The San Francisco 49ers return to practice at approximately 12:40 p.m. this afternoon to wrap up the Falcons preparation week. The good news is that Alex Boone will return to practice. He was limited on Wednesday and then sat out Thursday due to a knee issue. It sounds like he will be able to play this Sunday.
The bad news is that Garrett Celek and Kenneth Acker remain in the concussion protocol. The final injury report will tell us a bit more. If either is listed as a DNP, they likely will not play on Sunday. If they are limited, it opens the door for potential play. Celek was limited on Thursday, and the team has not signed another tight end. That would seem to indicate he will play, although the team could end just using two tight ends on Sunday.
If Acker cannot go, Keith Reaser or Dontae Johnson would get the start in his place. I would think Tramaine Brock would get most of the work against Julio Jones, leaving Acker, Reaser, or Johnson covering Roddy White. Leonard Hankerson is out, so those two are the names to watch on Sunday.
Jim Tomsula told the media that Carlos Hyde and Anquan Boldin remain day-to-day. He seemed to think Hyde would have a chance at playing, but my guess is he is just kind of playing coy at this point. Or at least trying to sell it as there's a chance, even though he probably will not play. Pierre Thomas and Shaun Draughn have been getting work in over the last three days, but Kendall Gaskins seems like the logical candidate to get the most snaps. Well, to at least get the starting nod over the other two.