© Dennis Wierzbicki | 2017 Dec 3

Kyle Shanahan gave a myriad of injury updates during his presser on Wednesday, and two in particular were not positive.

Shanahan does not seem terribly optimistic that his two wide receivers on injured reserve, Trent Taylor (foot) and Jalen Hurd (back), will return this season.

Here’s the situation: Both are eligible to be activated after spending at least eight weeks on the list, and can begin practicing after six. That means Taylor’s earliest return could be for the Cardinals game on Nov. 17, and Hurd’s in Baltimore vs. the Ravens on Dec. 1.

The other two players on injured reserve, CB Jason Verrett (knee) and DL Kentavius Street (knee), can return Week 13 and Week 9 at the earliest, respectively. Of the four players, the Niners can only activate two at some point this season.

“They they both had chances to come back earlier, you know, both of them have had setbacks, had to start couple things over so we haven’t ruled them out,” Shanahan said of Hurd and Taylor. “But, you know, I’m still hoping for it, but it’s not something we can for sure count on.

“I think we will have an option [to bring them back], but it’s been a lot longer than anticipated. There has been a couple setbacks, they had to start a couple things over…I was a lot more optimistic earlier in the year, but there’s been a few setbacks that we can’t guarantee that. That’s a risky thing when you’re dealing with injuries and stuff. It’s a risky thing to do when you got to make a decision here by next Tuesday (when Taylor would be eligible to return).”

The pessimism surrounding the two likely played into the 49ers decision to acquire Emmanuel Sanders in a trade with the Broncos on Tuesday.

Other injury notes: Staley back to practice, Juszczyk optimistic about return

Shanahan said fullback Kyle Juszczyk (MCL) is progressing well and was seen on the stationary bike during practice. Juszczyk told reporters that he had started running two days ago for the first time since spraining his left MCL in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns.

“Should be another week or two,” Juszczyk said.

Joe Staley (leg) returned to practice on Wednesday, and has an “outside chance” of returning for Sunday’s game after five weeks on the shelf.

For the first time in 5 weeks, Joe Staley is back at #49ers practice ? pic.twitter.com/BEo3ZrSQaz

— KNBR (@KNBR) October 23, 2019

Ahkello Witherspoon (foot) was on the side field doing rehab work but is still not healthy enough to return to practice.

Dee Ford (knee), D.J. Jones (hamstring), George Kittle (groin), Deebo Samuel (groin), Raheem Mostert (knee) were all limited, but practiced on Wednesday.