While the San Francisco 49ers' Week 4 victory over the Denver Broncos might've been quarterback Brock Purdy's biggest test of the season, Week 5's road showdown against the defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks, figures to be even bigger.
Especially considering how Purdy and the Niners offense struggled so dramatically the last time these two NFC West rivals faced.
Fortunately for Purdy, he'll have one of his best weapons available: wide receiver Mike Evans.
At the conclusion of Friday's practice, head coach Kyle Shanahan removed any injury designation for the future Hall of Famer, effectively clearing Evans from the rib injury he suffered two weeks prior that endangered his availability in Week 4.
Evans ultimately played against Denver, but there were lingering questions whether or not he'd remain healthy for Week 5.
Well, those questions have been answered in a most positive way.
49ers injury report vs. Seahawks: Kyle Juszczyk OUT, Mykel Williams to be activated
Shanahan shared San Francisco's full injury report at the presser:
Out
- FB Kyle Juszczyk (knee)
- DE Nick Bosa (calf)
- DT James Thompson Jr. (ankle)
- DB Marques Sigle (ankle)
Questionable
- DB Upton Stout (shoulder)
- DE Mykel Williams (knee)
Juszczyk, who suffered a hyperextended knee against the Broncos, figures to miss a couple of weeks, and his absence will put plenty off pressure on both Purdy and Shanahan to improvise against a vaunted Hawks defense.
Yet San Francisco figures to get some defensive reinforcement of its own, welcoming back Williams from last year's ACL tear that cut into offseason workouts and the first four weeks of the season. The 49ers are already planning on activating the 2025 Round 1 NFL Draft pick from the physically unable-to-perform list, releasing defensive lineman Ogbo Okoronkwo to make room.
True, Williams will have to get his proverbial football legs back underneath him, and returning from an ACL tear is no easy task.
Still, considering how thin the Niners defensive line has been for much of the season, any reinforcement should be a welcomed one.
San Francisco kicks off against Seattle on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 4:25 p.m. ET from Lumen Field.
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