The San Francisco 49ers have a few things to be thankful for this holiday season, one of them being the potential of Aaron Banks playing on Thanksgiving.
San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that the team’s starting left guard is set to return to practice in a limited fashion Tuesday. Banks has been unable to get much work in since suffering a turf toe injury in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He has missed every game since then but is now set to make an effort to play on a short week.
“Yes, he does,” Shanahan said when asked about Banks’ availability for Week 12.
Not all injury news was good for the 49ers however, with right guard Spencer Burford unable to suit up for practice. The Texas native has a knee injury suffered in Sunday’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is now a question mark for Thursday. However, the ailment is not considered long-term, and Burford would most likely be able to play if it was a normal week.
If he cannot play in Week 12, 49ers offensive lineman Jon Feliciano will set in. The veteran has been filling in for Banks the last few weeks, posting a 79.6 Pro Football Focus grade this season. If both Banks and Burford can’t play Thursday, backup left tackle Jaylon Moore will slide inside for the time being.
Additionally, the 49ers have signed OL Ben Bartch to the active roster from the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad Tuesday. He is unlikely to see much time in Week 12 due to the short week.
To make the Bartch signing official, the 49ers have placed safety Talanoa Hufanga on the injury reserve due to a torn ACL.
