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49ers’ Brock Purdy To Return In Week 4

September 26th, 2025 at 10:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers will have their starting quarterback ready to roll in Week 4. After two missed games, Brock Purdy is returning; Kyle Shanahan confirmed the recently extended passer will be back against the Jaguars.

It had been trending in this direction for a bit. Purdy made progress early during his recovery, offering more optimism than this two-injury rehab process initially brought. His return will be a welcome sight to another injury-plagued 49ers team.

[RELATED: Brandon Aiyuk Not Close To Returning]

San Francisco lost its starter to a bout with turf toe and a shoulder injury. These two games marked Purdy’s second and third injury-driven absences as a pro (he missed Week 18 of the 2024 season). Though, Purdy has obviously not been a health staple since debuting. His UCL tear sustained in the 2022 NFC championship game prompted the NFL to change the rules regarding QB roster spots. While Purdy was limited throughout the 49ers’ ensuing offseason, he returned in Week 1 of the following season and earned an original-ballot Pro Bowl nod.

This comeback will help a 49ers team that has missed George Kittle, Jauan Jennings and Ben Bartch on offense. San Francisco’s defense absorbed the strongest injury blow, losing Nick Bosa for the season. Still, the 49ers are 3-0 and facing a favorable schedule.

Mac Jones delivered two capable performances, helming the 49ers to wins over the Saints and Cardinals. Benched by the Patriots in 2023 and dealt to the Jaguars for a Day 3 pick in 2024, Jones is on a two-year, $7MM contract. The backup performed well considering the injuries the 49ers have suffered on offense; this included Jones aggravating a PCL sprain sustained in the preseason. The former New England first-rounder combined for 563 passing yards, four touchdown passes and one interception (66.3% completion rate) in his starts, providing an encouraging sign in the event Purdy misses more time.

How Purdy performs upon return will be worth monitoring, as the 49ers gave him a five-year, $265MM extension that came with $100MM fully guaranteed. Purdy, 25, received a no-trade clause on a deal that did not approach Dak Prescott‘s 2024 record-setter. Purdy sits as only the seventh-highest-paid QB, but 49ers fans will need to see a noticeable gap between he and Jones to feel good about the team reshaping its cap sheet around a $53MM-per-year contract.

Purdy did his best work when the 49ers carried their five-All-Pro cadre on offense in 2023. Only two of those players (Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams) are presently available, with Kittle on IR, Brandon Aiyuk on the reserve/PUP list and Deebo Samuel being traded. The 49ers did see Jennings provide a limited practice Friday after missing Week 3 with ankle and shoulder maladies. Ricky Pearsall, who exited Week 3 as the NFL’s third-leading pass catcher, practiced twice in a limited capacity this week with a knee injury. The 49ers also saw Demarcus Robinson‘s three-game personal conduct suspension end, moving the free agency addition toward his debut.

Contract Details: T. Smith, Z. Smith, 49ers

September 26th, 2025 at 5:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest details from recently agreed-upon contracts:

  • Tyler Smith, G (Cowboys). Four years, $96MM. Receiving $41.66MM guaranteed at signing, the NFL’s highest-paid guard secured a rolling guarantee structure. Smith’s 2025 and ’26 base salaries are locked in at signing. A $12MM portion of his 2027 compensation becomes fully guaranteed on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, per Spotrac. A $19MM chunk of Smith’s 2028 compensation shifts from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the 2027 league year. On Day 5 of the ’28 league year, Smith stands to see $6.6MM of his ’29 compensation lock in. The Cowboys would owe Smith a $21MM option bonus by Week 1 of the 2029 season; a $20MM option bonus would be due by Week 1 of the 2030 slate. Four void years are in this contract.
  • Colton McKivitz, RT (49ers). Three years, $45MM. Of McKivitz’s $27MM guaranteed, $18.71MM is guaranteed at signing (per OverTheCap). McKivitz’s money is guaranteed in 2025 and ’26, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, who notes an early guarantee date exists in this contract as well. McKivitz’s $12.67MM 2027 option bonus features an $8.29MM injury guarantee; $6.29MM of the latter number vests on April 1, 2026, giving the veteran tackle some early security. Another $2MM of that bonus becomes guaranteed on April 1, 2027. McKivitz’s 2028 compensation is nonguaranteed. Because of the option bonuses and four void years, the deal does not bring a $10MM cap number until 2028.
  • Za’Darius Smith, OLB (Eagles). One year, $4.25MM. Initially reported as being worth up to $9MM, Smith’s Philadelphia contract carries $4.25MM in base value, per Florio. There are $2MM in sack-based incentives included, and a $500K Pro Bowl bonus is part of the package as well. The “up to” report also brought a minor inflation, with Florio adding Smith maxing out incentives would bring the value to $8.25MM.
  • Dalton Risner, G (Bengals). One year, $1.34MM. This value (reported by OverTheCap) is barely above the veteran minimum, but with Risner on the Bengals’ Week 1 roster, it is fully guaranteed (rather than just the $168K guarantee-at-signing figure). This is another pay cut for Risner, who earned $2.78MM in 2023 and $2.41MM last season.

