49ers notebook: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk miss practice; Warner returns
The 49ers took to the practice field under a strange darkness Wednesday to gear up for their regular season opener Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals with linebacker Fred Warner back in uniform after spending 10 days on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
“Fred’s back, he’s good to go,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I can’t talk about too much of his week away, but Fred’s been as reliable of a player that we’ve had. It’s great to get him back today. We were obviously pretty nervous about that, but he’s good to go and we’re very grateful he’s going to be here.”
The 49ers finalized their regular season roster over the weekend and only kept 52 players active, leaving one spot for Warner’s return. The team didn’t have to release anyone or make a corresponding move.
But like the skies above, created by fires up and down the west coast, the injury status of two of the team’s best receivers remains in a haze.
Deebo Samuel and rookie first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk did not practice and their status for Sunday remains unclear. Additionally, cornerback Jason Verrett has already been ruled out with a hamstring injury, Shanahan said.
The good news for San Francisco: center Ben Garland was back and limited at practice for the first time since spraining his ankle last month during training camp. His return could allow the 49ers to field their best offensive line while top center Weston Richburg remains on the physically unable to perform list.
The 49ers said they were planning to meet with Samuel’s foot surgeon, Dr. Robert Anderson, on Tuesday to go over the most recent scans of his foot and evaluate how well his Jones fracture has healed. The fact he wasn’t allowed to practice Wednesday isn’t a good sign for his availability Sunday.
Aiyuk’s status is a little less clear given he’s dealing with a hamstring strain and no time frame has been given for his return. Though the strain was less severe than the team initially feared. He sustained the injury Aug. 24. Sunday’s game would be just under three weeks from the injury.
The injuries could lead to unique roster decisions ahead of the opener. New league rules allow teams to promote two players from the practice squad to the active roster for games. And if Samuel and Aiyuk can’t play, the 49ers would only have four healthy receivers available: Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor, Dante Pettis and Richie James Jr.
The team could promote a receiver from the practice squad just in case. Another new rule allows the team to protect four members of the practice squad each week from getting signed by other teams. This week, recent acquisition Kevin White was protected. He’s one of three receivers along the practice squad along with seventh-round draft choice Jauan Jennings and recent signee River Cracraft, who spent last season with the Denver Broncos.
The team also protected cornerback Dontae Johnson, who could be used to provide depth with Verrett out. The team has four healthy cornerbacks on the active roster in Richard Sherman, Emmanuel Moseley, K’Waun Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon.
The two other protected members of the practice squad are defensive end Dion Jordan and center Hroniss Grasu, who could be activated if Garland can’t play.
49ers practice in ‘apocalyptic state’
Wednesday’s practice began at roughly 1:30, typically one of the brightest times of day. But the haze in conjunction with the marine layer that enveloped the entire Bay Area made it feel like the 49ers needed lights on their practice field because it was so unusually dark.
“I feel like I’m in the Book of Eli, it’s like an apocalyptic state out there, but surprisingly the air quality doesn’t seem as bad as it looks,” Shanahan said.
The local air quality index in Santa Clara was in the 50s and 60s throughout 49ers practice, which is far below the 200 threshold it would take for the team to consider cancelling practice. It had been in the 150s during portions of training camp and practice still went on.
But ash was still falling from the air around the area leaving some to wonder about the accuracy of the air quality index. Still, barring a significant change, the air quality is unlikely to impact Sunday’s season opener.
—The 49ers voted as a team on Saturday and announced seven captains on Monday. They are quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, tight end George Kittle, right tackle Mike McGlinchey, left tackle Trent Williams, cornerback Richard Sherman, defensive lineman Arik Armstead and linebacker Fred Warner.
Garoppolo, Kittle and Sherman were captains last season, as was recently retired left tackle Joe Staley and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who was traded to the Colts in march. Williams, McGlinchey, Armstead and Warner were named captains for the first time.
This story was originally published September 9, 2020 at 4:32 PM.
