In Santa Clara, California, the San Francisco 49ers received a mixed bag of news regarding their players’ health. On one hand, tight end George Kittle, receiver Deebo Samuel, left tackle Trent Williams, and quarterback Brock Purdy all participated in Thursday’s practice, offering a glimmer of hope for their upcoming game against the New England Patriots.
Kittle, who missed last week’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, expressed optimism about his chances of playing on Sunday. “I’m very excited to play football,” he said. “I think there have been some circumstances that have happened this year, so we’re just trying to cover our bases and be as honest as possible. But no, I am feeling fantastic.”
Samuel, who suffered a calf injury in Week 2, practiced for the first time since then, although his status for Sunday’s game remains uncertain. Coach Kyle Shanahan initially estimated that Samuel would miss a couple of weeks, making his return to practice a welcome development for the 49ers.
However, the team’s optimism was tempered by new injuries to linebacker Curtis Robinson and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott. Robinson was carted off the field with a knee injury during a special teams drill, while Elliott suffered a foot injury. The severity of their injuries is unknown, but their absence would be a significant blow to the team.
Purdy, who has been dealing with back soreness, acknowledged the impact of seeing teammates get hurt. “It sucks anytime you see a teammate go down or anything like that,” he said. “I’m just trying to practice, get ready for this game and everything, and then you look over and you see a cart on the field, so it’s like, ‘Dang it. Who is that? What happened?’ And then we’ve got to keep going and finish practice.”
Despite the setbacks, the 49ers remain focused on preparing for their game against the Patriots. As Purdy noted, “Whoever goes down, we have always got their back, and we’ll be there for them and continue to build them up and try to get them back as fast as possible.”
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