he SF 49ers are moving strong with a 4-1 record after 5 weeks. Head coach Kyle Shanahan, under a lot of pressure after trading players during the offseason and an injury to starter Brock Purdy during the season opener, is now relaxed. But everyone wants to know if they need more players.
While talking about his trade interest, the coach wasn’t very amused. “Not really. What increases my interest is who is the guy who can absolutely help us get better this year without hurting us next year, and you balance both of those out,” he said while explaining his mindset during such situations.
During the 2025 offseason, Kyle Shanahan managed several significant departures and signings to reroute the team’s path. Notably, CB Charvarius Ward left for the Indianapolis Colts on a three-year deal, while LB Dre Greenlaw signed a three-year contract with the Denver Broncos. Veteran S Talanoa Hufanga also moved to Denver on a three-year deal. CB Isaac Yiadom joined the New Orleans Saints on a three-year contract, and G Aaron Banks, a key offensive lineman, signed a four-year deal with the Green Bay Packers.
On the signing side, the 49ers focused on stability with some multi-year additions. TE Luke Farrell was signed to a three-year deal from Jacksonville, and QB Mac Jones joined on a two-year contract. WR Demarcus Robinson also came in on a two-year deal, while FB Kyle Juszczyk, a longtime face of the team, re-signed on a two-year contract, keeping a familiar veteran presence in the locker room.
However, he also needs to take care of the rising injuries on their roster. Their week 6 injury report has 18 players.
Kyle Shanahan has to manage 18 injured players
The San Francisco 49ers are dealing with several big injuries as they get ready to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.
Starting with quarterback Brock Purdy, he has already missed three of the first five games this season because of a toe injury that just won’t go away. Purdy hurt his toe early in the season, missed Weeks 2 and 3, came back for the Jaguars game, but the pain returned. That’s why he sat out last week’s game against the Rams. The good news is that Purdy is getting better, and the team hasn’t put him on Injured Reserve. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said they’re taking it day by day to see if he can play soon.
While Purdy has been out, quarterback Mac Jones has started and won all three games. But he has a sore left knee and an oblique injury that happened in the Rams game. He was limited in practice on Wednesday, October 8th, and might not play on Sunday.
If he can’t go, rookie Adrian Martinez, who just came up from the practice squad, could have to start, even though he hasn’t played a regular-season snap in the NFL yet. The injuries don’t stop there.
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is still recovering from a hamstring injury. He hasn’t played since Week 4, and the 49ers don’t want to rush him back.
Running back Christian McCaffrey is also dealing with a calf strain. He practiced a little this week, but not fully. The injury isn’t serious, but the team wants to be careful since he’s so important to the offense. The 49ers will decide his status for Sunday right before kickoff.
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings is another player to watch. He hurt his shoulder two weeks ago and has been practicing only a little. He’s tough, but the injury makes it hard for him to play at full strength.
Robert Beal Jr. has an ankle injury and didn’t practice on Wednesday, with his game status still unclear. Kendrick Bourne is dealing with a rib issue, but was a full participant on Wednesday, and his status for the game is also unspecified. Alfred Collins missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury, and it’s unclear if he’ll play. Kalia Davis had a hand injury and practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday.
The 49ers are hoping to get some of these players back soon. It’s been a rough stretch, but San Francisco is trying to stay steady until everyone gets healthy.
