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Jauan Jennings Jauan Jennings Unlikely to play Sunday
Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 9:35 PM
Jennings (shin) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Analysis: Barring dramatic improvement leading up to Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff, Jennings will miss his first game of the season after he sat out all three of the 49ers' practices this week due to the shin injury. Jennings' likely absence should open up more reps at receiver for Ronnie Bell and Ray-Ray McCloud. Both Bell and McCloud could be primed for even larger roles if top wideout Deebo Samuel (knee/ribs) -- who is listed as questionable -- isn't cleared to play. |
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Elijah Mitchell Elijah Mitchell Gets questionable tag for Sunday
Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 5:32 PM
Mitchell is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Cardinals after he was a non-participant in Friday's practice due to a knee injury.
Analysis: A Week 4 home matchup with a Cardinals squad that's a two-touchdown underdog profiles as a prime opportunity for Mitchell to take on added work behind lead back Christian McCaffrey, but the knee injury now threatens Mitchell's availability for the matchup between NFC West rivals. Though Mitchell was first added to the injury report Friday, head coach Kyle Shanahan told Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com that the running back actually sustained the injury in Thursday's session after getting tripped up. If Mitchell ends up being inactive ahead of Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff, Jordan Mason would be the next man up for work behind McCaffrey. Tyrion Davis-Price, meanwhile, would be active for the first time this season as the 49ers' No. 3 back. |
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Brandon Aiyuk Brandon Aiyuk Good to go for Week 4
Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 4:01 PM
Aiyuk (shoulder) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Aiyuk has been practicing all week and might have been able to play in last week's game if the 49ers had played on Sunday instead of Thursday. Deebo Samuel took advantage of Aiyuk's absence in the Week 3 win over the Giants with 126 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets, but the dual-threat receiver suffered a rib injury in the process and now is listed as questionable for Sunday's game. Facing a vulnerable defense without Samuel in the lineup is a best-case scenario for Aiyuk's expected production, though he still has sturdy touch and target competition coming from tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey. |
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Deebo Samuel Deebo Samuel Deemed questionable for Week 4
Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 3:59 PM
Samuel (knee/ribs) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: A game-time decision leading up to Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff seems like a best-case scenario for Samuel, who went down as a non-participant in the 49ers' first two practices this week before upgrading to limited participation Friday after he was spotted working out off to the side. Brandon Aiyuk, meanwhile, doesn't have an injury designation heading the Week 4 contest, despite missing last Thursday's game against the Giants with a shoulder injury. According to Barrows, the knee injury cropped up during the win over the Giants and is the greater concern for Samuel at this juncture that the ribs injury. |
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Deebo Samuel Deebo Samuel Limited to side work
Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 2:56 PM
Samuel (ribs/knee) is running on the side during Friday's practice, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: It's better than nothing but doesn't necessarily mean he'll be listed as a participant in practice. Samuel missed Wednesday and Thursday, while Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder) has been practicing all week after missing the 49ers' Week 3 win over New York. The team figures to have at least one of them available -- which should be enough -- this Sunday against Arizona. |
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Brandon Aiyuk Brandon Aiyuk Remains limited Thursday
Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 6:15 PM
Aiyuk (shoulder) was a limited participant at Thursday's practice, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: In the process of shedding his blue non-contact jersey Thursday, Aiyuk maintained his activity level from one day prior, giving him just one more chance to get back to full before the 49ers potentially give him a designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Cardinals. Meanwhile, fellow wide receivers Deebo Samuel (ribs/knee) and Jauan Jennings (shin) again didn't practice, so the status of San Francisco's top three wide receivers remains in flux. |
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Deebo Samuel Deebo Samuel Another DNP on Thursday
Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 6:11 PM
