As the 49ers head into Week 10, the biggest storyline isn’t just the Cowboys on the other sideline. It’s how San Francisco pieces together its own roster, because a handful of health and usage questions could shape the whole night.
Start with the receiver group, where the picture could swing from crowded to thin in a hurry. The 49ers are watching the status of Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel, and right now Evans appears to be trending toward sitting out while Samuel is closer to playing. That alone changes the way this offense could look.
It also puts the spotlight on the new faces and the returning ones. San Francisco added Keenan Allen, got Demarcus Robinson back last week, and has seen Jordan Watkins start to make progress. That leaves the obvious follow-up: who actually gets the most run, and who ends up starting?
Allen’s situation is especially interesting because he already saw Dallas last week, finishing with four catches for 26 yards. This time, though, he’s in a different offense against the same opponent. And with no bye week coming for him this season, the question becomes whether the 49ers ease him in or throw him right into a bigger role.
There’s movement elsewhere too. The 49ers opened practice windows for Nate Hobbs and CJ West, and Hobbs sounds likeliest to return this week while West is more likely to be back the following week. Even if they do get back on the field, how much either one plays will be worth tracking Sunday.
That matters because the secondary is already stretched. San Francisco had to finish the game without Renardo Green and Deommodore Lenoir, and both are expected to be day-to-day at practice.
Their availability will be watched closely. The 49ers are thin at cornerback, with rookie fourth-rounder Ephesians Prysock next in line behind them.
Hobbs could help if he returns, but he’s been out since before the season started. The team also brought back Jack Jones after cutting him, which raises the question of how concerned they are about the depth chart.
And then there’s the safety spot, where the rotation looks set for the long haul. Kyle Shanahan confirmed the 49ers will keep leaning on Marques Sigle, Malik Mustapha, and Ji’Ayir Brown, rotating all three together. The remaining question is simple: who gets the most snaps this week, and does anyone’s workload get trimmed?
In Other News...
49ers Get Deebo Boost But A Bigger Cowboys Concern Is Growing
San Franciscos offense is starting to look a little more like itself with Deebo Samuel moving closer to a return from the hamstring injury that has kept him out. For a unit that has been trying to regain rhythm, getting Samuel back in the mix would be a meaningful lift, especially with the 49ers trying to keep momentum headed into a matchup that has already started to feel important.
The bigger concern, though, is on the other side of the ball, where the secondary is suddenly dealing with a crowded injury report. Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green both missed practice, several other defensive backs were limited, and even a few key veterans on offense and defense, including Trent Williams and Dre Greenlaw, were working through new issues of their own. For a team that has leaned on depth and versatility all season, the timing of those absences is less than ideal. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Passing Game Just Got A Big Week 10 Opening
A potentially important Week 10 break is starting to tilt the 49ers way, with Dallas cornerback Joey Porter Jr. missing practice because of a foot injury and still listed as questionable for Sunday. For a San Francisco passing game already dealing with its own wide receiver injuries, any edge matters, and the possibility of facing a shorthanded secondary only adds to the intrigue around Brock Purdys return to the lineup.
Porter also pushed back on the contract chatter around his absence, saying the injury is the only reason he is out. From the 49ers perspective, the bigger picture is simple: Purdy is expected to play, and Dallas has shown defensive vulnerability against the run, which could force the Cowboys to pick their poison if their top corner cannot go. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Purdy Explained The Thumbs-Down That Added Edge To A Rout
The 49ers kept rolling with a 38-17 win over the Raiders, a result that pushed them to 7-1 and into a tie for the best record in the NFL. Brock Purdy was at the center of it again, throwing for 232 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score, and the offense looked every bit like a unit that has settled into a rhythm behind a defense that has been doing its part all season.
Purdy also added a little extra edge to the afternoon with a thumbs-down gesture he later framed as playful rivalry banter, the kind of small flash that can turn a comfortable win into a talking point. For San Francisco, the bigger picture is even more important now, with Dallas up next and the 49ers carrying both momentum and a defense that has been holding opponents in check while the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]