Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
OLB Aaron Lynch was the only San Francisco 49ers player listed as Out on the team's official Friday injury report. He practiced this week but was limited and seen limping badly on his injured ankle.
WR Torrey Smith returned to practice on Thursday after missing the previous two days. He practiced Friday as well. Smith injured his back during a play in the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals. He and
CB Rashard Robinson are listed as Questionable.
For the New England Patriots, the team will be without one of their biggest weapons.
TE Rob Gronkowski did not practice this week. According to Ian Rapoport of
NFL Media, he suffered a perforated lung during the Patriots' loss to the Seattle Seahawks on a hit from FS Earl Thomas. He is not traveling with the team, who left for the Bay Area today. He and
WR Chris Hogan are listed as Out.
Below are the official injury reports for Sunday's game between the Patriots and the 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Also included are the Friday practice participation reports for both teams.
San Francisco 49ers Injuries
Out
LB Aaron Lynch (ankle)
Questionable
CB Rashard Robinson (knee), WR Torrey Smith (back)
New England Patriots Injuries
Out
TE Rob Gronkowski (chest), WR Chris Hogan (back)
Questionable
TE Martellus Bennett (ankle), WR Julian Edelman (foot)
San Francisco 49ers Friday Practice
Limited Participation
LB Aaron Lynch (ankle), CB Rashard Robinson (knee), WR Torrey Smith (back)
Full Participation
G Zane Beadles (ankle/knee), CB Tramaine Brock (hamstring), DT Quinton Dial (knee/neck), DT Glenn Dorsey (knee), LB Eli Harold (toe), RB Carlos Hyde (shoulder), C Daniel Kilgore (hamstring/calf), S Eric Reid (knee)
New England Patriots Friday Practice
Did Not Practice
TE Rob Gronkowski (chest)
Limited Participation
TE Martellus Bennett (ankle), WR Julian Edelman (foot), WR Chris Hogan (back)
Not Listed
DT Alan Branch (back), T Nate Solder (not injury related)
A lot is riding on the selection of Trey Lance. The future of the San Francisco 49ers — and likely head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch — depends on the rookie quarterback developing into an impact player.
The NFL Draft has seemingly been a crapshoot for the Niners. For every Nick Bosa, there is a Solomon Thomas or Reuben Foster. There have been George Kittles and Fred Warners. However, selections like Dante Pettis severely impact evaluations of recent draft classes. The jury is still out on last year's first-rounders, Javon Kinlaw and Brandon Aiyuk. The latter's lack of involvement this season has been baffling.
The 49ers have hit
The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for their Week 5 contest against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo did not practice this week and has been ruled "out" for Sunday, which means fans will see rookie Trey Lance in his first career NFL start. Garoppolo suffered a calf injury during Week 4's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The hope was that he would take part in today's practice and test his right leg. That didn't happen.
Tight end George Kittle also did not practice this week and is listed as "doubtful." He is also dealing with a calf injury. It's the same injury that kept him out of practice for most of last week. However, Kittle was able to play this past weekend. We'll have to wait to see if
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the New England Patriots are set to release Stephon Gilmore. The Pro Bowl and All-Pro cornerback is scheduled to come off the physically-unable-to-perform list after Week 6. He underwent surgery for a torn quad in December but is expected to be recovered in the coming weeks.
A stunner: Patriots are releasing four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who was eligible to come off the Physically Unable to Perform List after Week 6, source tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/31H8KQF8hq— Adam Schefter
Update: The New England Patriots have reportedly traded cornerback Stephon Gilmore to the Carolina Panthers, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. That ends any discussion of his release and potential signing by the 49ers. The Panthers reportedly acquired the Pro Bowl cornerback in exchange for a 2023 sixth-round draft pick.
Source: The #Panthers traded for Stephon Gilmore— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 6,
