Niners say Purdy, Pearsall, Jennings all out against Rams - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — The San Francisco 49ers' offense will be even more short-handed than it has been in the season's opening month when it takes on the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.

On Wednesday, the Niners ruled out quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) and receivers Jauan Jennings (ribs, ankle), Ricky Pearsall (right knee) and Jordan Watkins (calf).

Those updates are in addition to a list of players already missing that includes tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and wideout Brandon Aiyuk (knee).

On Tuesday, Purdy offered some optimism that he might still be able to play despite the toe soreness that began plaguing him Sunday night after the Niners lost to the Jaguars. But he also cautioned that the short time from Sunday's game to Thursday night would make it difficult.

«With a quick turnaround with a Thursday night game and everything, it's just tougher,» Purdy said. «You don't have as many days to get right and heal up and feel better.»

With Purdy out, Mac Jones is set to make his third start in the first five games. He led the Niners to wins in Weeks 2 and 3 against the Saints and Cardinals, respectively, but battled a sprained knee coming out of the Arizona win. Jones is back to full strength this week, not appearing on the injury report.

«Just day-by-day getting better,» Jones said. «And at the end of the day, you just have to ask yourself if you can protect yourself in the game, and I felt good to go. So obviously every week guys are dealing with stuff, and it's an every-day battle, so you're just working through it.»

Jones, though, figures to have his work cut out for him against a Rams defense that he called the best in the NFL on Tuesday. The only healthy receivers on the 49ers active roster going into Thursday are