Mac Jones Battling PCL Sprain; Brock Purdy Likely To Return In Week 4?

September 25th, 2025 at 7:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

SEPTEMBER 25: Nothing is certain at this point regarding the 49ers’ Week 4 quarterback situation, but the team could have two healthy passers to choose from. Purdy was a limited practice participant Wednesday and again today, and he said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner) he is happy with his recovery progress. Jones, meanwhile, stated (via Matt Barrows of The Athletic) he will be ready to play if needed on Sunday.

SEPTEMBER 22: Facing perennial issues keeping key players healthy, the 49ers have two injured quarterbacks entering Week 4. Mac Jones joins Brock Purdy in rehabbing an injury.

Jones aggravated a PCL sprain Sunday, informing reporters (including NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport) of the malady — one he initially sustained during training camp. Jones was not on San Francisco’s injury report last week, but it sounds like he will be for Week 4. Fortunately for the 49ers, they look to have a good chance of seeing Purdy back in action by then.

Logging three limited practices last week while recovering from an AC joint sprain and turf toe, Purdy has submitted a better-than-anticipated recovery effort, Rapoport adds. This puts a Week 4 return against the Jaguars firmly in play, after Purdy had been rumored to be available in case of emergency days before Week 3. That did not end up being the case, with the 49ers ruling out their starter.

Purdy has now missed three career starts due to injury — the past two weeks and Week 18 of the 2024 season — after seeing a Jimmy Garoppolo injury launch his stunning ascent. The 49ers have been without Purdy, George Kittle, Jauan Jennings and Ben Bartch on offense. They improved to 3-0 under these circumstances, beating the Saints and Cardinals, but their Nick Bosa loss represents a more significant issue. Having Purdy back should help the cause, though the 49ers are again battered by maladies at an early-season juncture.

Four years after being closely linked to the 49ers during the pre-draft process, Jones joined the team on a two-year, $7MM deal. He delivered back-to-back wins, following a three-touchdown performance in New Orleans with a 284-yard, one-TD showing in a 16-15 win over Arizona. Benched in New England and traded to Jacksonville as a clear backup, Jones has given the 49ers an upgrade at the QB2 position. Considering the injury trouble the franchise has run into at QB during Shanahan’s tenure, that is rather important. Jones probably raised his stock during this stretch, but in signing a two-year deal, no near-future path to a starting role elsewhere is on the horizon.

As for Bosa, Shanahan said (via the San Jose Mercury News’ Cam Inman) the former Defensive Player of the Year suffered a clean ACL tear. Bosa came back on time after his September 2020 ACL tear, playing 17 games in 2021 to lead a 49ers resurgence. The 49ers will hope this largely Bosa-less season goes far better than their injury-riddled 2020 campaign — a 6-10 slate that also included an extensive Garoppolo absence — and having Purdy back soon would be a good sign for the long-running contender.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/25/25

September 25th, 2025 at 6:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

A DUI case resulted in a three-game suspension for Robinson. An early effort was made with respect to an appeal, but as expected the standard length for a ban was issued in this instance. Bosa’s ACL tear has created an open roster spot for Robinson, under contract through 2026, to make his season debut this week.

49ers GM John Lynch: No Pass Rush Trade Imminent

September 25th, 2025 at 4:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the wake of Nick Bosa‘s ACL tear, the 49ers have become a team to watch regarding an edge rush addition. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Tuesday San Francisco is open to making a move on the trade market, but nothing is imminent at this point.

