Once again battered by injuries, the 49ers have still managed to reach 4-2 despite a spree of setbacks for the second straight season. Pro Bowlers Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Nick Bosa have missed time, and the Fred Warner loss deals a blow the team has not previously encountered.
On the team amid the 2020 and 2024 injury waves, Warner has missed one career game. The All-Pro linebacker has crafted a Hall of Fame-caliber resume during the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan-era surge, but he will undergo surgery Wednesday and joins Bosa in being out for the season. The 49ers are eyeing trades on defense, but their offense is starting to look healthier (even if Jauan Jennings is playing through a significant rib injury).
[RELATED: 49ers Expected To Inquire On Trey Hendrickson Trade]
While Purdy’s status remains murky, Kittle is nearing a return. Shanahan does expect (via 49ers reporter Briana Jeannel) the All-Pro tight end will be designated for return from IR ahead of the Falcons matchup. This would allow the 49ers a ramp-up period, but Shanahan added (via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco) the hope is Kittle returns for Week 7.
Although the 49ers’ injury trouble is again mounting, they are not in bad shape yet in terms of IR activations. The team has either seen key players suffer season-ending injuries (Bosa, Warner) or remain on the active roster in week-to-week setups (Purdy, Jennings, Ricky Pearsall). The 49ers did place starting guard Ben Bartch on IR, and he is eligible for activation this week. It is uncertain if Bartch will join Kittle in being designated for return.
Kittle went down with a hamstring injury in Week 1. The likely Hall of Fame-bound pass catcher suited up for 15 games last season and did not miss any time due to injury in 2023. Playing in at least 14 games in 2021 and ’22, Kittle has not missed this much time in a season since being part of the 49ers’ spate of maladies in 2020. He missed eight games that season, suffering a sprained knee and fractured foot during San Francisco’s 6-10 season.
With Pearsall on the active roster, the 49ers are moving closer to full strength after seeing both their top two receivers go down early this season. San Francisco’s true No. 1 receiver, however, remains on the reserve/PUP list. Brandon Aiyuk‘s timetable has been pushed back a bit. Week 6 was floated months ago as a loose return window, but that has come and gone. Shanahan has now mentioned Week 10 as an updated window (via Maiocco) but stopped short of providing a firm timetable.
Out since October 20, 2024 with an ACL tear, Aiyuk has been in rehab mode after the tear was not deemed clean. Joining Kittle in suffering an injury shortly after an offseason extension, Aiyuk has been unable to build on the second-team All-Pro season he produced in 2023. John Lynch said in late September the sixth-year veteran was “not close” returning, but Shanahan’s update does provide a semi-positive sign a reemergence near the midseason point is still in play.
Like the IR-return process, the 49ers would have a 21-day period to observe Aiyuk in practice before activating him. Given the length of Aiyuk’s rehab process, it would surprise if he suited up the week he was designated for return. It should be expected, based on this timeline, Aiyuk would be in the PUP-return window soon. But the 49ers will continue to make do with a ravaged receiver depth chart for the time being. Though, Kittle’s return will help the passing attack considerably while Aiyuk hits the recovery homestretch.