It’s been a long season for the San Francisco 49ers on the injury front. The long list of key starters that have missed extended time for the Niners is well documented — some of the best players in the league are done for the year, most notably All-Pros LB Fred Warner and ED Nick Bosa.
But now, the good news is starting to roll in for San Francisco. Warner and Bosa won’t be back, but plenty of other guys are already returning to the field. On Friday, 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan opened his press conference by announcing the team’s official injury designations for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.
“All right guys, injury for the game,” Shanahan said. “We just got [CB Deommodore Lenoir] with a calf, he’ll be questionable. That’s it.” Shanahan confirmed the injury occurred in practice on Thursday. “I mean, [Lenoir] tried to go today, didn’t. We’re gonna get an MRI here. Didn’t think it was that serious, did it jogging from a drill. Just some tightness, so we’ll find more when we get an MRI.”
Of course, players on Injured Reserve (IR) and the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list don’t receiver official game day injury designations. Warner, Bosa, WR Brandon Aiyuk, ED Mykel Williams, ED Yetur Gross-Matos, CB Tre Tomlinson, and others are still a ways away from suiting up for the 49ers again, if they will at all this year. But this is still great news for one of the most injured teams in the league.
San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy Set to Make His Return
Lachlan Cunningham/GettySANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 19: Deommodore Lenoir #2 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a defensive stop against the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter in the game at Levi’s Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
The 49ers’ starting quarterback, Brock Purdy, hasn’t played in a game since Week 4. He’s been dealing with a toe injury suffered all the way back in Week 1, and he re-aggravated it when he tried to play through it in Week 4. Those are the only two games he’s played this season, but he’s set to return against the Cardinals on Sunday.
In his stead, backup QB Mac Jones has done an admirable job. The 49ers rank 11th in total offense and first in passing offense, highlighting not just Jones’ effectiveness but also the insane efficiency of Shanahan’s scheme.
Still, this team isn’t the same without Purdy, who received a nice extension during the offseason. At 6-4, the 49ers are in the thick of the playoff race, but they don’t have much margin for error in the NFC West, the toughest division in the NFL this season. Having Purdy back for the home stretch is a big boost.
Other Injury Updates for the San Francisco 49ers
Rookie DT Alfred Collins was limited in practice this week with a hip injury. Jones was listed with a knee injury though it never affected his practice status, while Purdy continued to be limited with his toe issue. WR Ricky Pearsall and LB Dee Winters were both limited with knee injuries.
None of these players have injury designations for the Cardinals game, clearing them all to play with no restrictions.
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