SANTA CLARA — The 49ers got some good news in the here and now with cornerback Deommodore Lenoir rejoining practice with the likelihood he’ll be able to play Sunday against the Houston Texans.

There was also some encouraging news for the future, with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk possibly coming off the Physically Unable to Perform list and practicing after the 49ers return from Houston.

“I believe he’s getting a lot closer,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday.

Asked if it could be as soon as next week, Shanahan said, “It could. We’re week to week now.”

Once Aiyuk returns to practice, the 49ers will have three weeks to get him in football shape before determining whether he’s put on the 53-man roster or placed on injured reserve for the balance of the season.

Aiyuk hasn’t played in a game in just over a year, having tore his ACL and MCL against the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 20, 2024.

Lenoir hadn’t practiced all week with a quadriceps bruise but was moving well during the media window Friday.

“It’s going in the right direction,” Shanahan said. “We feel good about it.”

Those who were declared out Sunday were quarterback Brock Purdy (toe), center Jake Brendel (hamstring), edge rusher Bryce Huff (hamstring), wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr. (knee) and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee). Lenoir was questionable along with linebacker Luke Gifford (hamstring), as was guard/tackle Spencer Burford (knee).

Burford’s practice window opened this week so a roster adjustment will have to be made if he’s activated before Sunday.

There was some progress on the Purdy front in that he’ll make the road trip. He did not travel to Tampa Bay, with the 49ers citing a wish to let him rehab at the team facility over the weekend and avoid a cross country flight which could cause swelling to his injured right toe.

Shanahan said Purdy is traveling this time because “he’s two weeks better.”

With Huff and Gross-Matos both out and Nick Bosa out for the season, the 49ers defensive ends are rookie first-round draft pick Mykel Williams, Sam Okuayinonu and Robert Beal Jr. Ends on the practice squad who are eligible to be flexed are William Bradley-King and Trevis Gipson.

With Lenoir expected to play, and Renardo Green (toe) and Upton Stout (knee) coming off the injury list, the 49ers will have their full complement of cornerbacks including Chase Lucas and Darrell Luter Jr. Lucas and Luter both got considerable playing time in the 49ers’ 20-10 win over Atlanta.

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh expects whoever is called upon to be up for the challenge.

“You do have the Bosas of the world and guys that transcend coaching,” Saleh said, holding his thumb and forefinger an inch apart. “There’s nothing you can say to those guys. They’re just special. But from there, the rest of the league to me is A to Z and it’s separated by a gap that’s about that big. They all have abilities and some just need an opportunity.”

The Texans will be without two receivers who were declared out — Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring). Also out is cornerback Alijah Huzzie (knee). Listed as questionable are cornerback Jaylin Smith (hamstring) and defensive end Denico Autry (knee).

Coach Kyle Shanahan gets his point across on the field as well as in the meeting rooms. Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group

Shanahan’s messaging skill

Given that Jones played for Nick Saban in college and Bill Belichick with the Patriots, his thoughts on Shanahan’s ability to deliver a message to his team carry some weight.

“I think he’s one of the best that I’ve been around in terms of team meetings and offensive meetings and not just the X’s and O’s,” Jones said. “He’s always trying to come up with something new that he can get to the team but that’s because he means it. It’s not make believe.”

Saleh on Lucas

Cornerback Chase Lucas has won over Saleh with his play and his study habits.

“He sees all the nuance in football, every little detail,” Saleh said. “He studies his butt off. He’s the ultimate energy giver. He’s giving juice to everybody, talking smack with everybody, A young man who loves the game of football and everything that goes with it. He plays, corner, he plays nickel, he plays safety. It would be a disservice to try and explain how valuable he is.”

The Kubiak report

Klay Kubiak, the 49ers’ offensive coordinator, is the brother of Klint Kubiak, who holds the same position with the Seattle Seahawks.

And Houston is coming off a loss to Seattle. The 49ers also played Tampa Bay in Week 6 after the Seahawks had played them Week 5.

Do the Kubiaks share intelligence on opponents?

“We’ve kind of been following each other this year, but he’s not revealing too much and vice versa,” Klay Kubiak said. “We’re divisional foes. But we always talk after games, just kind of, ‘Hey, what were you seeing in the defense?’ How’d they look to you live?’ Just kind of sharing little stuff like that, but just pretty much the norm.”

Originally Published: October 24, 2025 at 3:15 PM PDT