For once, it seems like the 49ers injuries are trending in a positive direction.
Coming off a game when the defense was as hobbled as it’s been all season and with the Kansas City Chiefs waiting on Sunday, a reprieve is much needed.
Kyle Shanahan indicated Monday that Nick Bosa, Trent Williams and Jimmie Ward could all potentially return this weekend. That sentiment increased on Wednesday.
Bosa, Williams and Ward all returned to practice. Here’s the practice report, per Shanahan:
Limited:
- Drake Jackson (knee)
- Trent Williams (ankle)
- Nick Bosa (groin)
- Jimmie Ward (hand)
Didn’t practice:
- Charvarius Ward (groin)
- Mike McGlinchey (calf)
- Talanoa Hufanga (concussion)
- Samson Ebukam (Achilles)
- Arik Armstead (ankle/foot)
Shanahan also said that corner Jason Verrett, who’s been working back from a torn ACL at the start of last season — and in the final week of his three-week return window — is back in practice and was expected to be a full participant.
Bosa told reporters that he initially felt his groin injury at the end of the Rams game and probably didn’t manage it properly in the following week. He felt it flare up the following week against the Panthers and opted to be smart about it.
He and the team decided he should sit early on last week, but he expressed optimism about this weekend.
“I feel really good,” Bosa told reporters. “Gotta get into the practice week to see how it feels, but pretty optimistic.”
Jimmie Ward, meanwhile, was his usual funny self. He showed off a good, old-fashioned club wrap on his broken left hand. He said there’s still pain, but that while he expects to be cleared by Sunday.
He joked that it would be tough for referees to call defensive pass interference on him.
The club wrap drew memories of the ones Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes both wore in a 2010 game against the San Diego Chargers, especially with a 2012 team reunion coming this Sunday.
Ward drew a distinction, though, saying that the responsibilities for a linebacker make using a club a little bit easier.
It was also reported by Tim Kawakami that Jim Harbaugh would be back in the building on Sunday. Ward said, “it’s cool,” and that while he hasn’t kept in touch with his former coach, he’s looking forward to seeing “a lot of familiar faces.”