SANTA CLARA – Not only will the 49ers forge ahead without Brock Purdy in today’s home opener, wide receiver Jauan Jennings also will be inactive against the Arizona Cardinals, ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported.
Jennings was scratched after a “bad practice” in Saturday’s walk-through while battling an ankle injury from last Sunday’s 26-21 win at New Orleans, though he did produce the eventual winning points on a fourth-quarter touchdown. He also endured a shoulder injury in the season-opening win at Seattle, and he missed most of training camp with a calf issue while embroiled in a contract dispute.
Both Jennings and Purdy were listed as questionable for today’s game, as was rookie guard Connor Colby, whose knee injury in Thursday’s practice cast doubt on his potential starting debut.
The inactive list officially must be released by 11:55 a.m., 90 minutes before the 1:25 p.m. kickoff (Fox, Ch. 2; KSFO-810 AM).
Coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Friday that Purdy was “highly unlikely” to start this game, meaning Mac Jones will make an encore after his three-touchdown, no-interception, one-fumble debut in New Orleans.
Former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith gave Jones a vote of confidence on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown,” saying: “He really fits this system, this Kyle Shanahan system: Under center. They want to run the football. They’re banged up on the outside.”
When Smith was interrupted with news that Jennings will be out – along with tight end George Kittle (Injured Reserve list through Week 5) and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (Physically Unable to Perform list through Week 4), Smith added: “It still fits him. Kyle Shanahan is still one of the best offensive minds in football. The play-action that was there last week, this kid looked really, really decisive with where he was going with the football. This kid can still throw it. I like him in this. It’s a great place for him to land.”
Randy Moss, Smith’s fellow ESPN panelist and also an ex-Niner, added on the show: “This could be a good fit for a guy like Mac Jones. Last week, three touchdowns. Talk about Jauan Jennings being out today. So what is it going to be today? They’ll get young Pearsall tuned in and McCaffrey tuned in, too.”
Indeed, the 49ers’ top two receivers through their 2-0 start are Christian McCaffrey (15 catches, 17 targets, 125 yards, one touchdown) and Ricky Pearsall (eight catches, 13 targets, 164 yards). Jennings has caught 7-of-15 targets for 105 yards and a touchdown.
Who will start at wide receiver opposite Pearsall while McCaffrey makes his third start in as many games at running back? Kendrick Bourne is a leading candidate, after catching all three passes (32 yards) thrown his way by Jones, his former teammate in New England.
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The 49ers’ only other available wide receivers are Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore and Malik Turner. Rookie Jordan Watkins was ruled out Friday because of a calf injury.
Turner was elevated Saturday from the practice squad along with Adrian Martinez, who’ll serve as the No. 2 quarterback again behind Jones while the 49ers push Purdy’s return to possibly a Week 4 visit by the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
Both fullback Kyle Juszczyk and special-teams ace Siran Neal were cleared from concussion protocol and are available to play today.