“Of course, we’re always looking. Prior to Nick getting hurt — that’s our job, is to look at the market and see who might become available,” general manager John Lynch said during a Thursday appearance on KNBR (via Will Simonds of NBC Sports Bay Area). “We’re not afraid, and we’ve been effective in doing that. This is no different.”

Indeed, the 49ers have not been shy about pulling off midseason moves under Lynch and Shanahan. The Christian McCaffrey deal in 2022 is the most notable of those, but San Francisco has also brought in the likes of Jordan Willis, Charles Omenihu, Chase Young and Randy Gregory over the years. Each of those acquisitions were aimed at adding depth at the defensive end spot.

“I think we’re all aware — finding someone who just goes and does what Nick Bosa does — that’s not very feasible,” Lynch continued. “We’ll see what’s out there at the appropriate time, but right now, we’re going to rely on the guys we have, and we believe in our group.”

Based on those comments, incumbents Mykel Williams, Yetur Gross-Matos and Bryce Huff are in line to continue handling the bulk of the workload along the edge. The 49ers rank third in scoring defense early in the campaign but they have totaled just five sacks across three games. The team’s expected productivity across the remainder of the season in that regard has obviously been dealt a major blow with Bosa out of the picture.

It would thus come as little surprise if another rental move along the edge were to take place. Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle writes it can be safely expected a trade of some kind will be worked out before the deadline. It would be understandable, though, if a brief evaluation period of the team’s in-house options were to take place before Lynch and Co. proceeded with an acquisition.

John Lynch: 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk ‘Not Close’ To Return

September 25th, 2025 at 1:40pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

49ers general manager John Lynch said that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is “not close” to returning to the field from last year’s devastating knee injury.

“There’s no absolutes on these things,” said Lynch on Wednesday (via KNBR). “He’s gotta continue to hit markers. He’s tracking well, we’ll be a better team when Brandon’s out there.”

Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL in Week 7 last year, setting him up for a lengthy recovery process that will extend well into this season. In August, Lynch said that there was no timetable for Aiyuk’s return, while head coach Kyle Shanahan suggested that the veteran wideout could return around Week 6.

Aiyuk started the season on the physically unable to perform list, making him ineligible to practice until next week. He would then have three weeks to be activated to the 53-man roster or revert to season-ending injured reserve, a situation the 49ers will want to avoid. Lynch’s comments further indicate that Aiyuk won’t be back anytime soon, though the veteran receiver was seen working out during a practice last week, per CBS Sports’ Matt Lively.

As a result, San Francisco will continue to work with a thin receiving corps until Aiyuk’s return, as the team has dealt with injuries to Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder) and Ricky Pearsall (knee) this year as well. Rookie Jordan Watkins is dealing with a calf injury, but has avoided injured reserve for the time being despite some early prognostications of an extended absence. All three wideouts were absent on Wednesday, though Pearsall said (via KNBR) that he would play “if there was a game today.” Jennings missed every practice last week and didn’t play on Sunday, though the 49ers will certainly be hoping he’s ready to go for Week 4.

Pearsall has impressed amid his teammates’ absences this year, racking up 281 yards in 16 catches through three games. Jennings has 105 yards in his two starts, while Kendrick Bourne has added 70 yards in the last two games. If their WR health issues continue, the 49ers will need Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling to step up for their next few games.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/24/25

September 24th, 2025 at 8:17pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad transactions:

Baltimore Ravens

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/24/25

September 24th, 2025 at 7:46pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s midweek minor moves:

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Chargers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Free Agents

Prentice had been called up as a standard gameday practice squad elevation the maximum three times under a single practice squad contract. The Broncos may allow him to stick around for a bit, as he takes linebacker Dre Greenlaw‘s roster spot while he recovers on injured reserve, but they can always release Prentice and sign him back to the practice squad, resetting his elevation count back to zero under a new deal.

Ouzts heads to IR after suffering an ankle injury in the team’s win over New Orleans this past weekend. The fifth-round rookie out of Alabama converted to the position from the tight end role he played in Tuscaloosa, and he had started two of his first three games in the NFL in his new role.

Banks, currently a free agent, has received a six-week suspension from the NFL. Originally an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska, Banks spent the offseason in Baltimore before getting cut in the days leading up to the roster cut deadline.

