The 49ers are getting two major pieces back for Sunday’s meeting with the Raiders, and that’s a big boost for a team sitting at 6-1 and chasing home field throughout the playoffs.
Nick Bosa and Christian McCaffrey have no injury designations and are set to play at Levi’s Stadium, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Wagoner also reported that Kyle Shanahan said wide receiver Demarcus Robinson will most likely be activated for Sunday, though the status of defensive back Nate Hobbs remains unclear.
At the same time, San Francisco will be without a few notable names. Wagoner reported earlier that Mike Evans (Achilles), Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and Christian Kirk (knee) were ruled out.
McCaffrey has been on the field for every one of the 49ers’ seven games this season, piling up 84 carries for 389 yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He’s also added 251 receiving yards on 34 catches, continuing to be one of the league’s most dangerous all-purpose threats.
Bosa’s return carries its own weight. He has appeared in only two games this season after being limited to three last year, and injuries have kept him from building much momentum. The five-time Pro Bowler has been working through a calf strain in recent weeks, and his comments had already pointed toward a comeback that now appears ready to happen.
With Bosa and McCaffrey back in the mix, San Francisco heads into the matchup as a clear favorite. For Shanahan’s group, which has Super Bowl aspirations, that’s exactly the kind of injury news it wanted heading into a key stretch.
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The 49ers now have to decide whether to release him, trade him or keep him on the roster, with the trade deadline drawing closer and outside interest beginning to surface. For a team that has already dealt with enough uncertainty around Aiyuk, the next move could shape both its receiver room and the way this standoff finally gets resolved. [Read more 🡒]
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For the 49ers, Crosby is the kind of player who can change the conversation around a deadline if the situation ever becomes real. A strong showing by San Francisco against Las Vegas would only sharpen the question of whether the Raiders might be more willing to listen, even if the path to a deal is complicated. For now, it is one of those late-season storylines that sits in the background of a regular-season game, with the result potentially carrying more weight than usual. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Game Day Changes Could Open The Door Against Raiders
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There is also some roster movement that adds another layer to the afternoon, with the receiving corps getting a boost and depth being adjusted behind it. For a 49ers offense that will be looking to stress a Raiders defense already under the microscope, those changes could shape how the game is attacked early and how much flexibility San Francisco has if the script starts to shift. [Read more 🡒]