The San Francisco 49ers enter Week 4 with a 3-0 mark and are ready to face the Jaguars on September 28. But other than all of the sizzling beginning, health concerns are dominating their season’s narrative, once again. Quarterback Brock Purdy got a double injury in Week 1, and since then, he’s been dealing with it. However, on Wednesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan finally gave an update on his quarterback.

While addressing the media, when asked about Brock’s toe injury progress, Shanahan replied, “He’s better today than he was on Sunday, and hopefully that’ll keep continuing.” The 24-year-old is dealing with a left shoulder AC joint sprain and turf toe injuries that have already caused him to miss the last two games. The coach also added that Brock will be limited in practice on Wednesday, getting some reps. But how he plays this week in practice will determine who gets the snaps at center against the Jaguars.

Purdy led the 49ers to a 17-13 win at Seattle on Sept. 8, throwing for 277 yards and two touchdowns. But it’s not just Purdy. The San Francisco injury list is long and continues to get longer day by day. However, fortunately, the 49ers have weathered it out with a mixture of depth and toughness. Fewer people expected that the team would start 3-0 without Purdy, but his replacement, Mac Jones, has played very well, keeping the offense going as well. He finished 27-of-41 for 284 yards against Arizona. And he isn’t alone.

On the other hand, Christian McCaffrey has served as the offense’s bellwether, succeeding as a do-everything threat on the ground and in the air. Though his running has been sensational (176 rushing yards on 52 carries), his receiving contributions, 213 yards and a touchdown on 25 catches, have kept the offense on an even keel. Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is another who has produced 281 yards on 16 receptions, with George Kittle being out on injured reserve.

Defensively, the Niners are trying to move beyond the season-changing loss of Nick Bosa. Bryce Huff and Mykel Williams have been called upon to fill in for him on the edge, and rotational guys like Adrian Martinez have been promoted to first-team status.

No doubt, the injury resilience of San Francisco is being tested in every direction. Without Purdy, as limited as he has been, the 49ers have used a run game and a plodding passing attack to keep the chains moving. However, amid all this chaos comes some good news for the 49ers.

Return of Jauan Jennings in Kyle Shanahan’s offense

Other than the quarterback, the 49ers are on the brink of getting a crucial weapon back. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings, out since he injured his shoulder in Week 1 and then rolled his ankle in Week 2, is on the brink of getting back to practice. However, Shanahan was hopeful with caution. The coach said, “Hopefully, he can this week. He will be similar to last week. He was close to getting in, never was able to make it, and it’ll be the same this week.”

In his limited plays this year, Jennings has caught seven passes for 105 yards with one score and is averaging 15 receiving yards per catch. Adding Jennings would bring toughness to an offense that has leaned heavily on McCaffrey and Pearsall. Shanahan noted that Jennings is on day-to-day watch and will likely participate in at least one full practice before he can be cleared for the upcoming game.

For the time being, at least, the 49ers are balancing between caution and urgency. The depth on the roster has gotten it through its bad times in the past. With a tough midseason ahead, a healthy Purdy and stronger receivers could be the key to keeping their early rhythm alive.