NFL Player News

Jones (knee) will start Thursday at the Rams after Brock Purdy (toe) was ruled out for that contest, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Purdy returned from a two-game absence this past Sunday versus the Jaguars but came out of the outing with toe soreness, which didn't allow him to practice this week. Meanwhile, Jones is past the PCL sprain that he dealt with last week following three straight full listings this week. With Purdy sidelined for the third time this season, Jones will retake the reins of the 49ers offense, but the skill positions also will be without WRs Jauan Jennings (ankle/rib) and Ricky Pearsall (knee), meaning RB Christian McCaffrey, WRs Kendrick Bourne, Demarcus Robinson and Skyy Moore and TE Jake Tonges will be the top available options in the passing game.

Pearsall (knee) is ruled out for Thursday's game against the Rams, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Pearsall will join fellow wideout Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) and starting quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) on the sideline Week 5, leaving Mac Jones with the unenviable task of moving an offense that is missing all its top skill-position players aside from running back Christian McCaffery -- with George Kittle (hamstring, IR) and Brandon Aiyuk (ACL, PUP) also sidelined. The second-year wideout is dealing with what has been labeled a minor PCL injury. Pearsall and company will work to get healthy in time to retake the field Sunday, Oct. 12 against the Buccaneers in Week 6.

Jennings (ankle, ribs) is ruled out for Thursday's matchup against the Rams, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Jennings is one of multiple key offensive starters ruled out for Thursday Night Football, joining Brock Purdy (toe) and Ricky Pearsall (knee). With George Kittle (hamstring) still on IR, that positions Mac Jones to command a heavily depleted offense Week 5 alongside running back Christian McCaffrey. Jennings' next chance to take the field will come Sunday, Oct. 12 versus the Buccaneers in Week 6.

Purdy (toe) has been ruled out for Thursday's game at the Rams, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

In his first game action since Week 1 this past Sunday against the Jaguars, Purdy completed 22 of 38 passes for 309 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, had two carries for 13 yards and lost a fumble. On Monday, coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that Purdy was dealing with toe soreness, which likely is related to the turf toe variant that sidelined him Weeks 2 and 3. With the 49ers afforded a short week to prepare for Thursday's contest, Purdy didn't have enough time to get healthy, and the 49ers now will turn to Mac Jones under center yet again Week 5.

Njoku (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Njoku also opened Week 4 as a limited participant in practice before upgrading to full reps in time to suit up for Cleveland's 34-10 loss to Detroit, in which he secured two of three targets for 11 yards. He'll work to reprise a similar practice pattern and gain clearance for Sunday's matchup against the Vikings in London. Njoku and Harold Fannin have consistently split pass-catching reps at the tight end position this season, resulting in reduced fantasy value for both players. It's possible, at least, that the Browns' decision to bench Joe Flacco in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel provides a spark on offense.

Moore (Achilles) did not practice Wednesday.

Moore missed last Sunday's loss to the Rams and was initially given a multiweek timetable after he was injured in Week 3. If Moore needs to miss Sunday's game against the Raiders, Mike Hilton likely would once again cover the slot for the Colts.

Franklin (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.

Franklin dealt with an ankle issue during the preseason but had yet to make an appearance on the injury report during the regular season. Franklin played all 75 defensive snaps in last Sunday's loss to the Rams, so it's unclear when he suffered the latest injury. The veteran linebacker has 22 tackles (10 solo) and three pass breakups through four contests.

Goodson (groin) did not practice Wednesday.

Goodson missed the first two games of the season with an elbow injury but injured his groin in Week 4 against the Rams. Goodson has played a total of eight offensive snaps across two appearances, rushing twice for six yards while catching one pass for no gain.

Pierce (concussion) practiced fully Wednesday.

Pierce didn't practice last week before being ruled out for this past Sunday's loss to the Rams, but his full participation Wednesday has him trending toward a return to action this weekend against the Raiders. With that in mind, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star noted that Pierce -- who has recorded a 9/171/0 receiving line on 13 targets through three games -- sported a blue jersey during Wednesday's session, a sign that the wideout is in the final step of the NFL's concussion protocol.

Legette (hamstring) was a full participant at Wednesday's walkthrough.

Legette looks set to return from his two-game absence and take the field Sunday versus the Dolphins. Head coach Dave Canales confirmed as much, saying Wednesday that "we are getting [Legette] back" for Week 5. The second-year pro drew 15 combined targets across Carolina's first two regular-season games but was tremendously unproductive with those opportunities, totaling just eight receiving yards. He'll rejoin Tetairoa McMillan and Hunter Renfrow as a starter in three-wide sets versus Miami and look to display better chemistry with quarterback Bryce Young.