Injury updates: Emmanuel Sanders doesn’t practice for the second day in a row

The San Francisco 49ers returned to the practice field on Thursday after having a walkthrough on Wednesday. George Kittle didn’t practice and hasn’t practiced in over two weeks. While the 49ers haven’t ruled him out, it’s unlikely Kittle suits up Sunday against the Cardinals. With the Packers/Ravens/Saints coming up, it’s more likely Kittle returns to practice next week.

Per Matt Barrows of The Athletic, Emmanuel Sanders was on the field for the walkthrough portion of practice. He did go back to the weight room, where the 49ers players who don’t practice rehab, once the actual practice began. It’s worth noting that Kyle Shanahan said Sanders doesn’t need to practice in full to play Sunday.

Here are the players that weren’t on the field to start practice:

RB Coleman (personal reasons)

WR Sanders (walked off after early walk-thru session)

RB Breida (ankle, apparently did side work earlier)

LT Staley

DT Jones

K Gould

The NFL has a rule that stipulates teams can dress a maximum of 46 players from their 53-man rosters on game day. Come Sunday, due to injuries; the 49ers may not have a choice of who is active and who is inactive. Kyle Shanahan has addressed this issue before. He said he would consider suiting up fewer than 46 players because the 49ers wouldn’t want to place any of their players on IR or create a roster spot by releasing anyone.

“We were very close to doing that the last couple weeks,” Shanahan said of the possibility of suiting up 45 players. “In order to bring in a new guy, you always have to cut someone, and there’s definitely not anyone we’re trying to get rid of.”

If Sanders can’t go, I’m curious if we see Richie James involved more in the offense. Shanahan said, “everyone in our building we believe can help us throughout the season,” and there hasn’t been much help at receiver.

Azeez Al-Shaair is still in the concussion protocol and would need to be cleared to play Sunday. Elijah Lee took his spot at “Sam” Monday night.

Here is how the 49ers filed Thursday’s injury report:

Did not participate:

RB Matt Breida (ankle)

RB Tevin Coleman (not injury related)

K Robbie Gould (right quadricep)

DT D.J. Jones (groin)

TE George Kittle (knee, ankle)

WR Emmanuel Sanders (ribs)

T Joe Staley (finger)

Limited in today’s practice:

LB Azeez Al-Shaair (concussion)
TE Garrett Celek (back)
DE Dee Ford (quadricep)
RB Raheem Mostert (knee)
WR Dante Pettis (back)
TE Levine Toilolo (groin)
CB Ahkello Witherspoon (foot, quadricep)