If you were worried about the 49ers’ situation at cornerback before, Friday won’t make you feel any better. San Francisco’s plan entering the season banked on the health of Jason Verrett, who suffered a torn ACL in the season opener, and Emmanuel Moseley, who has had various minor injuries, and is now expected to miss multiple weeks with a high ankle sprain.
That has left the always unreliable Josh Norman, the veteran Dontae Johnson and rookies in Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir. Lenoir seemed to lose his spot to Johnson last week and now Johnson’s status is in question as he attends to a personal matter.
Sunday’s corner group could be Norman, Lenoir, Thomas and slot corner K’Waun Williams. The practice squad options are former San Diego State corner Luq Barcoo and former Alabama Corner Saivion Smith.
The running back room, too, is thin. Elijah Mitchell and Trenton Cannon have both been ruled out, leaving Jeff Wilson Jr. and JaMycal Hasty as the two viable options. Recent practice squad addition Brian Hill will likely be activated for Sunday.
Crucially, though, Deebo Samuel has a chance to play, having participated in practice on Friday for the first time this week. The 49ers are 4-8 without Samuel since drafting him (including a game in which he was injured on the first play). Samuel said Friday that he’s “feeling kinda good.”
Below is the team’s full game status report:
OUT:
- RB Trenton Cannon (concussion)
- LB Dre Greenlaw (groin)
- DL Maurice Hurst (calf)
- RB Elijah Mitchell (concussion, knee)
- CB Emmanuel Moseley (ankle)
Questionable:
- CB Dontae Johnson (not injury related – personal matter)
- WR Deebo Samuel (groin)
The Bengals, meanwhile, have some running back questions of their own, with former Michigan back Chris Evans ruled out and star tailback Joe Mixon in question with a non-COVID illness.
Below is the Bengals’ game status report:
OUT:
- RB Chris Evans (ankle)
- LB Logan Wilson (shoulder)
Doubtful:
- LB Markus Bailey (neck)
- DT Tyler Shelvin (illness)
Questionable:
- CB Chidobe Awuzie (foot)
- WR Tee Higgins (ankle)
- RB Joe Mixon (illness)