SANTA CLARA — Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams, who routinely lead the 49ers out of their locker room pregame, can both do so again today as they’ll suit up to face the Miami Dolphins, after being limited in practice by injuries.
Samuel missed Thursday’s session with a quadriceps contusion from last Sunday’s 13-0 home win over the New Orleans Saints, and Williams trudged off to the locker room with back spasms as Friday’s practice got underway.
The only 49ers inactivated were left guard Spencer Burford (ankle), tight end Ross Dwelley, linebacker Curtis Robinson and defensive tackle T.Y. McGill. Burford had started every previous game and was listed as questionable.
Samuel’s availability could help with the rushing game, which figures to be led by Christian McCaffrey, though he missed Wednesday’s practice because of knee irritation. The only other active running backs are rookies Jordan Mason and Ty Davis-Price; running back Elijah Mitchell returned to the injured reserve list Saturday because of his second knee sprain this season.
Burford is likely to be replaced in the starting lineup by Daniel Brunskill, who started every game last season at right guard and has rotated in with Burford at the position since Week 4, playing just under half of the 49ers’ offensive snaps this fall.
Dwelley hasn’t missed a game since his rookie season in 2018.
Defensive lineman Charles Omenihu (knee) was the only other questionable 49er and he’s playing.
The 49ers’ top-ranked defense welcomes defensive lineman Arik Armstead back from a seven-game absence, caused by a stress fracture near his left ankle and plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
The 49ers did not bring up any reinforcements from their practice squad for this game.
GARROPOLO IN 2023
This isn’t alarming but rather an obvious option: Jimmy Garoppolo’s 49ers tenure might continue beyond this season, as both sides are open to his 2023 return, NFL Network reported.
Now, if either he or the 49ers ruled that out, then that would be quite the breaking news. Garoppolo will have more say in his next contract than ever before in his career, as he’s slated to become a free agent in March and the 49ers can not designate him with the franchise tag, per the contract he revised before the season.
Simply put, the 49ers and Garoppolo have seven games to go before a potential third playoff trip in four seasons. As this past year showed, all possibilities remain, and even though Trey Lance is recovering well from his September ankle surgery, Garoppolo’s fate is not tied to Lance’s recovery, other than how much the 49ers want to spend on their quarterbacks in future salary caps.
DOLPHINS DOWN TACKLES
The Dolphins will be without their starting offensive tackles, Terron Armstead (pectoral) and Austin Jackson (ankle).
Also ruled out by the Dolphins were quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (knee) and running back Myles Gaskin (shoulder, ankle), tight end Hunter Long, cornerback Noah Iginoghene and wide receiver Erik Ezukanma.
Source: www.mercurynews.com