49ers welcome Arik Armstead back to practice amid wild-card bye
Defensive tackle Arik Armstead, safety Ji'Ayir Brown and wide receiver Jauan Jennings are among the 49ers who returned to practice Thursday ahead of this weekend's bye in the NFC wild-card playoffs.
SANTA CLARA — Defensive tackle Arik Armstead resumed practicing with the 49ers on Thursday, as did several other players who’ve battled injuries en route to the NFC playoffs’ No. 1 seed and this weekend’s bye for the wild-card round.
Not practicing, as expected, were running back Christian McCaffrey (calf), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achillles), defensive end Clelin Ferrell (knee), safety Tashaun Gipson (quadriceps), and guard Jon Feliciano (back).
Foot and knee injuries kept Armstead out the final five games of the regular season as the 49ers (12-4) clinched their second straight NFC West title. Their playoff opener will be either Saturday, Jan. 20 or Sunday, Jan. 21 at Levi’s Stadium against the lowest-remaining seed that advances out of this weekend’s three NFC wild-card games.
Also seen at Thursday’s lone practice this week open for media viewing: tight end George Kittle (back spasms), wide receiver Jauan Jennings (cleared from concussion), cornerback Ambry Thomas (hand), and safeties Ji’Ayir Brown (knee) and George Odum (biceps).
McCAFFREY HONOR
McCaffrey finished the regular season the same way he began it: NFC Offensive Player of the Month. He is the first to win such an award twice in a season since the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor in 2021. McCaffrey averaged an NFL-best 139 yards from scrimmage between Weeks 13 to 18, totaling 520 rushing yards in that span to win the NFL rushing title (1,459 yards) even while sitting out Week 18 with a calf strain. He earned his third career Pro Bowl invitation last week, and he’ll learn Friday whether he again made Associated Press’ All-Pro (first team in 2019, second team in 2018).
SHANAHAN CLIMBS RANKS
Only three current NFL coaches have been with their teams longer than the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, who moved up a spot each of the past two days in terms of that list, in which he only trails Mike Tomlin (Steelers, 2007), John Harbaugh (Ravens, 2008) and Andy Reid (Chiefs, 2013). Shanahan was hired in 2017 and, prior to this season, he and general manager John Lynch received contract extensions through at least 2027. Also hired in 2017 were the Rams’ Sean McVay and the Bills’ Sean McDermott. Ending their extended tenures in recent days were Pete Carroll with the Seattle Seahawks (14 seasons) and Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots (24 seasons).
WILKS IN DEMAND
The Atlanta Falcons joined the Los Angeles Chargers in requesting an interview with 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks for their respective head-coach opening, NFL Network reported. Wilks spent the start of Thursday’s practice talking for several minutes with Shanahan and Lynch.
The 49ers allowed the third-fewest points and eighth-fewest yards in Wilks’ initial season as coordinator. He replaced DeMeco Ryans, who served two years in that role before leaving to coach the Houston Texans to the AFC South title this season; Ryans had replaced Robert Saleh, who just completed his third season as the New York Jets’ coach. Wilks’ previous head-coaching stints were a 3-13 record with the 2018 Arizona Cardinals and a 6-6 mark as the Carolina Panthers’ interim coach to end last season.
PETERS LEAVING?
Adam Peters, the 49ers’ assistant general manager and seemingly Lynch’s eventual successor, is already a finalist to become the Washington Commanders’ head of football operations, according to NFL Network, which also listed Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham as a finalist. Three years ago, Washington hired Martin Mayhew out of the 49ers’ front office to become general manager.
The Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers reportedly also have requested interviews with Peters, who met in Miami this week with Commanders owner Josh Harris. This is the seventh season in the 49ers organization for Peters, a Mountain View native who attended Monta Vista High-Cupertino. He declined interview requests last year from the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans, and he previously was a finalist for GM jobs with the Carolina Panthers (2021) and the New York Giants (2022).