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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After coping with loads of unhealthy harm information in the course of the season’s first eight weeks, the San Francisco 49ers are lastly nearer to full energy.
Regardless of dropping cornerback Jason Verrett to a season-ending left Achilles tear in Wednesday’s observe, the Niners obtained loads of excellent news on the harm entrance Friday, as they are going to welcome again eight gamers who missed San Francisco’s newest recreation — a 31-14 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 30 — due to accidents.
Among the many gamers set to play Sunday evening in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers are broad receivers Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and Jauan Jennings (hamstring), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (finger) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (calf). 4 gamers — operating again Elijah Mitchell, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, offensive lineman Colton McKivitz and defensive finish Jordan Willis — will all return from knee accidents that landed them on injured reserve, based on coach Kyle Shanahan.
The Niners have three open roster spots and can get a fourth after they place Verrett on injured reserve, a transfer that’s anticipated to occur within the subsequent 24 hours.
Getting so many key gamers again as they embark on the second half of the season has the 4-4 Niners believing large issues are potential down the stretch.
“That is the grind of the season now, the stretch we’re about to go on, and we’d like all our weapons,” linebacker Fred Warner mentioned. “And it is nice to see some acquainted faces on the market. … We’re gonna want them.”
Samuel, Juszczyk and Jennings every missed only one recreation, however having that trio permits the offense its first alternative to see how issues look when Samuel and just lately acquired operating again Christian McCaffrey work in tandem with a ability place group that additionally boasts tight finish George Kittle, Mitchell and broad receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
“It is simply so loopy how a lot firepower we now have on this offense now with including [McCaffrey] to the workforce together with all the opposite guys that we have,” Samuel mentioned. “It is gonna get loopy. It is gonna be arduous to cowl all people on the market, and it ought to be actual enjoyable.”
The protection may even profit from some post-bye reinforcements. The return of Al-Shaair and Greenlaw means the 49ers’ main linebacker trio might be collectively for the primary time since Week 3.
Al-Shaair’s return comes a bit sooner than anticipated, however he mentioned Monday that he was feeling good and forward of schedule after rehabbing with Mitchell.
“Realistically, it was like six to eight [weeks], however initially I assumed it will be eight,” Al-Shaair mentioned. “You are normally conservative up entrance. And you then type of simply see the place every particular person goes, and I used to be doing so much higher than they thought. So I used to be in a position to get again on the market.”
The information wasn’t all good for the Niners, who’ve misplaced cornerbacks Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley (torn left ACL) for the season and might be with out defensive sort out Arik Armstead (foot, ankle), who was dominated out on Friday. Defensive finish Samson Ebukam (quadriceps) is listed as uncertain.
Even with out these gamers, the Niners know the worth in giving others an opportunity to be on the sphere. Shanahan mentioned it may be useful as a result of the Niners are nonetheless within the playoff combine with different gamers having the possibility to play significant snaps.
“It helps so much,” Shanahan mentioned. “While you lose guys, it places you in a bind. The one profit to dropping guys is it offers different folks the chance to develop as a result of they must undergo stuff. And typically the one time you get higher goes on the market and getting your butt kicked and realizing what you have to do on this league as a result of you may’t all the time simulate that. … When you can type of nonetheless not set your workforce again, it might probably make your workforce somewhat bit stronger.”
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