Adding Chris Hubbard to the practice squad might not bode well for Aaron Banks’s availability.
The San Francisco 49ers made a couple of transactions as they returned to practice on Wednesday afternoon. Offensive tackle Chris Hubbard signed to the practice squad. The corresponding move was to release edge rusher Jonathan Garvin, who most recently played in the UFL before his stint with the Green Bay Packers.
Releasing Garvin doesn’t mean that Yetur Gross-Matos is getting closer to returning. The free agent addition will not practice on Wednesday. Neither will linebacker Dee Winters.
Here’s a look at the players who will be limited during Wednesday’s session:
S Talanoa Hufanga (knee)
RB Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles)
WR Jauan Jennings (ankle)
OL Aaron Banks
But swapping an offensive lineman for a defensive lineman suggests that Banks’s calf injury may prevent him from playing on Sunday. If that’s the case, Spencer Burford would return to the starting lineup, but on the left side, where he played in college. The most 49er thing imaginable would be losing both starting guards to an injury only to find a better replacement.
Ben Bartch would likely be elevated to the active roster if Banks cannot play next Sunday on a short week. Bartch was a healthy scratch in Week 1.