SANTA CLARA — George Kittle is doing so well he was removed from the injury report entirely Friday.

The 49ers’ six-time Pro Bowl tight end hasn’t played since Week 1 with a hamstring strain, but will return to the lineup Sunday night when the 49ers (4-2) host the Atlanta Falcons (3-2) at Levi’s Stadium (NBC, 5:25 p.m.)

Listed as out are quarterback Brock Purdy, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr. (knee), and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee, hamstring). Listed as questionable are slot corner Upton Stout (ankle, shoulder), cornerback Renardo Green (neck) and defensive lineman Kevin Givens (pectoral).

Kittle and Givens are on injured reserve, but roster spots will be open by Sunday with Marques Valdes-Scantling on injured reserve and Fred Warner (ankle) soon to join him.

With Purdy missing his third game in succession and fifth overall, Mac Jones will get at least one more start. The 49ers continue to hold out Purdy rather than utilize him in a backup role in order to allow his toe to heal fully.

“He was able to get out there, throw more,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday. “I thought it was definitely a step further ahead than it was last week. We’re going in the right direction.”

Kittle who said Thursday his hamstring was torn in the opener, will play with no snap count restriction.

“No pitch count,” Shanahan said. “George has rehabbed really well. He came back 100 percent, had a good week of practice.”

Kittle is eager to hit someone.

“I have been so very excited to play football since last season ended, and to be able to play only 26 snaps has been very difficult for me,” Kittle said. “I’ve been trying my best to get back as fast as I can without being an idiot and rushing it. So the itch has been there.”

A notable full participant in practice Friday was wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who said last week he was playing with five broken ribs in addition to shoulder and ankle injuries. That doesn’t mean Jennings isn’t injured — virtually all NFL players have something at this point of the season — but it did mean he was able to practice fully and without restrictions.

Jauan Jennings (15) was removed from the injury report after practicing with no restrictions Friday. AP photo

Mutual admiration for Bijan, CMC

Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson and the 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey trained together in the offseason spent a lot of time comparing notes.

“Christian, he’s the best dude ever, man,” Robinson told reporters. “Getting to be with him in the summer seeing how he does things when it comes to recovery and on the field and me taking parts of his game and trying to add them to mine, it was inspirational to see what he can do and how he does it.”

Robinson keys the NFL’s No. 1 rushing attack with 484 yards at a whopping 5.8 yards per carry. He’s coming off a 170-yard game against Buffalo that included an 81-yard touchdown run.

McCaffrey has plugged along at 3.1 yards per carry with no gain longer than 15 yards but has 46 receptions for 444 yards, the most catches and yards among all running backs. Robinson leads the NFL in rushing/receiving yards with 822 yards, McCaffrey in touches with 154.

“Off the field, we were at Bible study. We were going all day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.,” Robinson said. “We spent a lot of time together and for me to see his process, it really like motivated me and took me to another level when it comes to like my body and how operate.”

McCaffrey is a big fan of Robinson as well.

“Watching what kind of man he is and watching what kind of character he has is what I respect so much about him,” McCaffrey said.

When it was suggested they are similar backs in terms of versatility, McCaffrey said, “I hope so. That’s a huge compliment. I watch him move, make a lot of these plays and it’s inspiring. When you watch him play, any chance you get you try to emulate some of his stuff.”

Martin ready for his debut

Linebacker Nick Martin, a healthy scratch for the first six games of the season, will be active for the first time, Shanahan said.

Martin, a third-round draft pick out of Oklahoma State, lost out to incumbent Dee Winters as the weakside replacement for Dre Greenlaw, and wasn’t utilized on special teams. He could see time in both areas against the Falcons.

“It’s been about finding peace and patience, trusting God and understanding that when the time comes, it’ll be perfect,” Martin said. “When you see a guy like Fred go down, he was a leader, so you’ve got to make sure there’s no drop off, no missing pieces.”

Martin concedes there will be a moment where he takes it all in.

“It’s something I’ve been waiting on my whole life,” Martin said. “I’m blessed to be where I am.”

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was impressed by Martin’s work during the week.

“Nick has had a great week of practice so far. but I thought today was outstanding (Thursday) without looking at the tape,” Saleh said. “Flashed in one-on-ones, flashed on special teams and he flashed on team defense. So again, continue to grow, continue to find ways to get better and see if he can carve out a role for himself.”

Another potential debut could come from wide receiver Jordan Watkins, a fourth-round draft pick who has recovered from a calf injury.

Watkins said the NFL’s physicality is what’s jumped out at him while observing games both on the sideline and in a suite. “It’s a whole new level here. The SEC helped me a little bit but here everybody is good,” said Watkins, who played at Mississippi.

Notable

— Stout, already nursing a shoulder injury, also injured an ankle late in practice Thursday. If he doesn’t play, Deommodore Lenoir would likely move inside to be the slot corner. He played both slot and outside last year. Green is also questionable, which could mean a bigger role for Darrell Luter Jr.

— Shanahan said Skyy Moore, who fair caught punts at the 5-yard-line and 3-yard line against Tampa Bay, will retain his duties in that area.

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— With Pearsall out, Valdes-Scantling played 42 snaps against Tampa Bay and caught two passes for 22 yards. By the time he’s eligible to return, the 49ers may not have room on the 53-man roster, if Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) are up and running.

— Players who wore special jerseys for being named scout team players of the week were center/guard Matt Hennessey, defensive lineman Robert Beal Jr. and Luter.

— Leonard Floyd, who was second to Nick Bosa last season with 8 1/2 sacks for the 49ers, has recovered from an illness and is expected to play for the Falcons. Floyd is playing left outside linebacker in Atlanta in a 3-4 defense after playing as an end for the 49ers in a 4-3 alignment. Floyd has 1 1/2 sacks and six tackles.

— Wide receiver/return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud, a 49er in 2022-23, will not make the trip due to a personal matter.