SANTA CLARA — One player surely can’t flip the 49ers’ morale after Fred Warner’s season-ending ankle injury.
But George Kittle is one captain who’s uplifted the 49ers since 2017, and he practiced Wednesday for the first time since what coach Kyle Shanahan called a “big hamstring pull” in the season-opening win at Seattle.
“With Fred going down, I’m sure he’s going to step up in a big way as a leader, and that’s what we needed him to do,” said Jake Tonges, who’s impressed as Kittle’s replacement. “It can’t be understated how great it is to have George.”
Quarterback Brock Purdy, like Kittle, returned in a limited fashion at his first practice in two weeks, having aggravated a Week 1 toe injury in a Sept. 28 loss to Jacksonville.
Those are encouraging strides on a team that was understandably crestfallen Sunday, when Warner dislocated and fractured his right ankle, which was surgically repaired Tuesday at Stanford Hospital.
Now it’s time for the 49ers, more than any other injury this painful season, to switch from a grieving unit to a galvanized force. Their Wednesday morning team meeting did not ignore Warner’s impact. His exit is different, seeing how he ran the show on defense as an All-Pro linebacker and rallied the 49ers’ huddles before every practice and game.
“We don’t have a big kumbaya or anything to have everyone share an inspirational deal. We address it and talk about what we have to do to handle it,” said Shanahan, who reinforced the 49ers’ confidence in a youth-laden defense, according to a team source.
A great way to switch up the somber mood is to insert Kittle, with no guarantee he’ll be cleared to go Sunday night when the 49ers (4-2) host the Atlanta Falcons (3-2).
Kittle at least filled Warner’s role in hyping up and breaking down Wednesday’s pre-practice huddle.
“Obviously we know who George is: ‘The Joker,’ the teammate he is, his personality in the huddle. We all have our favorite handshakes. He brings a lot of fun into the huddle,” said right tackle Colton McKivitz.
Kittle’s five-game absence is the longest of his career outside of a six-game hiatus (foot fracture) amid the 2020 49ers’ injury-riddled, COVID-disrupted season.
In his absence, Tonges unexpectedly emerged as a legitimate pass catcher, and his 25 receptions (224 yards) are second only to Christian McCaffrey’s 46, while each has three touchdown catches to lead the team.
But neither Tonges nor Luke Farrell has made up for Kittle’s impact as a run blocker. The 49ers are averaging a league-worst 3.06 yards per carry, they have failed to run for more than 85 yards in six straight games for the first time in franchise history, and McCaffrey just scored their first rushing touchdown of the season last Sunday.
“When you have a guy like that who can run block like he does, who can do things in the pass game and make guys miss to get explosives, it just adds another element of confidence for us that there’s a person out there who can change the game,” McKivitz said of Kittle.
Added McCaffrey: “He’s not just so great as a player, but his energy as leadership on the field means a whole lot to this team, so we can’t wait to get him back.”
QUARTERBACK OUTLOOK
Both Purdy and fellow quarterback Mac Jones (oblique, knee) were limited in practice, with Purdy observing some early drills but also throwing as part of a rotation in others.
Purdy played through that toe injury in the season opener, then after deferring to Jones the next two starts, Purdy aggravated that toe amid a three-turnover outing against the Jaguars. Jones has passed for over 340 yards in each of the two games since then, though he was sacked six times and had two passes intercepted in Sunday’s 30-19 loss at Tampa Bay.
PEARSALL, OTHER RECEIVERS
Wide receivers Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Skyy Moore (ankle) were kept out of practice. Pearsall has missed the past two games. Moore fielded punts at the 2- and 3-yard lines Sunday, of which Shanahan said: “That’s a no. A big no.”
Jauan Jennings and Jordan Watkins (calf) were limited. Jennings is battling ankle, shoulder and rib injuries, and he revealed Sunday he fractured five ribs two weeks earlier. That disclosure followed Sunday’s in-game drama: one catch on three targets, and one sideline shouting match with Shanahan before halftime.
WARNER SURGERY
Shanahan said Warner’s ankle surgery Tuesday went well at Stanford Hospital, two days after he dislocated and fractured his right ankle while getting caught up in Ji’Ayir Brown’s tackle of Raachad White in the first quarter.
Although Shanahan said Monday that Warner likely would miss at least three months, he clarified Wednesday that they haven’t entertained the thought of a postseason comeback.
“Fred’s been everything to me, a teacher, a brother, a leader, just a friend, too,” Tatum Bethune, Warner’s replacement, said. “The way he carries himself on and off the field, I just learned a lot from Fred and I’m just rooting for him. He’s in good spirits right now, but you know, our goal is to go out there and make him proud on the field and show him the legacy and the standard that he set for this San Francisco 49er defense is going to be upheld.”
PRACTICE UPDATES
Right guard Dominick Puni (knee) was held out of practice for the first time this season. Also out was defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee, hamstring).
Also limited were cornerback Renardo Green (neck), and defensive tackles Kevin Givens (pectoral, C.J. West (thumb) and Kalia Davis (hand). Defensive end Mykel Williams (thumb) and cornerback Upton Stout (shoulder) were full participants. McCaffrey and left tackle Trent Williams rested per their Wednesday routine.
With Moore sidelined, Watkins and practice-squad rookie Junior Bergen worked as punt returners.
Falcons missing practice were defensive linemen Jalon Walker (groin) and Leonard Floyd (illness), offensive tackle Jake Matthew (ankle), safety Billy Bowman (hamstring) and cornerback Clark Philips (triceps, illness).
PINEIRO ON MOODY
One of the texts former 49ers kicker Jake Moody received after kicking four field goals for the Chicago Bears Monday night in a 24-22 in over Washington was from his successor on the 49ers: Eddy Piñeiro.
“I sent him a message last night congratulating him, and that’s what he deserves,” Piñeiro said. “He’s a good kicker. He’s going to be kicking in this league for awhile. All kickers know each other. It’s a small community. There’s not many of us.”
Kicking in the rain at Washington, Moody connected from 47, 48, 41 and, after a 48-yard miss to open the fourth quarter, he made good from 38 yards as time expired and teammates mobbed him. Moody was promoted from the practice squad as an injury replacement for Cairo Santos.
Piñeiro is 15-for-15 on field goal attempts for the 49ers, the most field goals in the NFL.
Staff writer Jerry McDonald contributed to this report.
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