Hyde’s status still uncertain for 49ers against Saints
SANTA CLARA — Even after a bye week for his bruised shoulder to heal up, Carlos Hyde said little Thursday to raise hopes that he will play against the New Orleans Saints.
The door remains open at least a crack for the 49ers’ top rusher to return Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, but neither Hyde nor Coach Chip Kelly sounded overly optimistic.
Hyde continued to wear the non-contact jersey in practice and participated only on a limited basis. The biggest concern remains how his shoulder would respond to a hard hit.
“It’s not just landing on it by myself, but bodies landing on me,” Hyde said after practice. “The ground. The whole impact. That’s the test of whether I’m good to go or not.”
The 49ers are in desperate need of offensive threats as they prepare to keep pace with one of the NFL’s most prolific scoring teams. The Saints rank second in the league with 28.7 points per game, as well as second in yards (415.0) and first in passing yards (326.9).
Playing without Hyde would be a blow. For all the focus on the quarterbacks this season, the 49ers average 31.4 rushing attempts per game this season, the second most in the NFL (Dallas, 33.7).
Kelly said he has “no idea” whether Hyde would play and said he would hold off on a decision until after the training staff gives him a final update Saturday.
“It’s really: How much movement? How much range-of-motion does he have?” Kelly said.
Hyde was injured in a Week 6 road loss to the Buffalo Bills and did not play the following week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Without him, the 49ers’ running backs struggled. Mike Davis started but had just 21 yards on 7 carries. DuJuan Harris had 11 carries for 39 yards.
That was enough to prompt 49ers offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins to say of Harris: “I think DuJuan’s earned more opportunity based on how he played.”
The biggest running threat against the Bucs was Colin Kaepernick (9 carries for 84 yards) and Hyde said Thursday that the quarterback’s legs can help the backfield — regardless of who starts.
“Now the defense has to worry about him running the ball,” Hyde said. “They don’t just get to key in on us ... and that helps the running backs big time.”
Hyde leads the 49ers and is tied for fourth in the NFL with six rushing touchdowns. Nobody else on the team has reached the end zone more than twice this season. Regardless of who carries the ball Sunday, left tackle Joe Staley said the seeds are there for a better performance.
“I think the running game has been kind of hit or miss,” Staley said. “Some days it goes exactly how it’s drawn up and some days it’s one person not doing their job exactly right.
“And then we’re kind of behind the 8-ball, because you’re depending on somebody else to do something spectacular to make the play work.”
The Saints’ rushing defense ranks 18th in the NFL (110.7 yards per game).
Speculation spread quickly after the Philadelphia Eagles released receiver Josh Huff, who played for Kelly at the University of Oregon. But Kelly defused the questions quickly at his morning news conference.
Kelly said he was aware of Huff’s arrest, but added:
“I have no idea what happened. I didn’t follow any of the thing, I don’t have any information on that.”
Huff was pulled over Tuesday morning for speeding and charged with possession of an unloaded handgun without a permit and a small amount of marijuana.
These players were n listed as participating fully in practice: defensive tackle Arik Armstead (shoulder), guard Zane Beadles (ankle, knee), defensive tackle Ronald Blair (ankle) and defensive tackle Quinton Dial (knee).
Saints quarterback n Drew Brees has 83 games with at least a 100.0 passer rating since 2006. The next closest on that list are Tom Brady (77) and Philip Rivers (73).