NFL Player News

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Jennings (ankle/ribs) won't participate in Tuesday's walk-through practice, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Jennings previously sat out the 49ers' Week 3 win over the Cardinals due to an ankle issue, and that injury plus a new rib concern is clouding his availability for Thursday's game against the Rams. After being gauged as a non-participant on Monday's estimated practice report, Jennings will be a spectator Tuesday in the 49ers' lone on-field session this week. The 49ers will decide Wednesday whether Jennings takes a designation into the Week 5 contest, or if he'll be ruled out in advance of the game. The San Francisco pass-catching corps could once again be shorthanded with Jennings, Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jordan Watkins (calf) all sitting out Tuesday's practice, while tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) aren't on track to return from IR until at least Week 6.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Pearsall (knee) won't participate in Tuesday's walk-through practice, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The second-year wideout is one of three 49ers receivers who won't practice Tuesday, with Jauan Jennings (ankle/ribs) and Jordan Watkins (calf) also scheduled to sit out. Pearsall's absence comes after general manager John Lynch suggested that he's being viewed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Rams. The 49ers will wait and see how Pearsall is feeling Wednesday before determining whether he'll take a designation into Thursday's contest, or if he'll end up being ruled out a day in advance. Pearsall was limited to season lows in receiving yards (46) and snaps (37) in this past Sunday's 26-21 loss to the Jaguars after exiting the game with what Shanahan described as a minor PCL injury.

Purdy (toe) will be a non-participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Earlier Tuesday, 49ers general manager John Lynch classified Purdy as questionable for Thursday's game against the Rams after the quarterback experienced renewed soreness in his previously sprained toe, which kept him out of action for two games before he started this past Sunday's 26-21 loss to Jacksonville. With Purdy having now gone down as a non-participant on the 49ers' first two Week 5 practice reports, the signal-caller could struggle to gain clearance ahead of Thursday's contest. Backup Mac Jones would be in line to make his third start of the season if Purdy isn't able to make enough progress.

Head coach Kevin O'Connell said Tuesday that Van Ginkel (neck) won't practice this week, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.

With that in mind, Van Ginkel is safe to rule out for the Vikings' Week 5 tilt against the Browns on Sunday in London. The 2019 fifth-round pick has been limited to just two appearances thus far, and he played just eight defensive snaps during the Vikings' Week 3 win over the Bengals before exiting with the neck injury. The Vikings are on a bye Week 6, so the additional rest puts Van Ginkel in a spot to return for Minnesota's Week 7 clash against Philadelphia on Oct. 19. Dallas Turner played every single defensive snap during the Vikings' 24-21 loss to the Steelers on Sunday, and he'll continue to see a heavy dose of playing time for as long as Van Ginkel is out of action.

The Jaguars signed Bradley (undisclosed) to the practice squad Tuesday.

Bradley suffered an undisclosed injury during training camp in late August, but he was able to avoid an IR stint for the entire 2025 season by reaching an injury settlement with the 49ers in early September. The 25-year-old quarterback has seemingly recovered from his undisclosed issue and will now serve as the Jaguars' scout team quarterback after Seth Henigan was cut from the practice squad. Bradley has yet to see regular-season action since signing with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in April of 2024.

Smith was not targeted during the Jets' 27-21 loss to the Dolphins on Monday.

Smith saw his offensive snap count dip to 29 in large part due to the return of Josh Reynolds, who played 42 snaps on offense. Monday marked the second time in four games that Smith did not register a catch, and the rookie fourth-rounder is firmly behind Lazard and Garrett Wilson on the Jets' wideout depth chart.

Ruckert caught his lone target for 23 yards during the Jets' 27-21 loss to the Dolphins on Monday.

Ruckert continues to be firmly entrenched as the Jets' TE2 behind rookie first-rounder Mason Taylor, with the former playing 25 snaps on offense and seven on special teams during Monday's loss. Ruckert has opened the 2025 regular season with a 4-44-1 line through four games.

Lazard hauled in his lone target for eight yards during the Jets' 27-21 loss to the Dolphins on Monday.

Lazard was on the field for 27 of the Jets' 63 snaps on offense (42.9 percent), which was fourth most among wide receivers behind Garrett Wilson (62), Josh Reynolds (42) and rookie fourth-rounder Arian Smith (29). Lazard has logged three catches (on four targets) for 21 yards and a touchdown over the last two games, but his role in the offense is unlikely to expand unless more snaps become available due to injury, illness or suspension. Lazard and the Jets will travel back to New York for the start of their three-game homestand, beginning with the Cowboys on Sunday.

Davis logged three carries for nine yards, two catches (on as many targets) for 18 yards and 108 kickoff yards on three returns during the Jets' 27-21 loss to the Dolphins on Monday.

Davis got his regular work on special teams as a kick returner, but he also logged carries for the first time since Week 1 following Braelon Allen's exit in the second quarter of Sunday's tilt due to a knee injury. Allen was diagnosed with an MCL sprain Tuesday and is expected to go on injured reserve, which puts Davis in position to serve as the Jets' top backup running back behind starter Breece Hall, with Lawrance Toafili being the lone running back on the Jets' practice squad. Davis and the Jets will welcome in the Cowboys for Week 5, whose defense yielded 117 rushing yards during their 40-40 tie to the Packers on Sunday.

Gabriel is expected to replace Joe Flacco as the Browns' starting quarterback beginning with Sunday's game against the Vikings in London, Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com reports.

After limping to a 1-3 start to the season while failing to score more than 17 points in any game under Flacco's direction, the Browns look set to turn the offense over to Gabriel. The FBS career leader with 155 touchdown passes over a six-year collegiate career that included stops at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon, Gabriel beat out fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders for the top backup role coming out of training camp. Gabriel -- who has completed three of four pass attempts for 19 yards and a touchdown between appearances at the tail end of blowout losses in Weeks 2 and 4 -- brings far more mobility to the table than Flacco, which could be important behind an offensive line dealing with injuries at both tackle spots. The 2025 third-round pick boasts only average arm strength and may not be asked to direct a high-volume passing attack, however. The Browns have yet to officially confirm any change at quarterback for Week 5, but expect head coach Kevin Stefanski to address the matter when he speaks to the media Wednesday.