The San Francisco 49ers are in full-on scramble mode, with practice squad signees Matthew Judon and Dante Pettis having a “non-zero chance” to be active for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. Talk about hitting the panic button and hoping for immediate returns.
The Shocking Return of Dante Pettis
Seriously, who saw this coming? Wide receiver Dante Pettis, a former second-round pick, is back with the Niners after being waived in 2020 following his first 2.5 years with the team. Now he’s got his locker back, #15 proudly displayed, and he’s out there on the practice field with his unit. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is “pumped” to have Pettis available, even downplaying any previous issues that led to his departure. Shanahan said there was “no relationship issue” and clarified that sometimes “people get confused sometimes with saying people are in the doghouse” when it’s just coaching. He was quick to add, “I’ve always loved Dante. Dante’s a great dude. He’s got a lot of abilities, done some great things since we let him go other places.” It turns out, San Francisco even tried to sign him during training camp this year because of wide receiver injuries. They tried again, and “this time it worked out.” His old teammate, linebacker Fred Warner, sounded stoked too, calling Pettis a “fellow 2018er!” and saying, “It was getting lonely. … Great to have him back. Good buddy of mine. Fits right in.”
So, could Pettis actually suit up? With Mike Evans (ribs) not practicing Wednesday, the door is definitely open. Pettis would still need to jump over a few guys like Deebo Samuel, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, KhaDarel Hodge, and likely Brandin Cooks. But here’s the kicker: Hodge also missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury. That could really boost Pettis’ chances to be active come Sunday.
Defensive Line Decimated, Judon Jumps In
It’s not just the offense taking hits. The defensive line is absolutely wrecked, and that’s where veteran edge rusher Matthew Judon comes in. Sporting #43, Judon has been in the NFL for 10 years, with stints on the Patriots, Ravens, Falcons, Dolphins, and Bills. The dude’s got 72 sacks in 145 career games, so he’s no rookie. He’s working in with the edge rushers, a unit that’s been “decimated by injuries.”
The latest blow came Wednesday with Keion White (hamstring) popping up on the injury report. After Nick Bosa (calf) and “practically everyone else” went down at the position, White suddenly became their most vital edge rusher. He played 56 snaps against the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday, followed by Khalid Kareem’s 51, Ogbo Okoronkwo’s 47, and Villami Fehoko’s 13. While White didn’t practice, the good news is he did some light exercise on a side field. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who picked up a quad injury on Sunday, was doing the same. Fingers crossed those guys can return quickly, but for Sunday, it looks like Judon could be vital.
The Niners are staring down the Denver Broncos this Sunday, and honestly, who knows what their roster will even look like by kickoff? With guys coming in off the practice squad just days before the game, it’s gonna be a wild one. Can these new additions step up and make a difference immediately? We’re all watching to see if these desperate gambles pay off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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