Jaquiski Tartt back in practice for first time since Week 13

The 49ers may get healthier in time for their biggest regular season game in nearly a decade.

The 49ers didn’t release an official injury report for Tuesday’s practice, but one key defender was back on the field for the 49ers. Reporters on site at the team facility noted strong safety Jaquiski Tartt was in a blue non-contact jersey during the open portion of the team’s practice.

Tuesday was Tartt’s first practice since breaking a rib in the 49ers’ Week 13 loss to the Ravens. There was no word on the extent of his participation since the 49ers didn’t have to release a participation report.

San Francisco has badly missed Tartt in the secondary. His ability to play both safety spots at a high level allows the 49ers to do things in coverage they can’t do with Marcell Harris in the game. Tartt is also in his fifth season while Harris has only seen limited action in two years.

There are bigger issues with the 49ers’ defense than just their safety play, but the loss to the Falcons came as a direct result of a mixup with Harris, and they’ve given up 35.3 points and 291 passing yards per game in Tartt’s absence.

It’s not a guarantee that Tartt suits up against the Seahawks, but his return to the lineup would provide much-needed help at a key position for a struggling pass defense.

49ers escape Rams game with no major injuries

The 49ers may be a bit healthier going into Week 17.

The 49ers on Sunday got another win when head coach Kyle Shanahan provided an injury update after the team’s 34-31 win over the Rams on Saturday.

Shanahan said reserve safety and special teams ace Tarvarius Moore sustained a concussion, but that was the only new injury for a club that’s already banged up. The 49ers’ head coach also said right guard would remain questionable in Week 17 after missing Saturday with a neck injury.

He also announced that strong safety Jaquiski Tartt could be back in practice this week after missing the last two with a rib injury. He’s yet to practice since suffering his injury in Week 14 vs. the Ravens.

Defensive end Dee Ford will remain out with a hamstring injury, although that’s not a huge surprise since he was expected to miss three-plus weeks after leaving the Saints game with that ailment.

It sounds like getting Tartt back in time for a must-win game in Seattle is the best-case scenario for San Francisco. Their pass defense has struggled badly in his absence, so getting him back for the Seahawks game could make a huge difference.

Knocking off the Seahawks and getting a first-round bye is paramount for a team as injured as the 49ers, and getting a week off could be the difference between having Ford and Person in their first playoff game and not.

Richard Sherman, K’Waun Williams not on 49ers’ injury report vs. Rams

The 49ers’ injury situation is improving. Richard Sherman and K’Waun Williams will play vs. the Rams.

The 49ers will be at least marginally healthier Saturday when they face the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium. Both cornerbacks Richard Sherman and K’Waun Williams were not on the team’s final Week 16 injury report, putting them on track to play after they missed Week 15 against the Falcons.

Williams’ return from a concussion is less surprising than Sherman’s quick turnaround from a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Typically players clear concussion protocol within a week, and Williams practiced in full all week.

Sherman, however, was supposed to be out at least two weeks. His return to practice Monday was an indicator he might play Saturday, but he practiced in full all week and was left off the injury report.

Having both Sherman and Williams back in the secondary should help with some of the communication issues that plagued the 49ers’ defense against Atlanta.

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh on Wednesday specifically noted a miscommunication in the secondary leading to the Falcons’ game-winning touchdown pass from Matt Ryan to Julio Jones.

While missing other starters will impact the 49ers, getting Williams and Sherman back should give the San Francisco defense enough of a boost to improve on last week’s performance.

The other player of note on the injury report is right guard Mike Person. He injured his neck against Atlanta and was a limited participant in practice all week. Daniel Brunskill, who filled in at right tackle while Mike McGlinchey was out, and at left tackle when Justin Skule struggled at left tackle, would be first in line to slide into the starting right guard spot.

Against a player like Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the interior of the offensive line is imperative. Brunskill getting his first ever start at right guard against Donald would be a massive test that could decide Sunday’s contest.

Here’s the full injury report:

Out

DE Dee Ford (hamstring)
SS Jaquiski Tartt (ribs)
DL Jullian Taylor (elbow)

Questionable

OL Mike Person (neck)

49ers officially rule out 6 defensive players vs. Falcons

The 49ers will miss six defensive players when they face the Falcons on Sunday.

The 49ers will be shorthanded on the defensive side going into their Week 15 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. They officially ruled out six players for Sunday, all on defense, including three of their five starters in the secondary.

This doesn’t come as a huge surprise since head coach Kyle Shanahan ruled out Jullian Taylor a week ago when he said the defensive lineman would miss multiple weeks with an elbow injury. Then he ruled out Dee Ford and Richard Sherman on Monday. Then Thursday said DJ Jones was going on Injured Reserve.

