49ers’ Mac Jones to start again as Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall ruled out vs. Falcons

The San Francisco 49ers will again turn to backup quarterback Mac Jones with starter Brock Purdy out for Sunday’s matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday.

Purdy continues to recover from a lingering toe injury that he aggravated in Week 4. Jones, who has gone 2-2 as a starter this season, will make his fifth consecutive start after returning to full practice participation late in the week.

Meanwhile, Ricky Pearsall will miss his third straight game with a sprained knee.

The 49ers received better news elsewhere on offense, with tight end George Kittle cleared to return from a hamstring injury that had kept him sidelined since Week 1. Shanahan said Kittle will have “no pitch count” in his return.

“George has rehabbed really well, came back 100 percent, had a good week of practice,” Shanahan said.

Despite a rash of injuries to key players, including season-enders for defensive stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, San Francisco enters Week 7 with a 4-2 record and tied for first in the NFC West with the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks.

Shanahan said the team hopes to have Purdy back “soon” after he practiced each day this week.

“He was able to get out there, throw more,” Shanahan said of Purdy on Friday. “Thought it was definitely a step further ahead than it was last week, so going in the right direction.”

–Field Level Media

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The San Francisco 49ers might finally have some good news on the injury front. Six-time Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle told reporters Thursday that he plans on playing Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons.

He was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

Kittle has been out since the season opener after the 49ers placed him on the injured reserve list with a right hamstring injury. He revealed to the media that his hamstring was fully torn, although it didn’t tear off the bone.

“I just felt like a rubber band snapped in my hamstring,” George Kittle said. “I was like, ‘Ah, I’ve just got to go to the locker room after that one.’”

Kittle’s practice window opened this week, and he has a full 21 days to return. He said he wanted to wait until he was 100 percent before coming back, although the star pass-catcher acknowledged his status for Sunday depends on head coach Kyle Shanahan.

“It’s up to him,” Kittle said. “But, hopefully, I’m out there. Which I think I will be.”

49ers TE George Kittle plans to return from injury vs. Falcons

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers Schedule

• Sunday, October 19th – vs. Atlanta Falcons – 5:20 PM PT
• Sunday, October 26th – @ Houston Texans – 10:00 AM PT
• Sunday, November 2nd – @ New York Giants – 10:00 AM PT
• Sunday, November 9th – vs. Los Angeles Rams – 1:25 PM PT
• Sunday, November 16th – @ Arizona Cardinals – 1:05 PM PT

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