Back from road trip, Samuel and Kittle return to practice
SANTA aLARA >> A pair of key injured players returned to the field amid smoky skies in the team’s first practice at its Santa Clara home since its 2- 0, injury-laden road trip against the New York teams.
Receiver Deebo Samuel participated in his first practice of the season, while tight end George Kittle also made it back to practice after missing two games.
SAuUcL TO PRAaTIac >> Wide receiver Samuel’s surgically repaired left foot looked fine in his first practice since Jan. 31, three days before Super Bowl LIV. He spent the first three games on injured reserve and is eligible to play as early as Sunday night against the Eagles.
“We just need to see him go
through three days, what type of shape he’s in, and if he can protect himself, he’ll be out there,” coach Kyle Shanahan said.
The 49ers have up to three weeks to evaluate Samuel in practice and activate him off IR. After a banner rookie season, Samuel figures to immediately slide into the starting lineup. Kendrick Bourne has started all three games and Brandon Aiyuk the past two.
“After the catch, he can also run. He’s a hard tackle, too. His style of play is phenomenal. Deebo is just an outstanding talent,” safety Jimmie Ward said of Samuel.
KYLE NELSON WAIVED >> The 49ers signed long snapper Taybor Pepper to replace Kyle Nelson, who’d been with team since 2014 but had erratic snaps Sunday. That continued what Shanahan called a troubling “trend.”
Pepper, 26, has had stints with the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Miami Dolphins since 2017, and he appeared in every game last year with the Dolphins.
Nelson missed the final six games of 2018 and the first four last season while serving a NFL suspension for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy. The 49ers were forced to use four different long snappers last season, including Nelson.
“We felt it was little inevitable after the game,” Shanahan said. “It’s always difficult for what Kyle’s meant to the organization and what a good guy Kyle is. He knew the deal. It was just a tough game for him.”
Nelson’s exit leaves safety Jimmie Ward, a 2014 firstround pick, alone to stake claim as the team’s longesttenured player. Nelson had signed a four-year extension in 2019.
KITTLE FULL GO, MOSTERT OUT >> Kittle ( knee) was a full participant at practice, after being limited in last week’s sessions in West Virginia before missing his second straight game. Also fullgo were running back Jerick McKinnon (ribs) and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring).
Running back Raheem Mostert’s knee sprain continued to keep him out of practice, as was the case last week. He did not play against the Giants.
Also not practicing were cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley (concussion) and K’Waun Williams (hip), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quadriceps), defensive end Dee Ford ( back) and tight end Jordan Reed (knee). The latter two are expected to go on injured reserve, which is where they placed linebacker Mark Nzeocha (quadriceps).
Ford will have missed at least a five-game stretch after appearing in the opener. Neck and back issues flared up after two weeks ago. HELM RETURNS >> Tight end
Daniel Helm returned to the team, getting signed off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad. He and Pepper fill roster spots vacated by Nelson and Nzeocha. Helm spent last year with the 49ers, mostly on the practice squad, and was waived in August. ABSENT EAGLES >> The Eagles practiced without a slew of starters: left tackle Jason Peters (illness), defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (abdomen), wide receivers DeSean Jackson ( hamstring) and cornerback Avonte Maddox (ankle). Among those limited were running back Miles Sanders, wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey, center Jason Kelce and tackle Lane Johnson.
PRACTICE SQUAD MOVES >> Offensive lineman Cody Conway and tight end Charlie Taumoepenu were signed to the practice squad, and offensive tackle William Sweet was released from it.