The 49ers wasted no time getting Clelin Ferrell back in the defensive line rotation.
A 17-game starter for the 49ers in 2023 before a knee injury sidelined him for the playoffs, Ferrell was flexed from the practice squad on to the game day roster Saturday with the team in New Jersey for a Week 9 matchup against the New York Giants.
Ferrell and trade acquisition Keion White will be the new blood on the 49ers defensive line, moves that were made even more necessary with the 49ers’ placing defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the next four games.
The 49ers (5-3) face the Giants (2-6) Sunday at MetLife Stadium. (CBS, 10 a.m.)
Gross-Matos, according to NBC Sports Bay Area, aggravated a hamstring strain in Thursday’s practice.
The 49ers are without Nick Bosa for the rest of the season, and the only other player who qualifies as a strictly an edge rusher is Bryce Huff, who will miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury.
Ferrell and White are both outside/inside players, more adept at setting an edge then generating a pass rush. Ferrell was the former No. 4 overall pick by the Raiders in 2019, the same year Bosa went No. 2 to the 49ers. He played last year for the Washington Commanders but was released at the close of training camp.
Coach Kyle Shanahan liked what he saw from both players at practice this week.
“We’re real familiar with Cle,” Shanahan said Friday. “He looked really good in all three of these practices.”
White, acquired from the New England Patriots and a former second-round draft pick out of Georgia Tech, also got in three practices.
Aside from Ferrell, the other player flexed from the practice squad was guard Nick Zakelj.
In addition, the 49ers placed guard/tackle Spencer Burford back on the 53-man roster from injured reserve, and downgraded guard Ben Bartch from questionable to out. Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott did not travel with the team to New Jersey due to a personal matter and is listed as questionable.
Left to be determined is the status of quarterback Brock Purdy, who was listed as questionable and has a “chance to be available” according to Shanahan. Mac Jones will be the starter.
The 49ers could either choose to put Purdy on the inactive list as to not take a chance on aggravating his right turf toe for a second time or have him in uniform as either the backup or No. 3 emergency quarterback.
According to NFL rules the emergency quarterback will take part in warmups but can only play if the first two quarterbacks are undergoing medical evaluation for injuries that take place in the game.
An emergency third quarterback must either line up under center and take a shotgun snap. No other player can take a snap if the emergency quarterback is in the game.