SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In recent practice for the San Francisco 49ers, quarterback Brock Purdy was mostly a bystander due to an ongoing shoulder injury that has already sidelined him for one game. During the portion of practice accessible to media, Purdy participated minimally, executing handoffs and throwing just a single short pass to running back Jordan Mason.
Purdy sustained the shoulder injury during a tough loss to the Seattle Seahawks on November 17. After attempting to throw last Thursday, he experienced discomfort in his right shoulder and chose to stop practicing. As a result, he missed a subsequent game against the Green Bay Packers but made some light throws in a practice session earlier this week. His availability for the upcoming clash against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night remains uncertain as the 49ers currently hold a 5-6 record.
The challenges don’t stop with Purdy, as there are additional significant injuries impacting other key players on the team. Left tackle Trent Williams and defensive end Nick Bosa were both absent from Wednesday’s practice, having missed the previous week’s game as well. Williams was seen using a scooter while managing a left ankle injury, while Bosa continues to recover from issues with his left hip and oblique muscles.
Bosa expressed optimism about his progress, mentioning that the break from play has allowed him to feel improvement, and he is hopeful about participating in individual drills as the week continues. While he remains cautious, he doesn’t rule out the possibility of being available for Sunday’s game. “It’s feeling a lot better,” Bosa stated. “Still need to get better before I’m ready to go. This week will be big and I’ll know a lot more in the next couple of days.”
Running back Christian McCaffrey is also battling back to form after overcoming Achilles tendinitis that had previously sidelined him for the first half of the season. Though he has played in three games since returning, his performance has not reached the level that earned him the AP Offensive Player of the Year award last season. McCaffrey has managed to accumulate 149 rushing yards, but his average of 3.5 yards per carry falls short of his previous season’s 5.4-yard average. Despite these struggles, he remains confident in his ability to return to peak performance. “When you lose and maybe you don’t jump out on the stat sheet, your failures are highlighted,” McCaffrey noted. “I’m happy I’m out here playing football, and I just know with time it will come.”
Head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged the challenges McCaffrey faces in regaining his form, noting the lack of opportunities to run effectively in recent games. He addressed the typical adjustment period for players who have missed significant training time, stating, “Guys who miss offseasons and miss training camp usually take a little time at the beginning of the year to get back into how they were the year before, especially after missing half the season.” Shanahan emphasized his appreciation for McCaffrey’s effort in overcoming these challenges.
In other team news, linebacker Dre Greenlaw participated in his first practice back since suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the Super Bowl, though he will likely need several weeks of practice before he can play in a game. Linebacker Fred Warner is managing a fracture in his ankle since Week 4 and is playing through the pain. Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir did not practice after sustaining a knee injury in a recent game, and his status for this week is also uncertain. Additionally, defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (concussion), offensive lineman Aaron Banks (concussion), and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee) were absent from practice as well.