The San Francisco 49ers would likely prefer any other theme than the one most closely associated with their 2025 preseason campaign: injuries.
With two weeks of exhibition football in the books, the Niners already lost two running backs -- Ameer Abdullah (ribs) and Patrick Taylor Jr. (shoulder) -- to season-ending injured reserve, while defensive end Bradlee Anae was released from IR with an injury settlement.
And those transactions don't even account for the multitude of players who've been unavailable for various other injury setbacks but nevertheless didn't land on any specific list.
This has forced general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan to juggle spots on the back end of the 90-man preseason roster, often having to part ways with players they'd otherwise like to keep just to make sure the remaining depth charts have enough bodies.
With one preseason game left before final roster cuts, it's been a painful necessity.
Fortunately, though, it appears San Francisco's injury luck (or lack thereof) is finally starting to swing back in the other direction.
49ers welcome key players back from injury
As the 49ers gear up for their exhibition closer against the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend, ESPN's NIck Wagoner shared the list of injured players who were able to practice on Tuesday after missing bouts of time:
- CB Renardo Green
- DB Jason Pinnock
- RB Isaac Guerendo
- DE Sam Okuayinonu
- DT Jordan Elliott
- DE Nick Bosa
#49ers players who have returned to practice today after various injuries: CB Renardo Green, S Jason Pinnock, RB Isaac Guerendo, DE Sam Okuayinonu, DT Jordan Elliott, DE Nick Bosa.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) August 19, 2025
Guerendo's return from a shoulder issue is significant, especially in light of Taylor undergoing surgery and landing on IR. The Niners have few other options at the position aside from Jeff Wilson Jr. Ke'Shawn Vaughn and potentially playing All-Pro Christian McCaffrey in a meaningless preseason Week 3.
Plus, added shortages at defensive tackle in previous weeks have forced Lynch and Shanahan to juggle different defensive linemen on nearly a daily basis.
Hopefully, Elliott's return alleviates that.
Wagoner also reported quarterback Mac Jones didn't practice after suffering a minor knee injury against the Las Vegas Raiders last Saturday, but the one-week injury isn't believed to be serious and helps explain the recent signing of journeyman backup Nate Sudfeld in the corresponding move to Taylor's IR designation.
Thankfully, that injury news is only slight and is wholly outweighed by the better news the Niners received with Week 1 of the regular season just around the corner.