The 49ers are expected to activate defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and place punter Mitch Wishnowsky on injured reserve with a back injury, in line with ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
Gross-Matos was placed on injured reserve on October 5 after suffering a knee injury that required surgery. He returned to practice on November 5 and is eligible to play against the Seahawks in Week 11. Wishnowsky will likely be sidelined for a minimum of 4 weeks before he will be activated from IR.
Gross-Matos was a full participant in practice this week, but remains to be listed as questionable on the injury report since he has not officially been activated yet. The 49ers will likely be hoping Gross-Matos can play if Nick Bosa is sidelined with a hip injury, though he returned to practice on Friday after missing Tuesday and Wednesday. Bosa is questionable for Sunday’s game.
Wishnowsky’s injury leaves the 49ers down yet one more specialist this 12 months. Jake Moody missed a month with a high ankle sprain, and his substitute, Matthew Wright, landed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Anders Carlson then filled in for 2 games before Moody returned in Week 9.
The 49ers signed former Bears and Packers punter Pat O’Donnell to their practice squad on Wednesday as insurance for Wishnowsky’s back. He’ll likely be elevated for the sport on Sunday, though the 49ers might want to make one other move to advertise him to the lively roster since Gross-Matos will likely be taking Wishnowsky’s spot on the 53.
