SANTA CLARA – The 49ers will probably be without several key players once they visit the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday to shut out the regular season.
That sounds about right for a 6-10 man team that has 15 players on injured reserve and one other on the physically unable to perform list.
Arizona has lost five of its last six games and is 7-9, giving each teams an early begin to the 2025 season.
Those deemed out Friday by 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan included wide receiver Deebo Samuel (rib/wrist), cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (shoulder), quarterback Brock Purdy (shoulder), tackle Spencer Burford (calf). and defensive end Ronald Beal (ankle).
Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf) was listed as questionable, while players questionable and more likely to play include tight end George Kittle (ankle/hamstring), tackle Colton McKivitz (knee), safety Ji'Ayir Brown (ankle) and cornerback Isaac Yiadom (cymbal).
Defensive player Nick Bosa, who missed some training sessions earlier within the week with a knee problem, was taken off the injured list entirely and admitted it was an odd feeling to not be back after Sunday's game.
“I feel like my body is ready to run, like it's used to going through a season, fighting, getting through and then recovering and getting ready,” Bosa said. “There won’t be any reason for that this year, but we’ll try to do well.”
If the sport had playoff implications, things could be different, Shanahan said
“There would be a lot of pressure on the guys to play and we would probably let them,” Shanahan said. “In this case, they push hard to play and we won’t let them.”
Without the give attention to a playoff run, the 49ers have a probability to begin planning for 2025 much sooner.
“I would be more happy to last until February again, but it's tough when you last that long,” Shanahan said. “Everyone has to go, and when you come back, free agency usually starts and you’re not quite there yet. I think this will be the first time since COVID was abolished in January.”
Bosa believes the extra day off will probably be good for a restart.
“I think we kind of needed it as a team,” Bosa said. “It’s definitely a challenge. It's only a month left, but when you add one more to what you've already done, it feels like three months. It’s a huge, huge deal.”
JUSZCZYK HAS NO PLANS TO RETIRE
Defensive back Kyle Juszczyk was named to the Pro Bowl for the ninth time (eight with the 49ers) and has plans to go No. 10 in 2025.
“I know I have at least a few more years left. From then on, I’ll play it by ear,” said Juszczyk, 33. “I definitely want to keep playing. I still feel like I'm at my best. I still feel as healthy as I could be. So I know I have at least a few more.”
Juszczyk took a pay cut before this season and is under contract through 2025 at a salary of $4.1 million. He's played in every game this season, and his touchdown catch Monday night gave him at the least one in each of his years with the 49ers.
The nine Pro Bowls are probably the most ever by a fullback, a position Juszczyk never desired to play.
“To be honest, I never saw full-back, I never wanted to be a full-back. That wasn’t the goal,” said Juszczyk, who desired to be a large receiver and grew up idolizing Wayne Chrebet and tight end Dallas Clark. “But the full-back got me a job.”
Juszczyk's wife, Kristin, announced Thursday that she is launching an NFL-licensed clothing line called Off Season in collaboration with Emma Grede and Fanatics, which launches Tuesday. “Oh my God, I'm so excited and yesterday was a big day for us to announce the launch,” Juszczyk said. “We’ve wanted this to happen for so long and I know so many fans have.”
PURDY’S “FUNNY BONE”
General manager John Lynch downplayed the concept that Purdy's elbow injury was more serious than the team is admitting.
Shanahan all but ruled out Purdy on Tuesday, the day after the Lions game, and named Josh Dobbs the starter on Wednesday. The quick catch prompted speculation that Purdy's elbow, which underwent UCL substitute surgery after the 2022 season, was a priority.
“It's really no different than hitting your humor,” Lynch said during his weekly appearance on KNBR-680. “When you get hit in the wrong place, it irritated your nerves a little bit. . . just caused some numbness. Everything is OK. Brock will be fine.”
Shanahan said during a standard week, Purdy would likely test his elbow on Friday in hopes of playing.
Lynch said everyone contributed to the choice to make use of Purdy for the finals, but ultimately the choice was made by the team doctors.
LENOIR’S “SNUB”
Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir wasn't completely happy when he learned he was a Pro Bowl reserve and never a part of the quartet of cornerbacks chosen for the NFC. The former fifth-round draft pick reached out to X to vent his frustration, saying partly: “Never let anyone tell you that draft status doesn't matter.”
The cornerbacks were Jaylon Johnson of Chicago, Byron Murphy of Minnesota, Devon Weatherspoon of Minnesota and Xavier McKinney of Green Bay.
Lenoir has already signed a five-year contract extension price a maximum of $92 million.
“It's always been the case and will never change that the first year you really deserve to be in the Pro Bowl, you need another year and you'll be there,” Lynch said. “I think D-Mo will do well. I really think his game deserves it.”
Defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said the perceived snub will only make Lenoir higher.
“Guys who are really competitive will use anything for motivation, and I think he can just add that,” Sorensen said.
INJURED RESERVE
The following players ended the season on injured reserve: wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, guard Aaron Banks, guard/center Ben Bartch, guard/center Jon Feliciano, defensive lineman Kevin Givens, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, cornerback Darrell Luter Jr., running back Jordan Mason, running back Christian McCaffrey, running back Elijah Mitchell, tackle Jaylon Moore, safety George Odum, linebacker Curtis Robinson, tackle Trenet Williams and punter Mitch Wishnowsky.
Defensive lineman Drake Jackson has been on the PUP list your complete season and linebacker De'Vondre Campbell has been on the suspended list the last three games.
The 49ers will likely add to the injured reserve list before Sunday so as to add players to the practice squad and fill out the roster.
Originally published:
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