NFL Player News

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday that the 49ers could open Kirk's (calf) practice window to return from injured reserve in two weeks, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

Shanahan reiterated that Kirk is unlikely to be back at practice next week but is aiming to start participating in sessions following the 49ers' Week 5 tilt against the Seahawks. Kirk opened the season on injured reserve due to a calf injury he sustained in training camp in late July. The 49ers' WR room has been decimated by injuries, with Kirk, Demarcus Robinson (ankle), Ricky Pearsall (knee) and rookie second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) all on IR, and veteran Mike Evans injured his ribs during a Week 3 win over the Cardinals. Given the timeline Shanahan provided, it seems Kirk could be available as soon as Week 6 against the Commanders on Monday, Oct. 19.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday that Evans (ribs) will be a game-time decision for Sunday's contest against the Broncos, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.

Officially, Evans is listed as questionable for Week 4 after failing to practice Wednesday and Thursday, per Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News. Evans is nursing a strained rib, and with a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff incoming Sunday, there will be fewer options to pivot to for fantasy purposes if he ends up inactive. Currently, Deebo Samuel, Brandin Cooks, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins are the healthy wide receivers on the 49ers' active roster.

Coleman (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Patriots.

Coleman was DNP on Wednesday but got in a pair of limited practices Thursday and Friday and is ready to go for Sunday's divisional matchup. Coleman has made the most of his limited opportunities in a complementary role early on this season, securing eight of nine targets for 101 yards.

McConkey (foot) is questionable for Sunday's game against Seattle, Kris Rhim of ESPN reports.

McConkey missed practice Thursday but returned for Friday's light session, giving him a chance to suit up versus Seattle. With the Chargers still looking for their first win, having McConkey available would give them significantly better odds of beating the Seahawks. Playing through injuries already to begin the season, McConkey has 12 catches for 183 yards and one touchdown on a disappointing 15 targets. He's a fantasy WR2/3 at less than 100 percent in a struggling offense.

Flowers (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Titans after being limited in Friday's practice.

After upgrading to full participation Thursday, Flowers took a step back Friday, but it's possible the Ravens just rested him some considering the addition of "rest" alongside his name on the injury report, per Jonas Shaffer of TheBaltimoreBanner.com. Flowers is likely better than 50/50 to play Sunday against the Titans. He's a locked-in WR2 in fantasy with big-time upside when available.

Bell (knee) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Vikings, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

With Caleb Douglas (ankle) already ruled out for Miami, Bell appears set to remain a big part of the passing offense after he set season highs in snaps, routes and targets last Sunday against Kansas City. In Miami's offense that struggles to score points coupled with Minnesota's strong defense, Bell is difficult to trust for fantasy lineups.

Evans (ribs) was in uniform and running on the side during the media-access portion of Friday's practice, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Evans came out of this past Sunday's game against the Cardinals with a strained rib, which didn't allow him to practice Wednesday or Thursday. It's unclear if he'll mix into drills Friday, but considering he has his helmet, a limited session, at least, seems possible. The 49ers' final Week 4 injury report will reveal Evans' odds to suit up Sunday versus the Broncos.

Collins (hamstring) was a full participant in Friday's practice and doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Cowboys.

After opening the week with limited practices Wednesday and Thursday, Collins is ready to return from the hamstring injury that cost him the previous two games. The alpha WR1 can be plugged right back into fantasy lineups ahead of a mouthwatering matchup with Dallas' porous secondary.

Meyers (thumb) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Bengals.

With limited listings earlier in the week, Meyers practiced fully Friday and is fine for his normal workload against Cincinnati. Meyers was targeted a season-high eight times last Sunday against the Patriots but otherwise has just 11 targets on the season. He's a low-floor WR4 for fantasy, but this game does have some shootout appeal.

Smith (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Rams.

Smith gutted through a hamstring injury during the Eagles' Week 3 loss at Chicago, playing all 50 offensive snaps en route to six catches (on eight targets) for 65 yards. After Smith failed to practice Wednesday and Thursday, Tim McManus of ESPN.com reported that he was in danger of sitting out Week 4, which now has been confirmed. In Smith's absence, Dontayvion Wicks and Makai Lemon will be the primary wide receivers at the disposal of QB Jalen Hurts.