SANTA CLARA — The 49ers’ most depleted position could be getting healthier as the team reaches the halfway point of the season.
The defensive line arguably is the position group with the most injuries, already playing without Nick Bosa since Week 3 and Bryce Huff, who injured his hamstring on the last play of San Francisco’s Week 7 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
This week, the 49ers traded for New England Patriots defensive lineman Keion White and signed familiar face Clelin Ferrell to the practice squad, adding depth ahead of their Week 9 trip to the East Coast.
Yetur Gross-Matos also has returned to the practice field. The Penn State product has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in the team’s Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Several defensive linemen who did not practice on Wednesday were back on the field Thursday — at least in a limited fashion — including Alfred Collins (shoulder), Jordan Elliott (ankle) and Sam Okuayinonu (ankle).
Huff will not be ready to face the New York Giants this Sunday but is trending in the right direction. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh shared that Huff should be back next week when the 49ers host the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Week 10.
Linebacker Dee Winters, who sat out of practice on Wednesday, also returned to the field on Thursday for the early portion of practice. Trent Williams and Christian McCaffrey were both seen participating in practice after veteran rest days on Wednesday.
Brock Purdy, who has been limited with a toe injury since the start of the season, has looked more mobile during warmups, when the quarterbacks practice handoffs to running backs and throws short passes to wide receivers and tight ends.
Coach Kyle Shanahan shared that Purdy will let the team know when he feels healthy enough to return to the field without risking further injury to his toe.
“Last time we felt like he was feeling pretty good, looked pretty good in practice, and then in the game, one hit and set him back four weeks,” Shanahan said on Wednesday. “So, it’s kind of a sensitive situation, and hopefully getting some reps in practice and stuff will give him that confidence that it’s better than it was last time.”
The only players who were not with their position groups during the early portion of practice open to media were Huff, center Jake Brendel and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. Shanahan believes the wideout is getting closer to returning to the field as well.
Pearsall was seen running short routes and practicing making cuts — testing his knee — on the side field under the watchful eye of Dustin Perry, VP of player health and performance.
Here is the full injury report for Thursday, October 30:
San Francisco 49ers
Did not participate
DL Bryce Huff (hamstring)
C Jake Brendel (hamstring)
WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) .
Limited participation
DL Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring/knee)
LB Dee Winters (knee)
DL Alfred Collins (shoulder)
DL Sam Okuayinonu (ankle)
DL Jordan Elliott (ankle)
QB Brock Purdy (toe)
OL Ben Bartch (ankle)
CB Upton Stout (shoulder)
Full participation
OL Spencer Burford (knee)
DT Kalia Davis (hand)
WR Jauan Jennings (ankle/rib/shoulder)
QB Mac Jones (knee)
TE George Kittle (oblique)
RB Christian McCaffrey (rest)
LT Trent Williams (rest)
New York Giants
Did not participate
CB Paulson Adebo (knee)
TE Daniel Bellinger (neck)
T Jermaine Eluemunor (pectoral)
CB Cordale Flott (concussion)
CB Art Green (hamstring)
Limited participation
WR Beaux Collins (quadricep)
S Jevon Holland (knee)
TE Chris Manhertz (illness)
Full participation
WR Jalin Hyatt (tooth)
S Tyler Nubin (foot)
CB Rico Payton (groin)
G Greg Van Roten (rest)
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