-start no matter what's going on with his teammates.

49ers WR Ricky Pearsall left Sunday’s game against the Jaguars with a knee injury. Pearsall was questionable with a knee injury. Pearsall had 46 yards on four catches.

49ers are listing WRs Jauan Jennings (shoulder, ankle) and Ricky Pearsall (knee) as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Jaguars.

Related Players: Kendrick Bourne, Demarcus Robinson, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Brock Purdy

If Jennings misses, Pearsall should be considered a high-end WR2, and Jennings would be in a similar situation if the roles are reversed. With Brock Purdy back, each have great upside paired with a pretty good floor.

Brock Purdy will start Sunday against the Jaguars, Kyle Shanahan said

Related Players: Mac Jones

Jones was actually pretty good from a pure- and fantasy-football perspective in his two starts, but he doesn't give the little extra "oomph" that Purdy gives with his legs. If we assume that Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings are good to go, Purdy is good to fire up as a fringe QB1/2 in Week 4, and more of a top-15 play if one of them misses.

49ers GM John Lynch told @KNBR that WR Brandon Aiyuk is “not close” to returning from the knee injury he suffered almost a year ago. There was more damage than just to the ACL, and more recovery time is required.

Related Players: Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings

This aligns well with Jeff Mueller's assessment that Aiyuk's most likely return would be in Week 6, but the wording suggests a potential that it may last even longer. He remains a good stash — particularly if you have an IR spot — but it still looks like we're weeks away from it changing the remaining 49ers' pass-catchers' target share.