The San Francisco 49ers returned to the practice field on Wednesday with a busy day of roster moves, injury updates, and the first look at a familiar face back in red and gold.

Injury Report

Head coach Kyle Shanahan opened his press conference with an injury list and several starters were held out of today’s practice, either for injuries or rest:

Shanahan said Purdy is a “long shot” to play this Sunday against the New Orleans Saints and acknowledged the quarterback’s toe injury could sideline him for multiple weeks. He later clarified the injury is similar to turf toe, though not in the typical spot.

Tight end George Kittle remains sidelined with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss four games. Shanahan called the absence “a challenge for everybody,” noting Kittle’s impact in both the run and pass game.

Roster Moves

On Wednesday morning, the 49ers signed veteran kicker Eddy Piñeiro to a one-year deal. Piñeiro, entering his eighth NFL season, said the decision to join San Francisco was all about joining a winning culture.

“I want to win games,” Piñeiro said. “I want to be part of a good culture. I’m in my eighth year of my career and I want to win. This is the place to be.”

The team also signed TE Messiah Swinson to the practice squad.

WR Kendrick Bourne practiced Wednesday for the first time since rejoining the 49ers on a one-year contract. After spending his first four NFL seasons with San Francisco and the last three with the New England Patriots, he’s leaning on familiar connections to get up to speed quickly.

“(QB Mac Jones) has been helping me get acclimated,” Bourne said. “Studying with him and stuff like that. He’s been just giving me tips, gems, of how to think about things. So, it’s dope to be around somebody that I know and just using it to my advantage to get acclimated… Me knowing him obviously helps. We can speak to each other a certain way, he can get me in certain ways because we’re already connected, which is ironic.”

It’s no small task to join a team on a Monday and be ready to play by Sunday, but Bourne said his experience in Shanahan’s system along with his chemistry with Jones is helping ease the transition.

“I don’t think it’s too much, I think it’s up to me,” Bourne said. “It’s my preparation. I’ve been meeting with (wide receivers coach Leonard Hankerson) Hank extra, meeting with him early, meeting with him every second I get because I’m just getting acclimated, knowing where I’m going to go, different spots, trying to know the concepts and stuff like that. So, I don’t think it’s too much to ask, but it’s up to me. It all it falls on me. So, if I go out there not knowing what I’m doing, it’s because I didn’t study enough and things like that. I’ve been attacking it this week and I’m excited to see what happens.”

Looking Ahead

The 49ers travel to face the Saints this Sunday in New Orleans. Shanahan recalled the intense atmosphere from the 2019 game at the Superdome:

“That was the loudest game I’ve ever been in. We’re preparing for that and hope to make it quieter.”