Soft-tissue injuries are often prevalent early in the NFL season because there is less contact during training camp and preseason playing time for key contributors is limited. The league lost a few stars in recent weeks and now teams are tasked with filling that lost production.

The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers are heading in different directions injury-wise as the week progresses. Two key Rams players are improving ahead of Sunday’s game, while the 49ers added three starters to the injury report on Thursday.

No Kittle means the 49ers will be down three All-Pros on offense. The club figured to rely heavily on him while McCaffrey and Samuel were out. Now it appears Eric Saubert and Jake Tonges are in line for tight end snaps if Kittle is unable to play in Week 3.

See who's in and who's out for the Week 3 matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams on September 22, 2024.

The San Francisco 49ers started off Week 3 on the right foot. After absences and limited participations littered their first six practice participation reports, Wednesday’s report was relatively empty. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel was a non-participant as expected. Every other player was a full go to kick off Week 3’s practices.

Just two games into the season, the Rams (0-2) are approaching desperate times as they prepare to face the San Francisco 49ers (1-1) Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium. The list of issues thus far for the Rams is probably as long as their injury report.

We didn’t perform well because we didn’t do the things we’re capable of.” After an encouraging performance in Week 1, the Rams (0-2) got something of a wake-up call in the 41-10 loss to the Cardinals.