SANTA CLARA – Brock Purdy and other available starters are scheduled to play in Sunday's preseason game when the 49ers host the New Orleans Saints.
Ah, but who else is out there?
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is staying at practice as a spectator as a consequence of his contract suspension. Left tackle Trent Williams has still not reported back after 25 days of coaching. And the variety of injuries continues to mount, with left guard Aaron Banks being the newest to be added to the list.
Banks missed practice Friday because he needed to undergo surgery on a broken pinky finger, a day after he also apparently dislocated his knee while blocking. He is predicted to get better in time for the season opener on Sept. 9 against the New York Jets, coach Kyle Shanahan said.
Shanahan intends to make use of one or two series along with his regular players after just about all of his regular players had to take a seat out Saturday's 17-13 loss at Tennessee within the season opener.
“Right now we're planning for Brock to leave, but that could change,” Shanahan added.
“I'm looking forward to Sunday to get some new insight and run our offense against guys that haven't seen that every day,” Purdy said. “So, get involved, be efficient, be clean and fight.”
Additionally, it gives Purdy a possibility to flee the each day distraction of individuals asking about Aiyuk's plight.
“Family and friends are asking me, 'What's going on?' I'm like you, I'm sitting here listening to every possible news source,” Purdy said. “My answer is the same as before: I love BA and I wish them the best. I'm not in the business world, so I'm sitting here waiting like everyone else.”
Purdy didn’t play within the season opener, when Brandon Allen played the primary half and Josh Dobbs the second half. Shanahan said he didn’t inform players if their order could be modified on this game.
Other regular season starters are unlikely to play on Sunday as a consequence of injuries: running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) and right guards Jon Feliciano (knee) and Spencer Burford (hand).
Purdy attempted several long passes during practice Friday and was caught by Deebo Samuel on a play called the “Purd-Dog.” “I was just trying some trick plays to keep our defense on its toes,” Purdy said. “It was fun to hand the ball off, throw it to Deebo and then I'm out at the rim. I said to Deebo, 'Give me a chance. Don't throw me too far, don't throw me too short.'” He did that and I feel I may need been in a position to rating a degree with that.
AIYUK, WILLIAMS STATUS
Aiyuk, wearing a red cap and shirt, watched from the sidelines for the third day in a row. Why is there no resolution to his contract deadlock? “I wish I knew. I wish I knew,” general manager John Lynch told KNBR 680-AM with an uncomfortable laugh. “I don't like that it took this long, but it is what it is and you have to deal with the challenges you face.”
Aiyuk has not participated in any of the 17 practices. He is doing a “hold-in,” which Shanahan said is “the way the league works right now. You do a hold-in, there's usually something wrong with the guys, so they can keep doing that. … BA has a sore back right now and it is what it is.”
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel expressed optimism in an interview on the Up and Adams Show with Kay Adams: “I think BA will be a part of this team, so we don't have to worry about that.”
As for Williams' endurance, Shanahan was optimistic: “We have to sort out a contract issue. I haven't spoken to him yet, but I think we'll get it done.”
HUFANGA TAKES THE HURDLE
Safety Talanoa Hufanga was medically cleared Thursday to take the subsequent step in his recovery from tearing his ACL last November. Hufanga attended practice on Friday and watched, but didn’t dress. “We can challenge him a little more, not against players, but in terms of football and dynamic cuts,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully he has a really good week and we can slowly ease him into practice (next week).”
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, one other injured defensive lineman, appears to be making good progress in recovering from his Achilles injury. He watched your complete practice and even went through the motions of a block sled before shadowing the linebackers during warmups.
BACKUPS – ONE STEP FORWARD
Banks was not the one guard who was out. Jon Feliciano (knee), Burford (hand) and Ben Bartch (knee) were also out. So Nick Zakelj stepped in on the front row, followed by Jarrett Kingston and Lewis Kidd.
Defensive linemen Nick Bosa and Javon Hargrave didn’t practice; Bosa watched and infrequently chatted alongside assistant head coach Brandon Staley. Yetur Gross-Matos and Jordan Elliott moved to the front row.
With Isaac Yiadom (ankle) limited to individual training, freshman Renardo Green played right cornerback in nickel situations while Deommodore Lenoir slid inside to cover the slot.
GAME CALLING OBLIGATIONS
Shanahan is not going to be taking over full play-calling duties again on Sunday after letting passing specialist Klay Kubiak call the games last Saturday. Shanahan said he’ll likely call some, but not all, of the plays against the Saints, with the caveat that he hasn't quite decided yet.
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS
Rookie Jacob Cowing had one other strong day as a receiver and returner before making his pro debut Sunday. … Lenoir ran off Samuel to intercept a pass from Purdy; Purdy accomplished a 25-yard throw to Jauan Jennings on a similar-looking play later in practice. … Jordan Mason, Cody Schrader, Matt Breida and Ke'Shawn Vaughn proceed to handle running back duties rather than McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell (hamstring), Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) and Patrick Taylor (foot). … Linebacker Curtis Robinson landed the hit of the day on Vaughn. … Neither Purdy nor Allen led the 49ers to touchdown drives in two-minute drills, with each drive oddly stalling before that they had a probability to interrupt the 10-yard line. … Ricky Pearsall (shoulder) is participating in walk-throughs but has not participated in team drills since Aug. 6.
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