January 08, 2026
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Trent Williams looks for a 180-pound defensive back to try to fight.
The Philadelphia Eagles enter their Wild Card Round matchup with the San Francisco very healthy, and also fresh after resting starters Week 18 against the Washington Commanders. The 49ers are missing two of their best defensive players, and were on the wrong end of a very physical Week 18 game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Here's the Eagles-49ers injury report, with analysis.
| Player | Injury | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Status |
| TE Grant Calcaterra | Knee/Ankle | DNP | Limited | ||
| iOL Brett Toth | Concussion | DNP | DNP | ||
| RT Lane Johnson | Foot | Limited | Limited | ||
| iDL Jalen Carter | Hip | Limited | Limited | ||
| LB Nakobe Dean | Hamstring | Limited | Full | ||
| TE Dallas Goedert | Knee | Limited | Limited | ||
| S Marcus Epps | Concussion | Limited | Full | ||
| EDGE Jaelan Phillips | Ankle | Full | Full | ||
| EDGE Azeez Ojulari | Hamstring | Full | Full |
Wednesday notes:
• Lane Johnson practiced for the first time in months. That is a welcomed step in his likely return to the field on Sunday.
• Vic Fangio said on Tuesday that he expects Nakobe Dean to play on Sunday.
• Jalen Carter appeared on the injury report last week with that hip injury, so that'll be worth monitoring as the week progresses.
Thursday notes:
• Lane was limited again. He is very likely to play on Sunday, but it would be ideal if he practices in full on Friday.
• Dean and Epps went from limited to full, and Calcaterra practiced.
• S Andrew Mukuba (IR, eligible to come off of IR after Week 16): Mukuba has had an up and down rookie season, but was beginning to earn the trust of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. On the season, Mukuba has 46 tackles and 2 INTs. He is eligible to come off of IR, though Fangio said a couple weeks ago that he wasn't ready. Marcus Epps has started in Makuba's absence.
• WR Johnny Wilson (IR, knee/ankle, out for the season): Wilson is a massive receiver at 6'6, 228 who carved out a dirty work role as a physical blocker his rookie season in 2024, though sometimes he was a little too aggressive, as he committed four penalties (3 holding, 1 OPI). He wasn't much of a threat as a receiver, catching only 5 passes for 38 yards and a TD. He played a little over 400 snaps, and actually started four games.
• EDGE Ogbo Okoronkwo (IR, triceps, eligible to come off of IR at any time, season could be over): Okoronkwo was signed to provide edge depth. He played in just one game (4 snaps) before tearing his triceps.
• EDGE Azeez Ojulari (IR, triceps, eligible to come off of IR at any time): Ojulari was the presumed third EDGE defender in the pecking order when he signed with the Eagles as a free agent, but he is now no better than the EDGE7.
The Eagles' opened Ojulari's 21-day practice window on Tuesday.
• FB Ben VanSumeren (IR, knee, out for the season): VanSumeren was poised to take on a bigger role in the Eagles' offense in 2025 as a full-time fullback, but he tore his patellar tendon on the opening kickoff of the season. His season is over.
• iOL Willie Lampkin (IR, season over): Lampkin is an extreme oddity, in that he is a 5'11 offensive lineman who only weighs 290 pounds. He looks like a player you'd create in Madden just for fun. However, coming out of North Carolina he received glowing reviews for his play on the field, and he played well in the preseason after signing with the Rams as an undrafted rookie free agent. The Rams waived Lampkin with an injury designation. The Eagles then claimed him and placed him on their IR.
The Eagles activated Lampkin's 21-day practice window, which expired. He won't play this season.
• OT Myles Hinton (IR, Eagles opened up 21-day practice window on 11/19): Hinton is a sixth-round rookie who was up and down in training camp. The Eagles placed him on IR with a back injury, and he has not been on the active roster all season.
