With two games and four weeks left in the preseason, injuries start to loom a bit larger. Kyle Shanahan provided mostly positive updates for the 49ers as they prepare for a slate of practices before their second preseason game on Saturday.
Before the injury updates, there’s a progress update for Brock Purdy. He had been on a two day on, two day off schedule at the very start of training camp, which quickly became a two day on, one day off schedule.
Now, Shanahan said, Purdy is cleared to practice three days in a row, followed by one rest day. He’s officially back to a normal schedule
As for the injuries, there were three groups of players, the first of whom Shanahan hopes returns to practice this week.
Hoped back this week:
- Robert Beal Jr.
- Kalia Davis
- Danny Gray (adductor/hip)
- Dre Greenlaw (hamstring)
- Drake Jackson (hamstring)
- Elijah Mitchell (adductor)
Both Beal and Davis have been out since the start of training camp, and will likely need to prove something over the final two games and weeks to make the roster. Jackson’s return after more than a week out should re-ignite the starting defensive end competition between him and Clelin Ferrell, which Ferrell looks to be winning at the moment.
Out another week
- George Kittle (adductor)
Shanahan said he hoped that Kittle would return next week as he recovers from an adductor injury. It’s a situation which offers more reps for a tight end competition lacking clarity.
Hoped back for Week 1:
- Ray-Ray McCloud (fractured wrist)
- George Odum (left SC joint sprain)
- Oren Burks (PCL sprain)
Do not bet on McCloud being back for the season opener. Shanahan said he’s just part of that hopefully-back-for-Week-1 group, but that it’s probably an unlikely timeline.
Odum will “hopefully” be back in a blue, non-contact jersey this week, but cant have contact until the first week of the season.
Burks, meanwhile, suffered that PCL sprain in the hard contact with Davante Adams that saw both players injured, with Adams limping off the field.
