The 49ers have their first inactives of the season.
SF announced the following players will not play in the season opener in Chicago:
- TE George Kittle
- OL Daniel Brunskill
- QB Brock Purdy
- OL Nick Zakelj
- RB Ty Davis-Price
- WR Danny Gray
- DL Jordan Willis
Kittle, with a groin injury, and Brunskill, with a hamstring injury, will both sit this one out. Neither practiced in the team’s final three practices of the week.
The most interesting decisions are the final three names on the inactive list. Running back Ty-Davis Price will not be active, making undrafted rookie Jordan Mason the 49ers’ third running back. You’d expect that Mason will be involved in special teams.
Also inactive is rookie receiver Danny Gray. Malik Turner, who has impressed on special teams, was activated from the practice squad. In a rain-soaked game against former special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, there will likely be an emphasis on special teams and the running game. Gray’s deep ball threat may not be as useful in a game like this.
Jordan Willis, who blocked the kick that helped propel the 49ers to the NFC Championship game last year, is also inactive.
Below is the list of the Bears’ inactives, including former Raiders draft pick Alex Leatherwood, who the team claimed last week.
And with that, we are an hour from some regular season football.