With K’Waun Williams and Jaquiki Tartt both missing practice Wednesday and Thursday, the writing was on the wall that both players would be out Sunday.

The 49ers were supposed to get healthier to close the year, and they have for the most part on offense, but the defensive side has taken a pretty massive hit over the last couple weeks. That’s only going to make their battle for a division title more difficult.

Here’s the official injury report:

Out

DE Dee Ford (quad, hamstring)
DT D.J. Jones (ankle)
CB Richard Sherman (hamstring)
S Jaquiski Tartt (ribs)
DT Jullian Taylor (elbow)
CB K’Waun Williams (concussion)

49ers hit hard by injuries after Saints game

The 49ers got a slew of bad injury news from head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday announced a slew of injuries to key starters.

Center Weston Richburg is out for the season with a torn patellar tendon. Dee Ford and Richard Sherman will both miss multiple weeks with hamstring injuries.

Richburg was carted off in the second half of the team’s win in New Orleans after getting his leg caught underneath him on a third down run play. Shanahan wasn’t optimistic in his postgame press conference after Richburg left the locker room on crutches.

The 49ers signed Richburg last offseason and he played through painful knee and quad injuries that both required offseason surgery. He bounced back with a terrific 2019 campaign before his injury Sunday.

Ben Garland will likely replace Richburg as the starting center. He signed with San Francisco in the offseason after two years in Denver and three in Seattle. He has seven starts across his six seasons.

Ford was dealing with a hamstring injury prior to Sunday’s game in New Orleans. He aggravated it early in the game and did not return. His absence will mean more time on the edge for Arik Armstead and Jeremiah Valoaga.

Sherman was banged up a couple times, but came up with a hamstring issue late in the fourth quarter and didn’t enter the game on the Saints’ final offensive possession. Emmanuel Moseley will likely step into the starting cornerback spot across from Ahkello Witherspoon.

Cornerback K’Waun Williams exited late with a concussion and is in concussion protocol. If he can’t go Sunday against the Falcons, DJ Reed would probably be the starting nickel corner.

Safety Jaquiski Tartt is still day-to-day with a rib injury. He was out for Sunday’s game, and defensive tackle DJ Jones is nursing an ankle sprain.

The 49ers need to get healthy over these next few weeks, and suddenly the first-round playoff bye feels more important than ever. San Francisco can secure a first-round bye if they win their final three games. That extra week off could be the difference between having players like Sherman and Ford for the first playoff game, and not having them.

Jaquiski Tartt ruled out, Joe Staley, 2 WRs questionable vs. Saints

The 49ers will get a slew of starters back vs. New Orleans.

The 49ers will have to deal with Drew Brees and the Saints without a member of the secondary. Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt on Friday was officially ruled out with a broken rib he suffered in last week’s loss to the Ravens. Defensive tackle Jullian Taylor was also ruled out.

Second-year safety Marcell Harris played well filling in for Tartt when the starter went down in Baltimore. Harris’ strip and fumble recovery on Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson swung the tide of the game briefly in the 49ers’ favor. Harris will start in Tartt’s stead against the Saints.

Taylor injured his elbow and was expected to be ruled out for Week 14 and Week 15. His status beyond the next couple weeks is uncertain.

The good news on the 49ers’ injury report was the players missing from it. Offensive tackle Joe Staley is officially questionable after limited practices all week. He’s still working his way back from finger surgery. Defensive end Dee Ford, defensive tackle DJ Jones and running back Matt Breida should all play against New Orleans.

There was optimism from head coach Kyle Shanahan that those three would be good to go against the Saints, and a week of practice validated that positivity. All three were full participants in Friday’s practice and will be ready to go Sunday.

Shanahan was less optimistic about wide receiver Dante Pettis returning from a knee injury. He’s officially questionable, alongside fellow wide receiver Marquise Goodwin. Goodwin was a late add to the status report with knee and foot injuries.

Defensive lineman Kentavius Street still hasn’t been activated off Injured Reserve, although his practice window did open. He can still be added to the roster Saturday if the team believes he’s ready to make his NFL debut.

Here’s the full status report:

Out

S Jaquiski Tartt (ribs)
DL Jullian Taylor (elbow)

Questionable

WR Dante Pettis (knee)
WR Marquise Goodwin (knee, foot)
OT Joe Staley (finger)

49ers could get 4 key players back for showdown with Ravens

The 49ers may get healthy just in time for their toughest test of the season.

The 49ers might be as healthy as they’ve been all year when they roll into Baltimore on Sunday for a showdown with MVP frontrunner Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday indicated in his press conference that left tackle Joe Staley, defensive end Dee Ford, running back Matt Breida and kicker Robbie Gould were all progressing well and game-time decisions.