The Eagles activated Hinton's 21-day practice window, which expired. He won't play this season.
| Player | Injury | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Status |
| LT Trent Williams | Hamstring | DNP | Limited | ||
| WR Ricky Pearsall | Knee/Ankle | DNP | DNP | ||
| LB Dee Winters | Ankle | DNP | DNP | ||
| TE George Kittle | Ankle | Limited | Limited | ||
| DE Yetur Gross-Matos | Knee | Limited | Limited | ||
| DT Jordan Elliott | Knee | Limited | Limited | ||
| LB Luke Gifford | Knee | Limited | DNP | ||
| S Ji'Ayir Brown | Rib | Full | Full | ||
| DT Kalia Davis | Knee | Full | Full | ||
| WR Jacob Cowing | Hamstring | Full | Full |
Wednesday notes:
• Trent Williams is obviously the Niners' best offensive lineman, by far. He did not play Week 18 vs. Seattle, and he did not practice on Wednesday. It is expected that he will play on Sunday in Philly, but hamstring injuries can linger, and he very clearly is not 100 percent.
• Ricky Pearsall is a starting receiver, and probably the Niners' best deep threat. He did not play Week 18 against the Seahawks, and missed practice on Wednesday.
• The Niners lost top linebacker Fred Warner for the season way back in Week 6. Warner's replacement was Tatum Bethune, who tore his groin Week 18 against the Seahawks. His season is over.
The opening day starting linebacker opposite Warner was Dee Winters, who suffered an ankle injury when he got stepped on against Seattle. Winters was second on the team in snaps played in 2025, behind only CB Deommodore Lenoir. In 2025, Winters had 101 tackles, a pick-six, and 5 pass breakups. He did not practice on Wednesday.
The Niners also have to worry about LB Luke Gifford, who earned a trip to the Pro Bowl for his special teams play this season. He also had a role in the regular defense, getting defensive snaps in 15 of the Niners' regular season games. Gifford has a quad injury, and was limited on Wednesday.
Starting in place of Bethune will be 33-year-old Eric Kendricks. He had 138 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 INTs for Dallas in 2024. In 2025, he has appeared in just 3 games. There are worse players around the league who are starting at linebacker than Kendricks, in my opinion. Still, the Niners have major issues at linebacker.
Thursday notes:
• Williams practiced on Thursday. It feels to me like he'll play, whether he's ready or not. We'll see.
• Gifford went from limited to no practice on Thursday. Again, we're not talking about a critical player to the 49ers' defense here, but his importance is raised with how many linebackers are out.
• Pearsall and Winters did not practice for the second straight day.
• LB Fred Warner (IR, eligible to return at any time): Warner is considered by some to be the best off-ball linebacker in the NFL, with four First-Team All Pro nods. He does everything well. He can play the run, he's outstanding in coverage, he can blitz, and he's a smart field general. He suffered a gruesome ankle injury Week 6, and will not play in this game. Warner had 51 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 pass breakups in 6 games this season.
• DE Nick Bosa (IR, season over): Nick Bosa is a very good pass rusher, though in my opinion not on the level of guys like Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, and T.J. Watt, to name a few. He had 17 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in 3 games before suffering a season-ending torn ACL.
• WR Brandon Aiyuk (left team): Aiyuk had 75 catches for 1342 yards (17.9 YPC) and 7 TDs in 2023, earning a Second-Team All pro nod. He then "held in" at Niners training camp in 2024, before eventually landing a four-year deal worth $120 million. He then tore his ACL and MCL during the 49ers' Week 7 matchup against the Chiefs, ending his season.
Aiyuk began 2025 training camp on the PUP, and after a while simply stopped showing up to Niners' facilities, prompting them to place him on the "reserve/left team" list, ending his season, and voiding guarantees in his contract. It's unlikely that Aiyuk will ever play for the Niners again.
• DE Mykel Williams: Williams was the 11th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he started the first nine games of the season for the Niners before a season-ending torn ACL and lateral meniscus.
• LB Tatum Bethune: Bethune was Warner's replacement. He suffered a torn groin against the Seahawks Week 18, and his season is over. Bethune had 94 tackles, a sack, and 4 pass breakups as a fill-in. He played well against the run, but was shaky in coverage.
• LB Nick Martin: Martin is mainly a special teamer, but he's worth noting because of the Niners' many other injuries at linebacker.
• OG Ben Bartch: Bartch is a backup guard. He started two games for the Niners this season and weas in a weird rotation with Spencer Burford at LG earlier this season. His absence is noteworthy in case the Niners lose a guard during the game on Sunday, as he is their first guard off the bench.
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