NFL Player News

Shanahan said Thomas will be out for “some time.” We’ll likely get more on the specifics of his absence in the coming days, but the third-year corner saw significant playing time in his first preseason game, with the 49ers sitting most of their starters. Thomas started five of the 13 games he appeared in for the 49ers last season, earning a PFF coverage grade of 70.5 while allowing 39 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns on 56 targets. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him open the regular season on injured reserve, which would require him to miss at least the first four games of the season.

Walker’s Week 8 status isn’t in doubt. He’s a locked-in RB1 vs. the Bills’ run-funnel defense, one who could continue to catch plenty of passes with DK Metcalf (knee) trending toward inactive.

Metcalf is now well on the wrong side of questionable, though reading between the lines it seems like Week 8 could be his only absence. It Metcalf indeeds sits against the Bills, it will be Jake Bobo joining Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett in three-receiver sets. We have JSN higher in our rankings, but Lockett isn’t far behind, and could easily out-produce his sophomore teammate. Bobo is a classic DFS punt play.

Like T.J. Hockenson (knee, injured reserve), Risner was ruled out earlier Thursday. The hope is that he is ready for Week 9. Joining Risner and Hockenson on the shelf are QB Brett Rypien, CB Akayleb Evans, CB Dwight McGlothern, RB Myles Gaskin, DL Levi Drake Rodriguez, LB Blake Cashman and OT Walter Rouse.

It’s been a remarkable turnaround for Samuel after he was briefly hospitalized earlier this week, but we still wouldn’t take his Week 8 status for granted. It does go without saying that the 49ers will give him every opportunity to suit up with Brandon Aiyuk (knee) done for the season. If Samuel goes against the Cowboys, he’ll be a risk/reward WR2 on a potential snap count.

It suggests Kittle’s Wednesday absence was more precautionary than anything else. The key will be avoiding any setbacks or unusual soreness following today’s return. We are keeping Kittle penciled in as a high-end TE1 heading into Sunday evening’s showdown with the Cowboys.

Jennings remained sidelined while George Kittle (foot) and Deebo Samuel (illness) both returned. Jennings has yet to take a single practice rep since getting injured in Week 6. We suppose a miraculous Friday return is possible, especially considering the desperate targets need in the 49ers’ banged up skill group, but we wouldn’t count on it.

Battling knee issues since early August, Nacua caught four balls in Week 1 then departed. Slapped with a 5-7 week timeline, he is returning on schedule, though his Thursday evening workload is unknown. It seems like the Rams are essentially going to play it by ear. The fact he is playing at all suggests a level of comfort with his health. This doesn’t seem like a situation where the team would be rushing. Nacua can be fired up as a high-upside WR3 ahead of what is hopefully a return to WR1 status for Week 9. Inactive for the Rams are QB Stetson Bennett, CB Tre’Davious White, RB Cody Schrader, WR Jordan Whittington and EDGE Desjuan Johnson.

Reports on Irving have been all over the map, but Stroud is probably the longest-tenured Bucs beat still covering the team on a daily basis. He should have reasonably good sources, but Irving missing back-to-back practices remains the most compelling data point. Also compelling is the Bucs’ loss of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, which will likely tip them toward being more aggressive with their No. 2 back’s health. They are going to need to run early and often against the Falcons. Even if Irving does suit up as part of Tampa’s three-back rotation, he will be difficult to trust as a FLEX behind Rachaad White and beside Sean Tucker.

Kamara rarely practices in full. He already played through the hand injury on a short week last Thursday. The bigger concern than his health is rookie Spencer Rattler’s play under center. Kamara nevertheless checks in as a usage monster, back-end RB2.

Maybe the Chargers are just being careful with Dissly on a short week after he was surprisingly the focal point of their Monday evening passing attack, but back-to-back DNPs suggest he will miss Sunday’s game against the Saints. Of course, even a “limited” return on Friday would change that. Dissly has earned a desperation TE2 look if he manages to suit up.