SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers will welcome tight end George Kittle back from his hamstring injury Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons, but quarterback Brock Purdy's return from a toe ailment will have to wait at least another week.
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan ruled Purdy out Friday with receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee), linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) also unavailable against the Falcons.
That comes after Purdy returned to practice this week for the first time since aggravating the injury in the team's Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Purdy was limited in all three practices but didn't make enough progress to step back into the starting lineup, leaving Mac Jones to make his fifth start of the season with Adrian Martinez as the backup.
"[Purdy] was able to get out there and throw more," Shanahan said. «I thought it was definitely a step further ahead than it was last week, so going the right direction.»
Jones has largely fared well in Purdy's stead, averaging what would be a league-high 313 passing yards per game in his four starts to go with six touchdowns and three interceptions for a QBR of 53.0.
While Purdy has worked his way back from the toe injury, Jones also has been dealing with health issues. He was questionable last week with knee and oblique soreness, but he was a full participant in practice Thursday and Friday and is set to go against Atlanta.
Shanahan said Friday that when Purdy is healthy, he will jump back into the starting lineup, though the team has previously considered having him available as an emergency backup before he returns to 100 percent.
«If Brock is good to go, I picture him starting,» Shanahan said. «We'll always do
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