The first injury report heading into Week 4 at Levi’s Stadium.
Hours after announcing Ja’Whaun Bentley’s move to injured reserve, head coach Jerod Mayo’s New England Patriots moved out to the practice fields.
But the inside linebacker, captain and green dot of the defense would not be the lone absence on Wednesday as preparations for the San Francisco 49ers got underway in full pads.
Offensive tackle Vederian Lowe, guard Michael Jordan, outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings and cornerback Alex Austin stayed sidelined for the active roster. That was the case while second-year starting lineman Sidy Sow was among the limited in his return from an ankle injury sustained in the preseason finale.
Here’s the initial prognosis leading up to Sunday’s 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff at Levi’s Stadium.
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
Patriots
- OT Vederian Lowe (knee)
- G Michael Jordan (ankle)
- LB Anfernee Jennings (shoulder)
- CB Alex Austin (ankle)
49ers
- WR Deebo Samuel (calf)
- OT Trent Williams (illness)
- DT Javon Hargrave (triceps)
- LB Dee Winters (ankle)
Lowe had been ruled out with a knee injury in advance of what became a 24-3 loss to the New York Jets last week at MetLife Stadium. His absence from the left tackle spot was compounded by Jordan’s in-game exit from the left guard spot due to an ankle injury. Two members of the defensive side of the ball also did not practice on Wednesday. Four 49ers didn’t, either, including a veteran group of past Pro Bowlers and All-Pros.
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
Patriots
- TE Hunter Henry (ankle)
- OT Caedan Wallace (knee)
- G Sidy Sow (ankle)
- C David Andrews (rest)
- CB Christian Gonzalez (shoulder)
- CB Jonathan Jones (shoulder)
49ers
- TE George Kittle (hamstring)
Sow started 13 games as a Patriots rookie after touching down in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft. Before returning this week, the Eastern Michigan product had last practiced in August. He would be among six limited participants in Foxborough on Wednesday. The others to go in a partial capacity would include Wallace, who departed from his first career start at left tackle during the AFC East matchup, as well as a cornerback addition to the injury report in Gonzalez. Now dealing with a shoulder ailment, the No. 17 overall pick in last year’s class saw his rookie campaign cut short by a torn labrum that required surgery.
FULL PARTICIPATION
Patriots
- OT Michael Onwenu (wrist)
- S Jabrill Peppers (ankle)
49ers
- QB Brock Purdy (back)
Onwenu on the line and Peppers in the secondary graduated to full participation for the Patriots on Wednesday. Both starters had been listed as questionable for the trip to the Meadowlands last week due to respective wrist and ankle issues. San Francisco’s starter under center also went in full.