49ers' Evans, Samuel, Bosa ruled out; Kirk may return

The San Francisco 49ers will take the field against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday without three of their biggest names, as an already worrying injury list grew to six ruled-out players on Friday.

Wide receiver Mike Evans (Achilles tendinitis) and defensive end Nick Bosa (calf) headline the absentees after neither practiced all week. Also sidelined are receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring), linebackers Luke Gifford (groin) and Garret Wallow (hamstring), and safety Marques Sigle (ankle), ESPN reported.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged the situation was unlike anything he had seen. "I don't think ever in my career [has that happened]," he said. "It's a unique situation." Shanahan said San Francisco may not dress the full 48-man game-day roster and has discussed asking players to fill in at unfamiliar positions.

There is at least some relief on the horizon. Veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk, who returned to practice last week, is expected to be activated from injured reserve. The 49ers released defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo on Friday to open a roster spot, and Shanahan said the technically questionable Kirk should be available.

Bosa has been out since injuring his calf ahead of the Week 3 trip to Arizona. Evans missed practice the week of the Washington game but played anyway, only to exit without returning. The 49ers get a Week 8 bye, giving the walking wounded extra time to recover.