The 49ers offense will be near full strength for the season finale against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Coach Kyle Shanahan announced Friday that wide receiver Deebo Samuel, running back Elijah Mitchell and running back Christian McCaffrey will be available. The 49ers are currently holding the NFC’s No. 2 seed but could clinch the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye with a victory and a loss from the Philadelphia Eagles.
“They’ll be up,” Shanahan said. “They’ll be playing.”
Quarterback Brock Purdy will have his full arsenal available on offense, but left guard Aaron Banks will be out with ankle and knee injuries.
Deebo suffered ankle and knee injuries on a gruesome looking tackle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14 but has been back on the practice field since last week.
Mitchell has only played in four games this season and is returning from his second MCL injury. He got injured in Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints after also being injured in the season opener. Mitchell has been productive when on the field with a healthy 5.6 yards per carry, showing great burst as a ball carrier. The 49ers will be activating him off injured reserve.
McCaffrey sat out Wednesday and Thursday's practice as he deals with knee irritation but he told reporters that it was precautionary. He has been arguably the central figure to this nine-game win streak, as the Niners haven’t lost since he got fully integrated with the offense.
“This is what we were hoping for,” Shanahan said. “It was more an opportunity to get such a good player. You always gotta weigh the risks of it because of what you gotta give up to do it. We feel good about it. Our biggest thing was we knew it wasn’t a one-year rental. We knew that he was gonna be part of our team past this year. That’s what we were excited about.”
Shanahan said McCaffrey’s ability to dictate a defense has been a huge addition.
“It’s similar to what Deebo does, too. it’s similar to what Kittle does,” Shanahan said. “We saw him in that way also. It's something we’re excited about, get them out there doing the same stuff.”
The defense will be without some key contributors however, as linebacker Dre Greenlaw (back), cornerback Ambry Thomas (ankle) and defensive tackle Kevin Givens (knee) are out. Defensive tackles Arik Armstead (foot/ankle) and Javon Kinlaw (illness/ankle) are listed as questionable, but Shanahan said they should be “all right.”
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