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Nick Wagoner, ESPN writer
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After missing last week due to a hamstring injury, San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo will play Monday night against the Detroit Lions.
Guerendo, who has been listed as limited in practice this week with foot and hamstring issues, did not have any injury designations on Saturday’s injury report.
“It was good to have him back,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We had a full speed practice yesterday and it looked good, so it looks like there are no brakes. It’s ready to go.”
After a series of injuries at running back, which placed Christian McCaffrey (knee), Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) and Jordan Mason (ankle) on injured reserve, Guerendo assumed the starting role against the Chicago Bears on the 8th of December.
Guerendo rushed for 135 yards on 31 carries during those two weeks, but emerged from the loss against the Los Angeles Rams with a hamstring issue in addition to a sprained foot.
With Guerendo out last week, the Niners started Patrick Taylor Jr. against the Miami Dolphins. Taylor had eight carries for 24 yards and one reception for 1 yard in that game.
Guerendo’s expected return means the Niners will have Taylor and Israel Abanikanda available as backups, with Ke’Shawn Vaughn available to be called up from the practice squad.
The biggest question for the Niners this week appears to be who will block Guerendo and quarterback Brock Purdy. San Francisco ruled out guard Aaron Banks (knee) and tackle Spencer Burford (calf) on Saturday after placing starting left tackle Trent Williams (left ankle) and backup Jaylon Moore (quadriceps) on injured reserve earlier this season. week.
Banks is scheduled to join them on injured reserve Monday afternoon. Right tackle Colton McKivitz is also questionable with a knee injury, meaning the 49ers could play against Detroit with Charlie Heck and Austen Pleasants, who have been signed from other teams’ practice squads in the last 11 days. , as a starting tackle duo.
At the very least, Heck and Pleasants will be active Monday night, which is also the expectation for center/guard Matt Hennessy, who signed from Atlanta’s practice squad on Thursday.
“Having three guys that were on other teams’ practice squads last week, the continuity obviously isn’t there and just not being in the building talking and stuff like that is a big challenge,” Shanahan said. “They’ve done a good job, getting here the day before Christmas, working on Christmas, trying to catch up and do those things. They’ve had a solid week of practice.
“There’s still more time until the game and those guys will work mentally to prepare, but anytime you’re new and you haven’t been out there much, it’s always a challenge.”
Elsewhere on the injury report, the 49ers ruled out linebacker Dre Greenlaw (calf) and defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (ankle). Safety Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle), linebacker Tatum Bethune (knee) and cornerback Charvarius Ward (personal) join McKivitz as questionable. Ward didn’t practice Saturday for personal reasons, but Shanahan called it good news, saying “nothing bad happened.”