49ers Open To Edge Rush Trade Addition

September 23rd, 2025 at 10:41am CST by Adam La Rose

The 49ers have started the season 3-0 but yesterday brought about a massive blow to their defense. Testing on Nick Bosa‘s knee revealed he suffered an ACL tear.

As a result, San Francisco’s top pass rusher will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. Replacing Bosa’s production will be a challenge if in-house options are relied upon as replacements. An outside move could be made as well, as head coach Kyle Shanahan noted.

“There’s got to be trade options that make sense for you and another team, but you can’t just do that stuff just to do it,” Shanahan said when speaking about the possibility of acquiring a pass rusher via trade (h/t Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio).

For the most part, a by-committee approach will of course be needed to compensate for losing Bosa. First-round rookie Mykel Williams has already established himself as a key figure along the defensive front, and that will need to continue moving forward. Veterans Yetur Gross-Matos (who is in his second campaign with the 49ers) and Bryce Huff (who was acquired via trade this offseason) are in the fold, and they could see an uptick in usage now that Bosa is sidelined. Gross-Matos is a pending free agent, while Huff is on the books through 2026 (although his base salary for next season is not guaranteed).

In both cases, then, a strong showing to close out the current campaign would be key ensuring an extended stay in the Bay Area. At least one of Gross-Matos or Huff could land a full-time starting gig moving forward; the latter has recorded one sack in each of the past two games while handling a 48% snap share. Huff is not known as a strong run defender, on the other hand, something which could lend itself to an outside addition as a depth option.

The likes of Za’Darius Smith (Eagles), Jadeveon Clowney (Cowboys) and Preston Smith (Commanders) have signed with their new teams early in the season, taking them off the market. The trade route will be explored to no surprise, but the 49ers may need to wait several weeks before the list of sellers becomes more clearly defined. In any case, it will be interesting to see if a deal is pursued with Bosa out of the picture.

49ers DE Nick Bosa Suffers ACL Tear

September 22nd, 2025 at 11:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

Further testing on Nick Bosa‘s knee has produced an unwanted outcome. The 49ers will be without their top pass rusher for the rest of the season.

Bosa was believed to be in the clear regarding an ACL tear after initial tests, although head coach Kyle Shanahan left the door open to other serious injuries. An MRI has revealed that initial optimism was misplaced. Bosa did in fact tear his ACL yesterday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Schefter adds this was a clean tear, something which represents only a small consolation. Bosa’s latest injury occurred in his left knee; that is the same one which experienced an ACL tear in 2020. As was the case that time around, the 49ers will need to play out a lengthy spell with a shorthanded defense.

Bosa recovered in full from his first ACL tear (at the NFL level) and only missed four total games across the following four seasons. After going down in Week 3 of the current campaign, however, the All-Pro is in line for another lengthy rehab stint. No other ligaments were damaged, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. That will help lessen Bosa’s recovery timeline, but he will still be forced to miss the remainder of the campaign.

After managing to deliver a string of healthy and highly productive seasons, Bosa managed to reset the EDGE market shortly before the start of the 2023 season. The five-time Pro Bowler inked a five-year extension averaging $34MM per year. At the time, that represented the highest AAV for defensive players and non-quarterbacks around the NFL. The bar has since moved on both fronts, but Bosa obviously represents a major element of the 49ers’ financial plan for the near- and long-term. The impact of losing him to another ACL tear cannot be understated.

Another three years remain on Bosa’s contract. He will return to his role as an impact starter once healthy, but in the meantime the 49ers will proceed without him. San Francisco has first-round rookie Mykel Williams in place as the team’s other first-team defensive end. He has logged a 69% snap share to date, and that figure could increase moving forward. Trade acquisition Bryce Huff is also in the fold, along with Yetur Gross-Matos, Tarron Jackson and Sam Okuayinonu. 

That group will be tasked with helping to maintain the 49ers’ strong start on defense. San Francisco sits at 3-0 so far in 2025, and with nearly $26MM in cap space a short-term addition could be sought out via trade or free agency. In any event, the team’s expectations have been dealt a blow with the news Bosa will not be in the fold the rest of the way.

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh‘s unit has thrived early on in his return to the Bay Area. The 49ers rank fourth in total defense and third in yards allowed. San Francisco has only managed five sacks to date, however, with Bosa accounting for two of them. Finding a way to replace his production will prove to be a key storyline for a team still dealing with numerous injuries on offense.

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