At some point, the proverbial "injury pendulum" has to swing back in favor for the San Francisco 49ers somehow.
It just doesn't seem like it'll be the case in Week 9 on the road against the New York Giants.
Granted, there's a slight change to the Niners' injury report in comparison to recent weeks, but it merely has to do with where quarterback Brock Purdy will be on the depth chart.
As shared by head coach Kyle Shanahan on Friday after practice and before his team boarded the plane to head for the Big Apple, Purdy won't be listed as out and inactive for Week 9.
The quarterback will, however, be behind Mac Jones on the depth chart, meaning the latter will make his seventh start of the season in contrast to Purdy's two. The only way Purdy ends up seeing the field for the first time since reaggravaing his turf-toe injury way back in Week 4 is if Jones, too, suffers some sort of injury at MetLife Stadium.
QB Brock Purdy (toe) is questionable for Sunday. He won't start -- Mac Jones will -- be he could be available against the Giants, Kyle Shanahan said.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) October 31, 2025
For those hoping to see Purdy finally get a start again, though, it doesn't seem to be the case.
49ers' final injury report vs. Giants includes too-familiar key names
Here's the full injury report from Shanahan:
Out
WR Ricky Pearsall (knee)
DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee)
DE Bryce Huff (hamstring)
C Jake Brendel (hamstring)
Questionable
QB Brock Purdy (toe)
LB Dee Winters (knee)
OL Ben Bartch (ankle)
DE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle)
DT Jordan Elliott (ankle)
OL Spencer Burford (knee)
Like Purdy, Pearsall hasn't seen the field since suffering a PCL injury back in Week 4. Also, like the quarterback, each weekly update seems to be of the "he's getting closer, but not yet" variety.
The Niners have sorely missed Pearsall's presence, too, and this was on display in Week 8's loss to the Houston Texans when head coach DeMeco Ryans' defense cleary didn't respect any of San Francisco's available receivers, particularly Kendrick Bourne and the banged-up Jauan Jennings.
Arguably more problematic, though, are the absences of Gross-Matos and Bryce Huff, leaving San Francisco with awfully few healthy options at defensive end and suggesting any sort of four-man pass rush won't be effective.
And that won't be helpful if either Okuayinonu or Elliott are unable to play, but it potentially opens up the door for the recently added Keion White and Clelin Ferrell to impact the defensive line's depth.
The 49ers and Giants kick off on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. ET.