Six 49ers are out at Atlanta, and Shanahan may dress fewer than 48
Nick Bosa and Mike Evans are ruled out, Christian Kirk is questionable, and the backup quarterback may be one of the last two players active.
The 49ers ruled out six players for Sunday at Atlanta: Nick Bosa, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, Luke Gifford, Marques Sigle and Garret Wallow. Kyle Shanahan read the list after Friday's practice, per the club's transcript. Christian Kirk, Siran Neal and Upton Stout are questionable.
Fewer than 48. Asked whether the team might go into the game with fewer than the maximum 48 active, Shanahan said "Yes." That would mean quarterback Kurtis Rourke "and maybe" lineman Enrique Cruz Jr. are active, he said: "the two left." Asked whether he had ever dressed fewer than the maximum, he said: "I don't think here. I don't think ever in my career." He called them "our emergency receivers in the game," and the transcript marks laughter. "Odds are it won't" come to that, he added, "but it definitely could."
Bosa. He did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, per the official report, and misses a fifth straight game. A reporter reminded Shanahan that Bosa had said, a couple of weeks ago, he would play against Atlanta. Shanahan's answer: "He worked out, after he said that to you guys, and the next day he was just a little sore, which surprised all of us. That wasn't a great sign, especially going to play on turf." Mercedes-Benz Stadium has an artificial surface.
Evans. Three days without practice, listed with ribs and Achilles. Last week the club listed him questionable and he played, until the Achilles took him out in the second quarter. This week there is no questionable step.
Kirk. Full all three days and questionable. Asked whether the tag was procedural, Shanahan said "Yes." He is still on injured reserve, and the club released defensive lineman Ogbo Okoronkwo on Friday, per its own announcement. Webzone's report on the release says it frees a roster spot for Kirk. A player coming off injured reserve has to be added to the active roster by 4 p.m. Eastern on Saturday to play Sunday, the deadline the Falcons' own site gave Friday for three of theirs.
Okoronkwo appeared in six games with one start, two tackles and a sack this season, per the club. It is his second release this month; the first was Oct. 9, per the club's transaction log.
Who is clear. Mykel Williams (knee), Jaden Dugger (knee) and Ashtyn Davis (hamstring) were full Friday and carry no game status on the report. Trent Williams was full Thursday and Friday after Wednesday's rest day. Romello Height (hand) was full all week.
Neal and Stout missed Wednesday and Thursday and were limited Friday. Last week both were questionable after three limited days.
Four of the six were out last week too. Samuel, Wallow, Bosa and Sigle were ruled out for Washington, per the club's Week 6 report. Evans and Gifford are the new names.
The kicker and the returner. Asked about Eddy Piñeiro, Shanahan said: "Not much to discuss. I can make stuff up, but he knows he's got to make kicks." On punt returns, he said Jacob Cowing has "had some mistakes" and has to be better catching the ball.
The defense. The 49ers are 6-0. Shanahan said that if he had been told, after losing six defensive linemen in the first two weeks, that his would still be a top-five defense going into Week 7, "I would have been a little surprised."
Atlanta's side. The Falcons ruled out running back Brian Robinson Jr., linebacker Divine Deablo, cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. and tackle Michael Jerrell, per the club's site. Cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. is questionable after four games on injured reserve. Kickoff is 10 a.m. Pacific. The bye follows.
