49ers injury report: Deebo Samuel surprises at practice; McCaffrey, Mitchell out
SANTA CLARA — Wide receiver Deebo Samuel didn’t let a sore ankle keep him out of the 49ers’ first practice for the upcoming NFC Championship Game.
Samuel suited up and ran routes in warmups during the media’s access window Wednesday. The 49ers’ top running backs, Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell, who are dealing with calf and groin issues, respectively, were not seen at practice.
Coach Kyle Shanahan’s pre-practice report had Samuel sitting this one out after resurfacing on the injury report with an ankle issue, presumably dating to last month’s sprain against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“It’s kind of sore. Just being cautious and trying to get ready for Sunday,” Samuel said before practice.
McCaffrey sustained a right-calf contusion and Mitchell a groin issue in Sunday’s 19-12 NFC divisional-round win over the Dallas Cowboys, a victory that catapulted the 49ers (15-4) into Sunday’s NFC Championship Game at the Philadelphia Eagles (15-3).
“With it being the NFC Championship Game, I think there’s a better chance they’ll be ready, since there’s nothing guaranteed after this. Hopefully. Keep your fingers crossed,” Shanahan said.
McCaffrey missed two practices because of knee and ankle issues before the regular-season finale, and he was limited the following week to enter the playoffs, but he was off the injury report ahead of last Sunday’s win. He has started every game in their current 12-game win streak. His understudy, Mitchell, has played three games since returning from his second knee sprain this season.
Shanahan said quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will not resume practicing this week after undergoing an X-ray on the left foot he fractured Dec. 4. That means Josh Johnson will remain as the backup to Brock Purdy, who’s produced eight wins since replacing Garoppolo.
The only other 49ers listed on the injury report are defensive lineman Charles Omenihu (oblique) and cornerback Ambry Thomas (ankle). Both were limited in practice. Left tackle Trent Williams rested, per his weekly routine.
Omenihu, if healthy, is on track to play Sunday despite being arrested Monday on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence, Shanahan said. Omenihu went through defensive line warmups per normal routine and spent time conversing on the side with Nick Bosa, Samson Ebukam and defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans before teams drills began.
#49ers #CharlesOmenihu is practicing today, 3 days after his arrest for suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence. He will play in NFC title game if healthy (hurt oblique in Sunday’s game), Shanahan said pic.twitter.com/F84CmMaUU0
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 25, 2023
SILENT COUNT
Last month’s win in Seattle proved a valuable rehearsal for Purdy and the 49ers getting familiar with their silent snap count to combat crowd noise. More is expected in Philadelphia.
“I remember us talking about that week, that we needed that rep, in case we ended up in the NFC Championship at Philly,” Shanahan said. “We got that and we’re very fortunate we did. I feel we’re good to go. He knows what to expect, he knows how we do it.”
Center Jake Brendel described the silent-count process as more of a sequence of triggers, and sometimes that allows the home team’s defense to get a jump on plays.
In eight wins since Purdy replaced Garoppolo, the 49ers have played all but two at home: Dec. 15 at Seattle and Jan. 1 at Las Vegas, where there was a pro-49ers crowd. Sunday’s Levi’s Stadium finale, however, afforded Purdy and the offense valuable reps, too, against a complete defense.
“That was a true playoff defense and it put a lot of pressure on our guys,” Shanahan said. “It was a great test for him. He didn’t play much different than he had in all the other games. Stuff was tighter. Things were harder. But he still protected the ball very well and made a few big plays in key moments.”
A third-down play call was cut off in Purdy’s headset, and he picked what turned out to be the wrong play, but Shanahan noted Purdy has consistently gotten better at anticipating his calls and even finishes what Shanahan is saying as he enters the huddle.
“It was a good game to have and work through and learn from for this matchup,” Purdy said, also adding, “Everything in these games is all about communication: How you can operate smoothly, get in and out of the huddle, and have everyone on the same page.”
PRAISE FOR RIDDICK
Defensive end Nick Bosa is certainly not the only high-producing sack artist in this matchup, although he did win the Pro Football Writers of America’s nod for NFL Defensive Player of the Year and he’s a finalist for the Associated Press’ honor. It could be argued that the Eagles’ Hasson Reddick deserved being an AP finalist as much as Bosa, the Dallas Cowboys’ Micah Parsons and the Kansas City Chiefs’ Chris Jones.
Reddick totaled a career-high 16 sacks in the regular season and, in his first-ever playoff game, he had 1 1/2 in Saturday’s win over the New York Giants. Drafted No. 13 overall in 2017 out of Temple, he played his first four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before moving last season to the Carolina Panthers. The Eagles’ scheme offers Reddick more play-making opportunities, Shanahan said.
“Pass rushers, the more they play in this league, and stay healthy and hang around, the better they get,” Shanahan added. “It’s hard to rush the quarterback in this league and he’s gotten better each year. He’s playing at the top of his game right now. He’s always been a good player and we loved him coming out of college. You can tell he gets better and better each year.”
The only Eagles on their injury report are right tackle Lane Johnson (groin) and cornerback Avonte Maddox (toe), both of whom were projected as limited participants in Wednesday’s walk-through session.