49ers getting Samuel, possibly other key players back
Josh Dubow | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years AGO
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers could be getting a handful key players back from injuries this week but may have to wait longer for six players on the COVID-19 list to return.
Receiver Deebo Samuel has been cleared to return for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams after missing the past three games with a hamstring injury.
Leading rusher Raheem Mostert (ankle), starting cornerback Richard Sherman (calf) and backup running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (ankle) are set to be activated from injured reserve on Saturday and are all questionable to play this week. Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw was activated from the COVID-19 list Friday and is also questionable to play against the Rams.
It wasn’t all good news for the 49ers, who have been decimated by injuries and the coronavirus all season. Left tackle Trent Williams, receiver Brandon Aiyuk, defensive linemen D.J. Jones and Jordan Willis, linebacker Joe Walker and tight end Daniel Helm all remain on the COVID-19 list. Coach Kyle Shanahan said he believes only Williams has an “outside chance” of playing this week.
The team has also been hampered by a lack of practice time this week.
“I know we had some guys out, maybe had to switch the practice schedule around as far as walkthrough and how much live reps we get, but it hasn’t been too bad,” quarterback Nick Mullens said. “We had virtual meetings. Our circumstances are different a little but the same info is getting distributed as far as the game plan goes, the same reps.”
The lack of healthy bodies has limited the 49ers to just one full practice since losing at New Orleans on Nov. 15. They shut down the facility during their bye week after defensive lineman Arik Armstead tested positive for the coronavirus.
They had a full practice Wednesday before holding essentially walkthroughs the next two days after tight end Jordan Reed and linebackers Dre Greenlaw and Azeez Al-Shaair were sent home with illnesses. All three are questionable for Sunday.
“It’s been a challenge,” Shanahan said. “The meetings has been the easier part. Everyone in the league is getting used to Zooming. We had to do it a lot in the offseason. ... The biggest challenge was coming back from having a week off and knowing how much work we had to get to get crisp and really only having Wednesday.”
San Francisco even lost a player in the walkthrough when offensive lineman Tom Compton suffered a concussion on Thursday. He will miss the game and be replaced at right guard by rookie Colton McKivitz.
NOTES: RB Tevin Coleman (knee), LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (hamstring) and CB K’Waun Williams (ankle) are all out this week.
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