The Cowboys’ Week 10 injury report brought one clear piece of bad news: Joey Porter Jr. did not practice again Thursday, putting his status against the 49ers in real trouble.
Porter was listed as a DNP after missing Wednesday as well, and that’s not the kind of trend Dallas wanted to see heading into the week. The cornerback said the issue is strictly his injured foot, pushing back on the contract-situation chatter that has followed him.
“I don't even know where that narrative come from,” Porter said. “I get it.
It's the internet, but I really don't pay no attention to that or really care for that. My goal is to win games and play football, and that's what I want to do.
So if there's any chance I could get on the field, I'm going to get on the field and do what I do best.”
Porter still hasn’t ruled out playing in a meaningful game, but he made it clear he has to be able to do the basics first.
“Just to be able to run, be able to cut,” Porter said. “I play a position where I got to guard the most athletic people on the field. So if I can't run, skip or jump, then I'm no use out there.”
He didn’t downplay how serious the injury has become, either.
“The whole foot's jacked up,” Porter said. “I was playing on it for a while, and it just kept getting worse to where I had to shut it down.
I feel like all the guys are wanting me to get back. They know what I could do when I'm out there on the field.
I bring a presence out there that is a game-changing type presence. I'm just trying to get back out there as fast as possible.”
If Porter can’t go, that would give the 49ers a cleaner path through the air. They’re already dealing with their own receiver questions, with Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel both questionable. That leaves Keenan Allen, Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins, and Brandin Cooks in line to carry the load.
Allen’s arrival gives San Francisco some help, and Kyle Shanahan praised what he brings.
“When you look at it, it always starts with separating, catching the football,” Shanahan said. “He's always been as good as anyone at separating, as good of hands as anyone.
“Then how good he plays without the ball. He's a guy who blocks, who never takes a down off, is extremely competitive and a very smart, aware football player.”
Brock Purdy will be the quarterback trying to take advantage if the matchup tilts San Francisco’s way. He has thrown for 1,980 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions.
The Cowboys’ pass defense sits at No. 19 in the NFL, while their run defense is No. 31, which points to a heavy dose of Christian McCaffrey. San Francisco could also lean on McCaffrey as a receiver, along with tight end George Kittle.
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 🡒]
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 🡒]
49ers Head Into Cowboys Game With One Big Depth Concern
The 49ers are heading into their Week 10 matchup with the Cowboys carrying a familiar mix of roster uncertainty and reinforcements. San Francisco is still sorting through key availability questions around Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel, while also working Keenan Allen into the mix and getting Demarcus Robinson back, giving the offense more options as the week unfolds.
On the other side of the ball, the bigger concern is depth, especially at cornerback, where the 49ers are trying to keep enough bodies ready for a tough opponent. They are also monitoring possible returns from Nate Hobbs and CJ West, and the secondary is already leaning on a three-man safety rotation with Marques Sigle, Malik Mustapha, and JiAyir Brown, a setup that underscores how much is still in flux before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]