49ers vs. Broncos injury report: Who will play, who will sit

The San Francisco 49ers host the Denver Broncos Sunday afternoon, and it comes during a week in which the team has started to welcome some players back to the practice field. It remains to be seen how many of the players will see action on Sunday, but the 49ers are on track to be fairly healthy Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys.

I thought it would help to go through the injured players on the roster and try and figure out who will play on Sunday. Additionally, I'll mix in some healthy players that could end up with a day off as a veteran's preference. The best info on this comes courtesy of Matt Barrows, Eric Branch, 49ers.com and Matt Maiocco. If you are wondering about anybody else, let me know and I'll update.

CB Tramaine Brock

Brock was back on the practice field, albeit just for individual drills and then some strength and conditioning rehab work. Vic Fangio said he did not expect Brock to play this week, and hoped he would practice next week. My guess is he meant team drills as opposed to individual drills.

Will he play? No

WR Michael Crabtree

The 49ers leading receiver did individual work with the receivers, and then moved on to strength and conditioning rehab work during the team period. He has been out with what is being reported as a hamstring injury.

Will he play? No - If he gets on the field for team drills early next week, maybe we see him in Week 3. But with hamstring injuries, there is no reason to push it.

CB Chris Culliver

He was back on the practice field on Wednesday after missing the final practice on Sunday of the 49ers joint practices with the Ravens. There was no word on if it was injury or just rest, but it seems like the former.

Will he play? Yes

OT Anthony Davis

Still not practicing.

Will he play? No - He expects to be back for Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys

DT Demarcus Dobbs

He left the practice field with trainers after warmups.

Will he play? We'll see

RB Frank Gore

He's healthy, but there really is nothing to be gained by putting him out there for a run or two.

Will he play? No

RB LaMichael James

James was on the field on Wednesday wearing a blue, no-contact jersey with a brace. He did some kick return work, as well as catching passes and taking handoffs out of the backfield.

Will he play? No - I could maybe see a Week 4 preseason appearance, but my guess is he does not play this preseason

WR Brandon Lloyd

He got in full team drills on Wednesday, which was his first session since Jim Harbaugh mentioned he and Crabtree might miss a week or two of practice.

Will he play? Yes - I still think he has work to do to earn a roster spot, so we'll see what Sunday brings.

OLB Aaron Lynch

Like Martin, he was activated last week, but unlike Martin, Lynch actually got in the game. He had some special teams snaps to get his feet wet, and has been a full go at practice since then.

Will he play? Yes, and I'm kind of excited to see what he does.

OL Marcus Martin

He has been back at practice this week, after dealing with an ankle injury that got him on the PUP list to start training camp. He was activated before last week's game, but did not take part.

Will he play? Yes - the question is how much center time he gets, and potentially how much guard time he gets, if any.

TE Vance McDonald

He was in a blue non-contact jersey, but we still do not know what his injury is. He had missed practice since his strong performance in the preseason opener last Thursday. He got in on team drills.

Will he play? Maybe - I honestly have no idea on this one. Given the non-contact jersey on Wednesday, if he is in it again on Friday I'll no for Sunday. If he is out of the non-contact jersey on Friday, I'll say yes for Sunday.

DT Ray McDonald
DT Justin Smith

Both players were back at practice as full participants on Wednesday. It sounds like a highlight of practice was Justin Smith bringing Carlos Hyde down with one arm. This was Smith's first practice of training camp, while McDonald was back after an extended absence from early in camp

Will they play? Yes - they both seem to be back up to speed, so I could see them getting some limited work.

DT Lawrence Okoye

He took part in individual drills while continuing to rehab the ankle injury he suffered last week against the Ravens.

Will he play? No - the team is short-handed along the defensive line, but Okoye needs to learn regular football playing before he can learn to play hurt.

OG Adam Snyder

He is not practicing, after suffering a leg injury last Sunday in a joint practice with the Ravens. He was walking fine the next day, but is not back practicing.

Will he play? No

NT Ian Williams

The 49ers activated Williams off the PUP list earlier this week, and he is back at practice. He took part in one-on-one drills, and got in "a dozen or so" plays in team drills. Considering the 49ers normally are slow in working players back, that's kind of a big deal.

Will he play? No - I still think the 49ers give him one more week to really get fully back into things. Unlike Smith and McDonald, he's dealt with an 11-month rehab on his ankle, so I think they take things a little more cautiously.

PUP List

LB NaVorro Bowman
TE Garrett Celek
DT Kaleb Ramsey

There has been nothing about Celek or Ramsey in recent days. Per Jim Harbaugh on August 1, Celek has a disc issue, while Ramsey's injury remains a mystery. Neither appears to be any closer to returning. Bowman continues his rehab, and is still looking at a return later this season.

NFI List

RB Marcus Lattimore
FB Trey Millard
CB Keith Reaser
OG Brandon Thomas

It sounds like Lattimore looks strong in his rehab running, but the 49ers continue to bide their time getting him back on the field. There has been talk of the mental, as well as physical hurdles Lattimore faces, but it remains to be seen where Lattimore stands in this regard.

IR/Short Term IR

LB Blake Costanzo
DT Glenn Dorsey
RB Kendall Hunter

There is still no word on Dorsey's status. The team has until September 2 to place him on short term IR, if they think he can return this year. They will likely wait until the last possible moment on this one.