The 49ers are set to take a patient approach with Christian Kirk, and they’ll use one of their designated-to-return spots to do it. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan had already hinted that Kirk could start the season on injured reserve with a designation to return, and Matt Maiocco reported that is indeed the plan.
That same designation will not go to Vederian Lowe, despite Shanahan’s earlier indication. Instead, Austen Pleasants will get the spot. Pleasants is dealing with a knee injury, and his ability to handle both tackle and guard likely helped his case with the 49ers’ offensive line situation the way it is right now.
Lowe’s situation is a little murkier. He suffered a high-ankle sprain at the end of July, and the fact that he did not land in that designated-to-return slot raises questions about whether he had a setback or whether the team simply views his injury as too significant for an early-season return.
There’s also another possibility: Lowe may be close enough to coming back that he won’t need the designation at all and could be ready to return to practice this week. That remains to be seen.
Kirk’s case is more straightforward. The 49ers can afford to be cautious, and the injured reserve rules give them that flexibility.
He brings NFL experience that Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins don’t have, along with proven production. Once he’s back, he should add something the 49ers’ passing game has been missing.
In Other News...
George Kittle Suddenly Feels Like A Real 49ers Week 1 Concern
The 49ers have trimmed to their initial 53-man roster, and the tight end room offers one of the clearest clues about how they are handling George Kittles status heading into Week 1. San Francisco kept four tight ends in all, a group that includes Kittle, Jake Tonges, Luke Farrell and Brayden Willis, which is a sign the club is building in insurance as it opens the season overseas in Australia.
Brayden Willis spot is especially notable because it suggests the 49ers are preparing for the possibility that Kittle may not be ready after his recovery from an Achilles tear. Kyle Shanahan has made it clear Kittle will only play if he feels completely ready, and that cautious approach leaves some uncertainty around one of the offenses most important pieces as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Got Unexpected Help From A Rival Before Their Australia Trip
The 49ers are getting ready for an unusual start to the season, and a little help from an AFC West rival has made the logistics easier. General manager John Lynch said the Raiders agreed to shift their preseason matchup to Thursday night, giving San Francisco a better runway before its trip to Australia for a Week 1 game.
As the home team, Las Vegas could have kept the game on a weekend, but instead cooperated with the 49ers to help them handle the time-zone change and the demands of roster preparation. Lynch said he appreciated the Raiders' partnership in making the schedule adjustment, a small but meaningful edge as San Francisco manages the lead-up to one of the league's most unusual early-season travel plans. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Suddenly Have A Real Rams Problem Before The Opener
John Lynch did not sound surprised to hear Aaron Donald is planning a comeback, but he also did not pretend it was a shrug for the 49ers. Speaking at a press conference, the San Francisco general manager called Donald an exceptional player and made clear the team has to account for the possibility of seeing him again when the 2026 NFL season arrives. For a 49ers defense that has spent years game-planning around the Rams star, the news brings an old headache right back into focus.
Donald has already been practicing at the 49ers' training facility, which only adds to the intrigue around how quickly he might factor back into the division race. For now, though, there is still uncertainty about whether he would play right away, leaving San Francisco in the uncomfortable spot of preparing for one of the NFL's most disruptive defenders without knowing exactly when the challenge turns real. [Read more 🡒]