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Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff Writer
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Amid a two-game losing streak, the San Francisco 49ers could be getting some offensive reinforcements Sunday against the New England Patriots, but they also might be without another key player.
After getting through the week without any issues for his injured hamstring, tight end George Kittle will play Sunday, and if things go the way the 49ers hope, receiver Deebo Samuel (calf) could join him after being listed as questionable.
But left tackle Trent Williams was a surprise addition to the injury report Friday. He sat out Wednesday’s practice because of an illness, then injured his toe in Thursday’s session. Williams was seen moving slowly out of the locker room after Friday’s practice and is listed as questionable.
“He came in this morning with it sore,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It acted up a little bit in practice yesterday, and it was just too sore for him to go today.”
Safety Talanoa Hufanga, who just returned from a torn ACL last weekend against the Los Angeles Rams, rolled his ankle in Thursday’s practice and he, too, is questionable.
If Williams can’t play, Jaylon Moore would step in at left tackle, with George Odum and/or rookie Malik Mustapha in line to fill in for Hufanga if he’s unable to play.
Kittle sat out last weekend’s loss to the Rams as he dealt with what he described as a Grade 1 hamstring strain, but Thursday, he said he was “very excited to play football” and “feeling fantastic.” He participated in all three practices this week.
“He’s looked good this week,” Shanahan said.
Samuel was a limited participant Thursday and Friday after not practicing Wednesday. He indicated a decision on whether he plays would be made closer to Sunday.
“I came back feeling pretty good and we went to practice the past two days and still feeling good,” Samuel said. “So, we’ll just see how it goes.”
If Samuel is able to play, it would be considered a pleasant surprise for the Niners. His calf injury occurred late in a Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, leaving Shanahan to suggest Samuel would sit out “a couple of weeks.” But Shanahan was pleased with his progress this week, which at least gives Samuel a chance to play against the Patriots.
“I think I’m right where I’m supposed to be with the information that I was given and the timeframe fit up pretty well,” Samuel said.
Meanwhile, running back Christian McCaffrey has returned to the Bay Area after a trip to Germany to receive treatment on the Achilles tendinitis that landed him on injured reserve Sept. 14. Shanahan said McCaffrey, who would first be eligible to come off injured reserve and play in the Oct. 10 game against the Seattle Seahawks, could began ramping up as soon as early next week.
“We’d like to start hitting his rehab here harder on Monday,” Shanahan said.
Among other 49ers offensive players dealing with ailments this week, quarterback Brock Purdy (back soreness) and punt returner Jacob Cowing (illness) do not have injury designations and are good to go.
On the other side of the ball, the Niners received some good news on defensive tackle Jordan Elliott‘s foot and some not-so-good news on linebacker Curtis Robinson‘s knee. Elliott and Robinson departed Thursday’s practice because of injuries, but Elliott was back on the practice field Friday. He is listed as questionable, though the Niners will need to add another defensive tackle to the roster anyway because Javon Hargrave is expected to go on injured reserve because of a partially torn right triceps.
Robinson suffered a torn ACL in his knee that will keep him out for the rest of the season. He, too, is expected to land on IR, which means the Niners will have a trio of spots available on the 53-man roster to replace Hargrave, Robinson and McCaffrey.
Linebacker Dee Winters, who has been dealing with an ankle injury, is also listed as questionable.