The San Francisco 49ers are preparing to face the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The team moved Thursday's practice schedule up in order to beat expected rain.
WR Torrey Smith is starting to look very doubtful to play on Sunday. On Thursday, he missed yet another 49ers practice. Typically, if a player is on track to play following being placed within the concussion protocol, he will participate in practice later in the week, but in a blue non-contact jersey. That has not been the case for Smith.
Smith suffered a concussion during Sunday's loss to the New York Jets. He fell to the ground while attempting to haul in a 25-yard pass and his head crashed into the Levi's Stadium field. Smith remained on the field and was immediately looked at by training and medical staff. He sat up and was seen talking with team staff but was then taken to the 49ers' locker room on a cart for evaluation.
On Wednesday, Smith joined KNBR 680 and have an update on his injury. "You just have to wait until the symptoms go down," he said. "I still have symptoms. I don't know how long that will be, whether it's only a week or two weeks or whatever. You just never know. It's my first time ever having one like this where I just got knocked out so it was pretty bad. I don't know. Things are getting better which is a good sign."
OT Joe Staley, who missed Sunday's game against the Jets, is dealing with a hamstring injury. He did not practice last week and continues to miss time this week. Staley had started in 92 straight games before being listed as inactive against the Jets.
QB Colin Kaepernick was added to the injury list, but still fully participated in practice on Thursday.
For the Falcons, WR Julio Jones continues to miss practice with what Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn describes as a toe sprain. "For [Jones], we're going to take him day to day," said Quinn on Atlanta's 92.9 The Game this week. Jones was injured a couple of weeks ago against the Kansas City Chiefs and missed Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Below are the Thursday practice participation reports for both the 49ers and the Falcons.
San Francisco 49ers Thursday Practice
Did Not Practice
WR Torrey Smith (concussion), T Joe Staley (hamstring)
Limited Participation
WR Aaron Burbridge (hamstring)
Full Participation
DT Quinton Dial (elbow), DT Glenn Dorsey (knee), RB Shaun Draughn (ribs), LB Eli Harold (toe), QB Colin Kaepernick (neck), LB Aaron Lynch (ankle)
Atlanta Falcons Thursday Practice
Did Not Practice
DE Adrian Clayborn (knee), CB Jalen Collins (knee), S Kemal Ishmael (shoulder), WR Julio Jones (toe), S Robenson Therezie (ankle), WR Nick Williams (concussion)
Limited Participation
WR Mohamed Sanu (groin)
Full Participation
LB De'Vondre Campbell (ribs), DE Dwight Freeney (not injury related), T Jake Matthews (knee)