That’s a much better prognosis than last week when it became clear early in the week that San Francisco would face the Packers without their four starters.

The 49ers have survived a slew of injuries thanks to some quality depth on their roster, but they’re not going to reach their peak until they’re at full strength. Getting Staley, Ford, Breida and Gould back would put San Francisco as close to peak health as they’ve been all season.

Staley had surgery a finger he dislocated and fractured against the Seahawks in Week 10. Breida aggravated an ankle injury that same game and hasn’t played since. Ford hurt his hamstring the following week against the Cardinals, and Gould injured his quad in practice leading up to the Seattle game.

Gould told Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area that he plans to play Sunday.

Ford’s return would come at a good time after Damontre Moore, who replaced Ronald Blair, broke his forearm Sunday night. San Francisco is suddenly thin at defensive end, and putting Ford back in the lineup would be a nice boost for the pass rush.

The offensive tackles also struggled Sunday night. Justin Skule, Staley’s backup, was pulled in the second quarter in favor of Daniel Brunskill. Staley’s return to the lineup to shore up Jimmy Garoppolo’s blind side would help the offense immensely.

Breida’s insertion back into the lineup would give the running game an element of explosiveness its been missing with him banged up. He’s a home run threat every time he touches the ball. While the 49ers’ other backs are talented, Breida is simply a different type of electric that helps power San Francisco’s rushing attack.

The 49ers won’t practice until Wednesday, at which point we’ll get a better idea of how close each of those players are. Shanahan’s update Monday is optimistic though, and that’s as good as they can hope for given how bad the injury situation has been to this point.

Good injury news: George Kittle returns to practice

There’s a reason to be optimistic about George Kittle’s status for Sunday night vs. the Packers.

The 49ers on Thursday finally got some good news on the injury front. Tight end George Kittle was back on the practice field wearing a blue non-contact jersey according to multiple reporters at the 49ers’ facility.

Kittle hasn’t practiced since injuring his knee and ankle on the first play of the team’s Week 9 win over the Cardinals in Arizona. He played the rest of that game and posted six catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.

San Francisco lost their first game without Kittle the following week against the Seahawks. Their run game and passing attack both suffered without Kittle’s multifaceted skill set. They struggled out of the gates the following week against Arizona, and failed to run the ball with any effectiveness. While Jimmy Garoppolo wound up throwing for 424 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-26 win, Kittle’s presence in the passing game was sorely missed on plays designed to go down the field.

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A limited practice Thursday guarantees nothing for the tight end, and head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday said “it’s going to come down to the wire again” with Kittle. However, his return is a good sign, and another practice Friday will give a better indication of his status for Sunday night.

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49ers’ 4 top offensive playmakers among 7 out of practice

The 49ers could face a serious injury problem Sunday night vs. the Packers.

The 49ers’ participation report for Wednesday’s practice was a star-studded list. Seven players missed the session, and two others were limited. Among the players out were running back Matt Breida, wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Deebo Samuel, and tight end George Kittle.

Those four account for most of the playmaking on the 49ers’ offense. Breida leads the team in rushing yards and is averaging 5.0 yards per carry this season. Sanders has been Jimmy Garoppolo’s favorite target in his four games with the team, and Samuel has emerged as a top-end receiver in the two games Sanders has dealt with a rib injury. Samuel leads all NFL rookies with 38 catches. Kittle is arguably the best tight end in the league, and provides as much value as a run blocker as he does as a pass catcher. He’s leading the club in receptions and receiving yards.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t rule any of those four out for Sunday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers, but starting the week off with a non-participation in practice isn’t a great early sign.

Here’s the full participation report for Wednesday:

Did not participate

RB Matt Breida (ankle)
TE George Kittle (knee, ankle)
WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder)
WR Emmanuel Sanders (ribs)
T Joe Staley (finger)
DE Dee Ford (quad, hamstring)
K Robbie Gould (quad)

Limited participation

DT DJ Jones (groin)
RB Raheem Mostert (knee)

Full participation

Azeez Al-Shaair (concussion)

Dee Ford questionable to return with hamstring injury

The 49ers could take another hit to their already thin defensive line.

The 49ers announced late in the second half defensive end Dee Ford is questionable to return with a hamstring injury.

He left the field gingerly after chasing down Kyler Murray for a sack on the Cardinals’ previous drive.

Ford has been limited nearly all year in practice with a quad injury, so a hamstring injury on top of that isn’t ideal. San Francisco is already thin at defensive end with Ronald Blair out for the year with a torn ACL.

Ford was worked on in the medical tent before walking over to join his teammates at the end of the bench.