Samuel (ribs/knee) officially didn't practice Thursday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: There was a brief sighting of Samuel during the portion of the session open to the media, when Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News noted the wide receiver left the early walkthrough and went to the 49ers' weight room. Both Samuel and Jauan Jennings (shin) were non-participants Thursday, while Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder) was limited, so Friday's injury report likely will be key to determining who among the trio may be available Sunday against the Cardinals. |
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Deebo Samuel Deebo Samuel Not practicing Thursday
Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 3:48 PM
Samuel (ribs) wasn't participating at the beginning of Thursday's practice, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Samuel wasn't entirely absent Thursday, as Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News noted the wide receiver made his way to the 49ers' weight room following a walkthrough session. Ultimately, the team's second practice report of Week 4 will unveil whether or not Samuel was able to log some reps as he deals with rib and knee injuries. |
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Brandon Aiyuk Brandon Aiyuk Sheds non-contact jersey Thursday
Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 3:32 PM
Aiyuk (shoulder) wasn't wearing a non-contact jersey at the start of Thursday's practice, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Now that Aiyuk seemingly has been cleared to take contact on the practice field, it remains to be seen if he'll log his first uncapped session since injuring his left shoulder Week 2. The 49ers will reveal his activity level later Thursday, at which point the statuses of Deebo Samuel (ribs/knee) and Jauan Jennings (shin) also could gain some clarity. |
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Jauan Jennings Jauan Jennings Dealing with shin injury
Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 6:17 PM
Jennings was held out of Wednesday's practice due to a shin injury, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Even tough Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder) didn't play last Thursday against the Giants, Jennings didn't experience an appreciable jump in playing time and also matched his season high in targets with three, which he turned into two catches for 31 yards. As the 49ers kick off Week 4 prep, Jennings and Deebo Samuel (ribs/knee) were DNPs, while Aiyuk was limited Wednesday. With the team's top three wide receivers all banged-up to some extent, the overall situation will be one to watch as the weekend draws closer. |
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Brandon Aiyuk Brandon Aiyuk Practices on limited basis
Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 3:01 PM
Aiyuk (shoulder) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Aiyuk continued playing Week 2 after he hurt his shoulder (against the Rams) but then missed a Week 3 win over the Giants just four days later. Reporters spotted him at practice this Monday, and he's now listed as limited on the first official injury report of the week, while Deebo Samuel (ribs) is a non-participant. Aiyuk appears on track to return for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, with Samuel potentially being the more banged up of the two WRs this week. |
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Deebo Samuel Deebo Samuel Held out of practice
Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 2:57 PM
Samuel (ribs) isn't practicing Wednesday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Samuel fought through the injury during Thursday's 30-12 win over the Giants, even icing the game with a 27-yard TD to bring his receiving line to 6-129-1 for the night. He hasn't practiced since, but a return could be coming Thursday or Friday given that postgame testing on the ribs didn't reveal any fractures. Fellow 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder) returned to practice Wednesday as a limited participant after missing the win over New York last Thursday. |
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Deebo Samuel Deebo Samuel Not practicing Monday
Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 4:56 PM
Samuel (ribs) wasn't spotted at Monday's practice, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Samuel emerged from this past Thursday's win over the Giants with sore ribs, so his status will need to be monitored ahead of Sunday's game against the Cardinals. Added context with regard to the wideout's Week 4 status will arrive no later than Wednesday, when the 49ers' first official practice/injury report of the week is posted. |
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Brandon Aiyuk Brandon Aiyuk Spotted at practice Monday
Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 4:51 PM
Aiyuk (shoulder) was present for Monday's practice, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Aiyuk was inactive this past Thursday against the Giants, but his presence on the practice field Monday is a positive indicator with regard to his chances of returning to action Sunday against the Cardinals. Wednesday's official practice/injury report will add further context to the wideout's Week 4 status by clarifying his participation level. |
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Ronnie Bell Ronnie Bell Scores first TD of career
Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 3:52 PM
Bell caught both of his targets for 24 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's 30-12 win over the Giants.
