A number of key 49ers are set to return to action on Sunday.
It was set to be a wholly positive week before the devastating loss of Jason Verrett to a torn Achilles suffered in Wednesday’s practice. The injury left the practice field in a stunned silence, the likes of which George Kittle and John Lynch said they’d never witnessed before.
Lynch joined the Murph and Mac Show on Friday to discuss all things 49ers. He expressed how brutal Verrett’s injury was, saying, “… there was a quietness and eerie quiet to football field that I’ve never heard.”
The injury came after two plays, Lynch said, when Verrett made a backfield run stop followed by a pass breakup. It doesn’t ruin the optimism the 49ers have about this upcoming week, but was a deeply sad moment.
Despite Verrett’s loss, Lynch said SF will be “a much healthier team going into Sunday night.”
He offered updates on a number of players and was unable to suppress his excitement at the prospect of Christian McCaffrey playing a full game with every other weapon in the 49ers’ offense also available.
“Now we get to see him for a full game with Deebo, with Aiyuk, with Kittle, Elijah Mitchell — who’s a heck of a player, is trending in the right direction — and so to put him out there along with Juice, and Jauan Jennings is back, so there’s a lot there,” Lynch said. “I think guys are excited about that. Now we just gotta go deliver.”
Mitchell has been out since the season opener with an MCL sprain.
The long layoff begs the question, will he be a full go? Lynch said the 49ers will be smart about how they use him, but indicated there shouldn’t be any restrictions.
“Unlike basketball where it’s minutes, you don’t play minutes, but yeah, we’d like to get this guy this many carries and just be real smart about the way you bring someone back,” Lynch said. “But he’s full go. If he gets through this practice cleared, I don’t think there’ll be any restrictions on him. It will just probably be a conscious deal, let’s not give him too much on his on his first game back.”
As for the the rest of the returnees, all signs are positive, barring setbacks in Friday’s practice.
He said the likes of Deebo Samuel, Kyle Juszczyk, Jauan Jennings, Azeez Al-Shaair and Colton McKivitz have all “passed the initial tests of practicing,” and expects many returns.
San Francisco has three open roster spots and four players, including Jordan Willis, designated for return from injured reserve. That means a roster decision will have to be made at some point, but it may not come this week; each of those players has a 21-day window from the day they start practicing, so Willis or McKivitz could be held back for this week.
Lastly, there’s Dre Greenlaw, who’s been the only limited player on the injury report as he deals with a calf injury.
Lynch said his status will depend on Friday’s practice, “but we’re excited if not this week, that we’ll have Dre back here soon.”
Should Greenlaw return, the 49ers could have six, and possibly seven players returning to action this week. It would also mean arguably the best linebacker trio in the league would be active together for just the ninth time in the last 29 games, dating back to start of last season.
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