Nick WagonerOct 17, 2025, 05:53 PM ET
- Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In over a decade with the company, Nick has led ESPN's coverage of the Niners' 2019 and 2023 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick's protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam's subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team's relocation and stadium saga.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers will welcome tight end George Kittle back from his hamstring injury Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons but quarterback Brock Purdy's return from a toe ailment will have to wait at least another week.
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan ruled Purdy out on Friday with receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee), linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) also out against the Falcons.
That comes after Purdy returned to practice this week for the first time since aggravating the injury in a Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Purdy was limited in all three practices but didn't make enough progress to step back into the startling lineup, leaving Mac Jones to make his fifth start of the season with Adrian Martinez as the backup.
"[Purdy] was able to get out there and throw more," Shanahan said. "I thought it was definitely a step further ahead than it was last week, so going the right direction."
Jones has largely fared well in Purdy's stead, averaging what would be a league-high 313 passing yards per game in his four starts to go with six touchdowns and three interceptions for a QBR of 53.0.
While Purdy has worked his way back from the toe injury, Jones, too, has been dealing with health issues. He was questionable last week with knee and oblique soreness but he was a full participant in practice on Thursday and Friday and is good to go against Atlanta.
Shanahan said Friday that when Purdy is healthy, he will jump back into the starting lineup, though the team has previously considered having him available as an emergency backup before he returns to 100%.
"If Brock is good to go, I picture him starting," Shanahan said. "We'll always do what's best for him and best for the team depending on what that situation is that week."
Kittle, meanwhile, progressed enough to be listed as a full participant in Friday's practice and has no injury designation for the game. That clears the path for him to return after missing the past five games on injured reserve with what he's described as a torn (but not off the bone) hamstring.
Shanahan said Kittle, who said Thursday he "fully" plans to play against the Falcons, will not only play but should have no limitations on his level of participation.
"George has rehabbed really well," Shanahan said. "He came back 100% and had a good week of practice, so we'll space it out throughout the game but no pitch count."
The Niners are also planning to activate Givens from injured reserve with Shanahan saying he will "most likely" play against the Falcons. For Kittle and Givens to come back, the 49ers will have to make corresponding roster moves.
San Francisco cleared one of those spaces Friday when it placed wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling on injured reserve with a calf injury. The 49ers are expected to do the same with Warner, who had surgery on his dislocated and fractured ankle on Tuesday. Those roster tweaks are expected to happen by Saturday afternoon.
Elsewhere on the injury report, the 49ers have some uncertainty at cornerback with Renardo Green (neck) and rookie Upton Stout (ankle) listed as questionable. Green and Stout are two of the team's top three corners and if they're unable to play, the Niners would have to patch things together alongside fellow starter Deommodore Lenoir with Darrell Luter Jr. the likely replacement for Green and Chase Lucas for Stout if either or both can't play.
