49ers pregame: Kittle, Warner active vs. Cardinals; McCaffrey on mend
SANTA CLARA — Fred Warner has missed only one game in his career. George Kittle has missed one this season. Neither 49ers star is going to miss another one today.
Both Warner and Kittle will suit up against the Arizona Cardinals with health issues that deemed them questionable for the 1:05 p.m. kickoff.
Warner, an NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate, exited with an ankle injury from last Sunday’s 30-13 win over New England. Kittle, who made a towering touchdown catch last Sunday, emerged with injured ribs. Both players sat out practices Wednesday and Thursday before participating in Friday’s session.
Designated as inactive for the 49ers were offensive lineman Ben Bartch, quarterback Joshua Dobbs, wide receiver Jacob Cowing (shoulder), wide receiver Chris Conley (oblique), linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf) and cornerback Darrell Luter.
McCAFFREY UPDATE, KIND OF
Running back Christian McCaffrey’s pain in his calf and Achilles “did not flare up after on-field work this week,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. McCaffrey’s resumption of on-field activity is the first step in a potential debut this season.
Placed on injured reserve in Week 2 after sitting out the season opener with a “questionable” designation, McCaffrey is eligible to have his three-week practice window open this week, but the 49ers are not expected to clear such a return until later this month, at the earliest. They will have a light practice Tuesday before flying Wednesday to Seattle for Thursday night’s game against the Seahawks.
While battling Achilles tendinitis in both legs, McCaffrey has improved with one leg and is focusing on the other in his rehabilitation, ESPN reported. After visiting the Seahawks, the 49ers host the Kansas City Chiefs (Oct. 20) and the Dallas Cowboys (Oct. 27) before entering their Week 9 bye.
TRANSACTIONS
Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos went on injured reserve on Saturday with a knee issue traced to the 49ers’ preseason finale. After sitting out the season opener, he has totaled just one tackle and one quarterback hit in 81 defensive snaps.
Defensive tackle Kalia Davis is making his season debut and playing in only his fourth career game. A 2022 sixth-round draft pick, he came back from a collegiate knee injury to play in three games last December, and he recorded a sack at Jacksonville in his NFL debut.
Called up Saturday from the practice squad were wide receiver and return specialist Trent Taylor, as well as defensive tackle T.Y. McGill.