Sports

The NFL's default position on short-week football is that the injury rates are no different when playing seven days apart than when playing four days apart. This overlooks an important reality.

Some players who were injured on a Sunday could be ready to go the next Sunday. By Thursday, however, they're not where they need to be physically.

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is the latest example of that dynamic. He injured his toe in Week 1 against the Saints. He missed two games. He played on Sunday, against the Jaguars. And now he's trying to get himself ready to face the Rams on Thursday night.

"Playing might lead to some soreness and stuff, so sort of expected it, but with a quick turnaround with a Thursday night game and everything, it's just tougher," Purdy told reporters on Tuesday. "You don't have as many days to get right and heal up and feel better."

Would he be ready to play if the game were on Tuesday night? “No," Purdy said, "but I have two days."

Coach Kyle Shanahan made clear the standard for determining whether Purdy will play: “[I]t'll come down to do we feel he could play to 100-percent of his ability and do we feel that he can protect himself with it."

"If I can play this game, I'm going to play," Purdy said. "Obviously, I want to get right and get healthy and everything, but we need to win this game against the Rams."

If the game were on Sunday, Purdy would be more likely to play. This week, however, he doesn't have the luxury of the usual break between games. Which means it could be Mac Jones (whose knee injury has healed) when the 3-1 49ers face the 3-1 Rams.

The 49ers' official injury report was as expected.

Quarterback Brock Purdy (toe), wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) and wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle/rib) did not participate in the walkthrough on Tuesday. The 49ers estimated them as non-participants on Monday.

General Manager John Lynch called Purdy and Pearsall questionable for Thursday Night Football against the Rams.

Purdy missed Weeks 2-3 before playing on Sunday, but his toe injury flared up afterward.

Defensive end Robert Beal (ankle) and wide receiver Jordan Watkins (calf) remained out of practice as well. Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) and defensive tackle C.J. West (thumb) returned to practice as limited participants on Tuesday.

Cornerback Renardo Green (neck), defensive end Mykel Williams (wrist/oblique) and linebacker Dee Winters (knee) again were limited.

Backup quarterback Mac Jones (knee) and offensive tackle Colton McKivitz (calf) remained full participants, and Jones will start again if Purdy can't play.

Packers wide receiver Christian Watson said last month he expected to return to practice in Week 6. That could happen next week, after the team returns from its off week, coach Matt LaFleur said Tuesday.

"That's been in discussion," LaFleur said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.

Watson tore an ACL in Week 18 last season and is on the active/physically unable to perform list.

Once the Packers open his practice window, they will have 21 days to activate him to the 53-player roster.

Watson, the Packers’ second-round pick in 2022, has 98 receptions for 1,653 yards and 14 touchdowns in 38 games. He has missed 17 games with injuries.