Analysis: Ray-Ray McCloud got the start in place of Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder), but it was Bell who wound up being the primary beneficiary with a short red-zone score in the second quarter of Thursday's win. The seventh-round rookie wound up seeing 31 snaps on offense (37 percent), finishing in a tie with Jauan Jennings for the third-most amongst San Francisco wideouts. Bell was limited to two targets in a committee approach to replace Aiyuk's production, so fantasy managers shouldn't overreact to the rookie's first touchdown. There is also the possibility that Aiyuk returns in Week 4 -- with nine days between an Oct. 1 matchup against Arizona -- which would push Bell back into a reserve role. |
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Ray-Ray McCloud Ray-Ray McCloud Not targeted in spot-start
Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 3:28 PM
McCloud logged 38 offensive snaps (46 percent) but was not targeted in Thursday's 30-12 win over the Giants.
Analysis: McCloud got the starting nod in place of Brandon Aiyuk (wrist), but the elevated role did not result in added production Thursday. Rookie Ronnie Bell wound up benefiting the most from Aiyuk's absence with a short touchdown reception on two targets. The speedy McCloud was mainly used as a downfield decoy on his routes Thursday, in addition to handling his usual return-man duties. The veteran wideout could earn another start against Arizona on Oct. 1 if Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder) isn't ready following the extended rest period. |
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Jauan Jennings Jauan Jennings Gains 31 yards on TNF
Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 3:01 PM
Jennings caught two of three targets for 31 yards in Thursday's 30-12 win over the Giants.
Analysis: It was Ray-Ray McCloud who started in place of Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder) on Thursday, which kept Jennings in the No. 3 role. The former was not targeted on offense, while Jennings saw his usual allotment of targets and playing time (31 offensive snaps). It wound up being seventh-round rookie Ronnie Bell (2-24-1) who would cash in a score in Aiyuk's absence. It became clear that San Francisco's coaching staff values Jennings in his current role, limiting any potential fantasy upside ahead of a Week 4 matchup against Arizona. |
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Deebo Samuel Deebo Samuel Emerges from win with sore ribs
Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 2:31 PM
Samuel's ribs are sore after a win over the Giants on Thursday, but testing didn't reveal any breaks or serious damage, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Despite appearing to be in pain and coming out for a couple plays at one point in the second half, Samuel handled over 90 percent of snaps in Thursday's games until things got out of hands in the fourth quarter. His 27-yard TD with six minutes remaining was the knockout blow in a 30-12 victory, putting Samuel at a 6-129-1 receiving line on 12 targets in a game the Niners played without fellow wide receiver Brando Aiyuk (shoulder). Both of the team's top WRs are banged up now, though that may not be the case by the time the Niners play their next game Week 4 against Arizona on Sunday, Oct. 1. |
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Elijah Mitchell Elijah Mitchell Season-high workload in win
Thu, Sep 21, 2023, 11:22 PM
Mitchell rushed 11 times for 42 yards and secured all three targets for two yards in the 49ers' 30-12 win over the Giants on Thursday night.
Analysis: Mitchell went from not seeing any snaps in Week 2 against the Rams to more than doubling his Week 1 workload in extended action. The third-year back was able to give Christian McCaffrey some time off the field thanks in part to San Francisco's fourth-quarter lead, but Mitchell's week-to-week production will be hard to trust given head coach Kyle Shanahan has proven willing to entrust McCaffrey with a hefty workload in more competitive scenarios than Thursday's. |
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George Kittle George Kittle Best game of season Thursday
Thu, Sep 21, 2023, 11:07 PM
Kittle secured seven of nine targets for 90 yards in the 49ers' 30-12 win over the Giants on Thursday night.
Analysis: Kittle exceeded the combined 6-49 line he'd posted over the first two games in Thursday night's double-digit win, finishing second to Deebo Samuel in receiving yards and targets while pacing the 49ers in receptions. The dynamic tight end also recorded his longest gain of the young season on a 29-yard grab on the last play of the third quarter. Kittle's boost in production was almost certainly a byproduct of Brandon Aiyuk's absence due to a shoulder injury, but the veteran should still carry bright fantasy prospects into a Week 4 home matchup on Sunday, Oct. 1 against a Cardinals team that's had trouble defending his position early this season. |
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