As the 49ers head to Tennessee for a quick-fire Thursday night game, they’ll do so without the help of a pair of rookies. The upside of this trip, aside from a rare, open Christmas weekend for players and coaches, is the benefit of the mini-bye week on the other side before a favorable home matchup with the 3-11 Texans.
San Francisco released the following game status report:
OUT:
- LB Dre Greenlaw (groin)
- S Talanoa Hufanga (knee)
- DL Maurice Hurst (calf)
- RB Elijah Mitchell (knee)
Questionable:
- LB Azeez Al-Shaair (elbow)
While Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch said that there was a positive development with Elijah Mitchell over the weekend, that may have been a positive long-term indication. It was always going to be a swift turnaround for Mitchell, who didn’t practice last week.
Azeez Al-Shaair, meanwhile, does have a chance to play, with Lynch saying that his preparation to try and return for Sunday’s game against Atlanta put him in a more advantageous position before Thursday.
Safety Jaquiski Tartt is set to play — as Shanahan said he expected — after suffering an ankle injury over the weekend.
The Titans released their game status report, ruling out the following players:
- T Taylor Lewan (back)
- LB David Long (hamstring)
- DT Larrell Murchison (knee)
- G Rodger Saffold (shoulder, illness)
The status of their star wide receivers was initially in question. Head coach Mike Vrabel said Wednesday that Julio Jones (hamstring – ruled out last week) would be evaluated in practice and could be a game time decision, but he was listed as a full practice participant on Wednesday with no game status.
A.J. Brown (chest), meanwhile, had his practice window opened from injured reserve this week. His status isn’t certain, and while Vrabel was tight-lipped, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport suggested that he’ll have a chance to play as long as he doesn’t suffer any setbacks this week.