Christian Kirk returned to practice the day Mike Evans sat out

Christian Kirk is back on the practice field. The 49ers opened his 21-day window off injured reserve on Thursday, per the club's release, and Kyle Shanahan said before practice that Kirk would be limited in his first day back. Kirk strained a calf on July 26, the first day of training camp, and had not practiced since, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported. That is 81 days.

Earlier than the coach expected. "He has had some setbacks since hurting it the first day of training camp, so that's why he's taken a while," Shanahan said, as transcribed by David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone. "I told you guys I wasn't expecting this week on Monday, but it's just because I didn't ask." He said Kirk had "a really good week, had an awesome weekend." The club now has 21 days to put him on the 53 or leave him on reserve for the season.

Evans has a second injury. Mike Evans, who has played the last two games with a rib injury, did not practice Thursday because of ribs and Achilles soreness, Shanahan said. Maiocco and Bonilla both reported it. Without Samuel, the 53 carries four receivers: Evans, Brandin Cooks, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins. Cowing was a full participant Thursday with an ankle on the report.

Samuel and injured reserve. Asked whether Deebo Samuel could go on injured reserve with the hamstring, Shanahan said: "It is a possibility. If we didn't have that bye week, I think it'd be around that area, but gaining that week where we don't play is why we're still trying to wait out right now and hope we don't have to do it." The bye is Week 8. Reserve would cost Samuel at least four games.

The rest of the receivers on reserve. Demarcus Robinson has "probably an outside chance for the bye week," Shanahan said, and he hopes to have him back after it. De'Zhaun Stribling is "still ways away" but "on track."

Bosa, not today. "Hoping he can go, but not able to practice today," Shanahan said of Nick Bosa and the calf. Asked whether the injury will need managing all season: "No, usually calves heal, and they're usually good." The call, he said, rests on whether Bosa is fully recovered "and what are the percentages of him re-injuring that."

Thursday's report. Not practicing: Bosa (knee, calf), Evans (ribs, Achilles), Gracen Halton (quadriceps), Samuel (hamstring), Marques Sigle (ankle), James Thompson Jr. (ankle) and Garret Wallow (hamstring), with Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams given rest days. Limited: Kyle Juszczyk (knee), Kirk (calf), Colton McKivitz (illness), Siran Neal (neck), Upton Stout (shoulder), Mykel Williams (knee) and Carver Willis (toe). Full: Cowing (ankle) and Romello Height (hand). Halton is the new name; he was not on Shanahan's pre-practice list.

Okoronkwo is back on the 53. The club promoted Ogbo Okoronkwo from the practice squad six days after it released him and five after it signed him back. He took the roster spot Dre Greenlaw's one-game suspension opened, Maiocco reported. The league's wire lists Greenlaw on Reserve/Suspended since Oct. 12; he can return the day after Monday's game.

Asante, one of Wednesday's four. Eugene Asante, one of the four linebackers the club worked out Wednesday, signed to the practice squad into Okoronkwo's spot. He went undrafted out of Auburn in 2025 and has been on the practice squads of Miami, Cleveland, Atlanta and Arizona, per the club. Arizona released him on Oct. 13. He has not played a regular-season game. The 49ers now carry two linebackers on the practice squad, Asante and Jalen Graham, behind four healthy ones on the 53: Fred Warner, Jaden Dugger, Luke Gifford and Tatum Bethune.

The week. Practice again Friday, with Raheem Morris, Klay Kubiak and Brock Purdy afterward, and Saturday. Washington plays at Levi's Stadium on Monday night.