SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The San Francisco 49ers will welcome tight end George Kittle back from his hamstring injury on Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons. However, quarterback Brock Purdy’s return from a toe ailment will have to wait at least another week. Niners coach Kyle Shanahan ruled out Purdy on Friday. In addition, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee), linebacker Fred Warner (ankle), and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) will also be out against the Falcons. This occurs after Purdy returned to practice this week for the first time since aggravating the injury in the team’s Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Purdy participated in a limited capacity in all three practices, but did not progress enough to return to the starting lineup, leaving Mac Jones to make his fifth start of the season, with Adrian Martinez as the backup.
Jones has performed well in place of Purdy, averaging what would be a league record of 313 passing yards per game in his four starts, along with six touchdowns and three interceptions for a QBR of 53.0. While Purdy has recovered from the toe injury, Jones has also had health problems. He was questionable last week due to knee and oblique pain, but he fully participated in practice on Thursday and Friday and is ready to play against Atlanta. Shanahan said on Friday that when Purdy is healthy, he will return to the starting lineup, although the team has previously considered having him available as an emergency backup before he returns to 100 percent. If Brock is okay to play, I imagine him as the starter,” Shanahan said. “We will always do what is best for him and for the team, depending on the situation that week. Meanwhile, Kittle progressed enough to be included as a full participant in Friday’s practice and has no injury designation for the game. This opens the way for him to return after missing the last five games on injured reserve with what is described as a hamstring tear (but not detached from the bone). Shanahan added that Kittle, who said on Thursday that he “totally” plans to play against the Falcons, will not only be active, but should have no limitations on his participation level.[Purdy] was able to go out and throw more,” Shanahan said. “I thought he was definitely a step further along than last week, so he’s going in the right direction.
Kyle Shanahan
The Niners also plan to activate defensive tackle Kevin Givens from injured reserve, and Shanahan said it’s “most likely” that he will play against the Falcons. For Kittle and Givens to return, the 49ers must make corresponding moves on the roster. San Francisco cleared one of those spots on Friday when it placed wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on injured reserve with a calf injury. The 49ers are expected to do the same with Warner, who underwent surgery for a dislocated and fractured ankle on Tuesday. Those roster moves are expected to occur on Saturday afternoon. In other injury news, the 49ers have some uncertainty at cornerback with Renardo Green (neck) and rookie Upton Stout (ankle) questionable. They are two of the team’s top three cornerbacks, and the Niners will have to improvise alongside starting teammate Deommodore Lenoir, with Darrell Luter Jr. as a possible replacement for Green and Chase Lucas for Stout if either of them can’t play.George has rehabilitated very well,” Shanahan said. “He returned to 100 percent and had a good week of practice, so we will space him out during the game, but with no pitch count.
Kyle Shanahan
