Health was always going to be a major factor for the San Francisco 49ers repeating as NFC champions, and Monday after their Bye week they took some positive steps in that department.
Not only did running back Christian McCaffrey return to the practice field for the first time since Week 1, wide receiver Jauan Jennings, kicker Jake Moody and offensive lineman Jon Feliciano were all back in action according to reporters on site at the SAP Performance Center.
Jennings suffered a hip injury in Week 6 and missed Weeks 7 and 8. His absence was magnified by the loss of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk during Week 7. Jennings has 25 catches for 404 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in six games. He’ll become a big-time target for quarterback Brock Purdy once he’s back in action, but he’ll also provide a boost in the run game thanks to his versatility and blocking ability.
Feliciano joined McCaffrey in having his 21-day practice window opened. He’s been out since undergoing knee surgery in the preseason. He was expected to miss about half the year, so the timeline for his return lines up. It’s unlikely we’ll see Feliciano starting, but he’s a high-quality depth piece on the interior of the offensive line that gives San Francisco some flexibility if they have injury issues or production problems on the OL.
Moody never went on IR after suffering a high ankle sprain while making a tackle on a kick return in Week 5. San Francisco’s kickers, Matthew Wright and Anders Carlson, went a combined eight-for-eight on field goals and six-for-seven on extra points in their three games.
Carlson is still on the practice squad, and the team may utilize him again in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers depending on how Moody responds to his return to action.
