SANTA CLARA — Rookie cornerback Upton Stout was one of the 49ers seven inactive players Sunday, which could mean Deommodore Lenoir will get some duty at slot corner.

Stout had an existing shoulder injury but then injured on ankle at Thursday’s practice.

Lenoir played the difficult double of slot corner and outside corner last year and did it so well he received a five-year contact extension worth a maximum of $92 million. Stout seized the slot corner role quickly after being a fourth-round draft pick, with Lenoir moving exclusively to the outside with Renado Green as the other starting corner.

Chase Lucas is the other cornerback on the roster with slot experience, with Darrell Luter Jr. also available to play outside corner.

Others 49ers who were declared inactive were quarterback Brock Purdy, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr., wide receiver Jordan Watkins, running back Jordan James, offensive lineman Drew Moss and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos.

Active for the first time this season is linebacker Nick Martin, a third-round draft pick who will play special teams and be a backup linebacker with Fred Warner on injured reserve with a broken and dislocated ankle.

Gipson’s ascension

Defensive end Trevis Gipson is suiting up for a third straight game, having been promoted to the 53-man roster Saturday after practice-squad elevations the past two games.

“It means everything. It’s been a while I’ve been trying to get my career back on track, after unfortunate events with injuries,” said Gipson, who played only five games last season with Seattle before a high-ankle sprain. “This is a great opportunity. It’s something I prepare for, something I’m looking to take full advantage of to help this team win any way I can.”

Gipson was a 2020 fifth-round pick by the Chicago Bears and produced seven sacks in 2021. After three years in Chicago, he played eight games in 2023 with the Titans. He’s appeared in 55 games, starting 19.

“We have some nice edge setters (against the run) on this defense that can take the load off me to help me just rush the passer,” Gipson said. “I let the young bucks do the dirty work then they can call me in whenever they need help.”

On last Sunday’s first-quarter play in which Fred Warner got hurt, coaches mistakenly thought Gipson stayed on the field after kick coverage and no one thus lined up at right defensive end. Later, Gipson nearly sacked Baker Mayfield last week on what dissolved into a third-down conversion.

“It’s kept me up at night. That one hurt,” said Gipson, who’ll work into the defensive end rotation with Bryce Huff, Mykel Williams and Sam Okuayinonu.

Knapp Stair Climb

General manager John Lynch, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and a number of 49ers’ support staff joined in the fourth annual Greg Knapp Stair Climb a few hours before kickoff.

Knapp died in July of 2021 from injuries sustained on his bike after hit by a distracted driver. The Greg Knapp Memorial Fund raises money to save lives though education and advocacy on the dangers of distracted driving.

An NFL assistant for 25 years and a former quarterback for Sacramento State, Knapp worked for the 49ers (1998 through 2003), Atlanta Falcons (2004-06), the Raiders (2007-08, 2012), Seattle Seahawks (2009), Denver Broncos (2013-16) and New York Jets (2021).

Knapp’s last job was as a passing game specialist while on Saleh’s staff with the Jets.

Notable

— Left tackle Trent Williams was fined $11,593 for a scuffle in the fourth quarter in the 49ers’ loss to Tampa Bay in which he grabbed cornerback Tykee Smith by the facemask and pulled him to the ground. Williams received a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness on the play.

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— The 49ers released wide receiver Marques Valdes-Scantling (calf) with an injury settlement after initially placing him on injured reserve. Now instead of waiting the mandatory four weeks on I.R., Scantling can seek other employment.

Scantling had four receptions for 40 yards. With Jordan Watkins (calf) and Jauan Jennings (ribs, shoulder, ankle) upgraded in terms of health and Pearsall expected to be available next week, opportunities for Scantling would have been few.

Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk continues to rehab a torn ACL/MCL with no hard timetable, although Shanahan has mentioned Week 10 as a possibility.