Nick Bosa and DeForest Buckner practiced together for the first time since 2020
Two men on injured reserve opened practice windows, and the 53 has no open spot for either. Shanahan also gave his account of the Jauan Jennings call: it happened.
Nick Bosa practiced Wednesday for the first time since he strained his left calf on Sept. 24. The league's practice report lists him as limited, and Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group reported that Bosa worked in defensive line drills with DeForest Buckner, their first practice together since the 2019 team's Super Bowl preparations.
Bosa on the calf. "I must have had some compensation going on, especially that first week back, trying to push it with the (patellar) tendinitis, so I may have been favoring it," he said, per Inman. He told reporters he is "ready to go," per 49ers Webzone. He has missed five games, and the 49ers have 11 sacks and 25 quarterback hits in them, per ESPN's box scores.
Buckner's spot. Asked whether Buckner and Osa Odighizuwa can coexist as three-techniques, Shanahan said fronts change too often for that to hold: "I see it as you've got two inside guys."
Two practice windows. Demarcus Robinson (ankle) and Nate Hobbs (adductor) can each be activated at any time over the next 21 days, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported. Asked whether Robinson is close, Shanahan said, "I do." Inman reported that Robinson helped lead receiver warmups. Hobbs has been on injured reserve since Aug. 31 and has not played a regular-season game for San Francisco.
The room for them. The club's roster page lists 53 active players, so each activation needs a corresponding move. San Francisco has six injury activations left, Pro Football Rumors reported.
C.J. West stays out. "We'll probably hold him for another week, see where he is next week," Shanahan said. On Oct. 26 he had named West among eight players with a chance to return after the bye.
The practice report.
- Did not practice: Christian McCaffrey (hamstring), Deebo Samuel (hamstring), Mike Evans (ribs, Achilles), Siran Neal (knee, foot), Trent Williams (rest).
- Limited: Bosa (calf), Robinson (ankle), Hobbs (adductor), Christian Kirk (knee), Garret Wallow (hamstring), Marques Sigle (ankle), Luke Gifford (groin), Upton Stout (shoulder).
- Full: Mykel Williams.
McCaffrey. Shanahan said he hopes McCaffrey can be limited Thursday. Wednesday is typically a rest day for him anyway, Inman noted. "It wasn't too bad," McCaffrey said. "Having the bye week was awesome."
Samuel and Evans. "I'd be surprised if he can go this week," Shanahan said of Samuel. On Evans: "It's something we've definitely got to be smart with," and "we just want to wait until he's healthy." Kirk was limited, which leaves Brandin Cooks, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins as the only receivers on the 53 not on the report.
Jennings. Shanahan said the Minnesota trade got far enough for a conversation, and that the conversation took place. "When we got on a FaceTime with J.J., it went well," he said. Jennings, he said, "ended up saying that he was happy with where he was," and "it wasn't just like a definite no at first." Asked whether Jennings had declined to get on the call, Shanahan said: "no we FaceTimed. We talked for a while." He called Sunday's report of the deal accurate but short on detail.
The deadline. It is Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m. Eastern. "Receivers is something we still are looking into and so is every other position," Shanahan said. On adding another player after Buckner: "it'd be great to add someone else if that works out, but we're not counting on it."
November and December. Asked why those are his best months, Shanahan cited rest after the bye, and his birth sign. "I'm a Sagittarius, so I just have better luck in December I guess."
The call. Robinson plays at least one offensive snap against Las Vegas on Sunday. The case against is on this roster: Kirk's window opened Oct. 15, he sat out the Oct. 19 game anyway, and he was not activated until Oct. 24.
