The rich get richer.
An already stellar 49ers secondary will get one of its most dynamic players back on Sunday. The team announced that it has activated Jimmie Ward from injured reserve after Ward missed the first four weeks of the season with a hamstring injury.
In a corresponding move, offensive lineman Colton McKivitz was placed on IR.
San Francisco is missing both Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw, though, necessitating a practice squad bump. Veteran defensive tackle Akeem Spence, who was activated last week, was promoted to the active roster from the team’s practice squad. The team did the same with veteran receiver Willie Snead IV last week, then cut and re-signed him to the practice squad.
Two offensive players, in veteran back Tevin Coleman and receiver Malik Turner, were both activated from the practice squad.
That leaves only one healthy scratch for the 49ers, in running back Marlon Mack. Below are the team’s inactives:
- T Trent Williams (ankle)
- TE Tyler Kroft (knee)
- DL Arik Armstead (foot/ankle)
- DL Javon Kinlaw (knee)
- RB Ty Davis-Price (ankle)
- DB Tarvarius Moore (hamstring)
- RB Marlon Mack
For the Panthers, the absences are heavier on offense, though they placed star safety Jeremy Chinn on injured reserve earlier this week. The Carolina inactives are as follows:
- WR Laviska Shenault
- WR Rashard Higgins
- CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
- S Xavier Woods
- LB Frankie Luvu
- OL Cade Mays
- TE Stephen Sullivan
It figures to be a defensive battle on Sunday, with two of the league’s elite defensive units against two of the league’s worst offenses. Kickoff is slated for 1:05 P.T.