49ers RB Isaac Guerendo ‘good to go’ vs. Lions

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  • Nick Wagoner, ESPN staff writerDecember 28, 2024, 3:31 PM ET

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      Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL at ESPN since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) with ESPN. In his 10 years with the company, Nick has spearheaded ESPN’s coverage of the Niners’ 2019 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick’s protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted into the NFL, Sam’s subsequent pursuit on a roster spot and the team’s relocation and stadium saga. You can follow Nick on Twitter @nwagoner

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After missing last week with a hamstring injury, San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo is set to play Monday night against the Detroit Lions.

Guerendo, who has been listed as limited in practice this week with foot and hamstring issues, did not have an injury designation on Saturday’s injury report.

“It was good to have him back,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We had a full speed workout yesterday and he looked good so it doesn’t look like he’s holding back. He’s good to go.”

After a string of injuries at running back that have put Christian McCaffrey (knee), Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) and Jordan Mason (ankle) on injured reserve, Guerendo stepped into the starting role against the Chicago Bears on Dec. 8.

Guerendo rushed for 135 yards on 31 carries over the two weeks, but came out of the loss to the Los Angeles Rams with a hamstring problem in addition to a sprained foot.

With Guerendo out last week, the Niners started Patrick Taylor Jr. against the Miami Dolphins. Taylor had eight carries for 24 yards and a 1-yard catch in that game.

Guerendo’s expected return means the Niners will have Taylor and Israel Abanikanda available as backups, with Ke’Shawn Vaughn poised to be called up from the practice squad.

The bigger question for the Niners this week appears to be who will block for Guerendo and quarterback Brock Purdy. San Francisco ruled out guard Aaron Banks (knee) and tackle Spencer Burford (calf) on Saturday after placing starting left tackle Trent Williams (left ankle) and his backup Jaylon Moore (quad) on injured reserve earlier this week.

Banks is slated to join them on injured reserve Monday afternoon. Right tackle Colton McKivitz is also questionable with a knee injury, meaning the 49ers could play Detroit with Charlie Heck and Austen Pleasants, both signed off other teams’ practice squads in the past 11 days, as the starting tackle duo.

At a minimum, Heck and Pleasants will be active Monday night, as is the expectation for center/guard Matt Hennessy, who was signed off Atlanta’s practice squad Thursday.

“Having three guys up that were on other teams’ practice squads last week, the continuity obviously isn’t there and just them not being in the building with words and stuff like that is a big challenge,” Shanahan said. “They’ve done a good job of coming in here the day before Christmas, working on Christmas, trying to catch up and do it. They’ve had a solid week of practice.

“There’s still more game time and those guys will work mentally to get ready, but anytime you’re new and you haven’t been out there a lot, it’s always a challenge.”

Elsewhere on the injury report, 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (calf) and defensive end Robert Beal Jr. were ruled out. (ankle). Safety Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle), linebacker Tatum Bethune (knee) and cornerback Charvarius Ward (personal) join McKivitz as questionable. Ward did not practice on Saturday for personal reasons, but Shanahan indicated that was good news, noting that “nothing bad happened.”