SANTA CLARA — We’re inching closer to the finish line with 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.
After being declared “out” of each of the last four games on the final injury report, Purdy was listed as questionable Friday to face the New York Giants.
Purdy won’t start. Coach Kyle Shanahan said that duty still belongs to backup Mac Jones when the 49ers (5-3) visit the Giants (2-6) at the Meadowlands Sunday (CBS, 10 a.m.) But Shanahan left open the possibility that Purdy could be active and be No. 2 ahead of Adrian Martinez. He didn’t commit to it, however.
“He has a chance to be available,” Shanahan said.
With the situation still to be determined, Purdy did not speak to the media.
Shanahan acknowledged that playing Purdy would risk aggravating since he’s not completely healthy but noted, “there’s a risk with everything.”
Purdy last started on Sept. 28 in a 26-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was originally injured in Week 1 against Seattle, playing beginning to end and woke up the next morning sore. He sat out wins over New Orleans and Arizona in favor of Jones.
Leading in to the Jacksonville game, Purdy was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday and was a full participant on Friday.
This time, Purdy was limited all week, including Friday and according to Shanahan got in considerably more work leading in to the Jaguars than he did this week.
“The first time, we let him get all the starter reps and it was great,” Shanahan said. “Then there was a chance he could hurt it again in the game and he did and he did and he’s been out for the last month.We weren’t going to commit to all of that like we did last time. I think it’s easing him back more than last time.”
Ideally, Purdy doesn’t play Sunday and has three full practice sessions next week to get ready to face the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 9 at Levi’s Stadium. Purdy has showed few signs of being frustrated, Shanahan said.
“Brock’s a pretty composed guy so he’s not going to get emotional either way,” Shanahan said. “Any time you have something you haven’t had before that lingers, I mean, Brock’s more frustrated than anyone that he can’t be out there.
“He’s talked to a lot of people that have had this and they have warned him that this is the case. He’s understands it so it’s not totally shocking to him but any time you have something that doesn’t go away it’s frustrating.”
The rest of the 49ers injury report was less confusing.
Center Jake Brendel (hamstring) and edge rusher Bryce Huff (hamstring) will each miss their second consecutive game. Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr. will be out for the fifth time in a row, last playing in the same game when Purdy re-injured his toe. Also out is Yetur Gross-Matos (knee).
Listed as questionable aside from Purdy are guard/tackle Spencer Burford (knee), guard Ben Bartch (ankle), defensive end Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) and linebacker Dee Winters (knee).
Shanahan said that Burford was farther along than Bartch in terms of being ready to play. The 49ers would have to make roster spots available for either or both as they are on injured reserve and in their practice window.
Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (ankle) was listed as questionable, but did accompany the team on the trip for personal reasons. He will remain questionable for the game.
Shanahan said he expected defensive end Keion White, acquired from New England this week, to be part of the defensive line rotation and that Clelin Ferrell, added to the practice squad, could be flexed on to the roster.
“I thought he had a good week,” Shanahan said of White. “He got here right before practice on Wednesday. He was able to clear everything and get going so he was able to make that practice, which I think was huge. To get two full-speed practices in and the walk-through today I think was really good for him and gives him a chance to help us out Sunday.”
Saleh still scheming
Eight games into the season, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is still attempting to put Humpty Dumpty back together again after losing both Nick Bosa and Fred Warner to season-ending injuries.
He knew the 49ers would be young following a roster purge, but not necessarily this young.
The 49ers came out flat and couldn’t get on the field against Houston one week after giving up a season low 10 points against Atlanta.
“There’s stuff on my part where I look inward and I could have been a heck of a lot better for them,” Saleh said. “We’re going to continue to push the envelope with regards to scheme to find the balance of what we’re capable of so we can always play fast . . . to figure out what those answers aer and make sure they have just enough so teams can’t continually take haymakers at us but not too much where we can’t play as fast as possible.”
Things were a little too quiet against Houston.
“I’ve always said that your confidence always projects in the volume of your voice,” Saleh said. “And if you’re out there screaming and yelling your technique and the checks and your assignments, then you’re pretty confident about what your job is. But if you’re out there quiet, you might need to get in the book a little bit more. So, I’m constantly listening to our defense. The louder it is, the more comfortable you are.”
Getting acquainted
Jones was a teammate of White with New England and said he is a man of few words.
“He’s quiet,” Jones said. “But, he’s the man when you talk to him and get to know him, just a really down-to-earth guy.”
When White was drafted, Georgia Tech coach Brent Key, a friend of Jones, gave him the heads up.
“He’s really quiet, so just try to get him used to the guys,” Jones said. “He did that and I think he’s just a great player that maybe the scheme didn’t fit him. I know he’s excited fo for a fresh stat and I think he’s going to be really good in this system. I look forward to watching him grow.”
CMC milestone
With 11,902 scrimmage (rushing and receiving) yards, Christian McCaffrey can be the seventh-fastest player to 12,000 yards in NFL history by doing it in his 104th game if he reaches 98 or more yards against the Giants.
The top six are Edgerrin James (95), LaDainian Tomlinson (95), Eric Dickerson (97), Jim Brown (98), Marshall Faulk (102) and Barry Sanders (102).
All six are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
McCaffrey had 68 yards rushing and receiving against the Texans, his lowest output of the season. The week before against Atlanta (201 yards) was the most. In each of the 49ers’ first seven games he broke 100 yards from scrimmage.
With 1,049 yards from scrimmage, McCaffrey was passed by Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor (1,056) last week for the most in the NFL.