SANTA CLARA — Cornerback Ambry Thomas isn’t the 49ers’ only defensive reserve headed for surgery.
Defensive tackle Kalia Davis discretely sustained a knee injury Saturday that, like Thomas, will require a procedure Thursday with the intention of a midseason return, coach Kyle Shanahan said.
Davis could benefit from the NFL’s new roster rules, in which two players are allowed to go on Injured Reserve before the 53-man roster cut and still return during the season.
Davis injured an area near his patellar tendon in the preseason-opening road loss to Tennessee, where he flashed with a sack and two tackles for loss Saturday.
“He played awesome through the whole game, and that is why we were surprised he had an unfortunate injury,” Shanahan said.
Davis, who missed his 2022 rookie season because of a knee injury in college, was competing for a backup role with Kevin Givens, Evan Anderson, T.Y. McGill and others.
Shanahan said there have been more injuries than in past camps but he’ll take the quantity over the severity aspect. Thomas and Davis have been the most seriously injured veterans. Linebacker Fred Warner returned to practice Monday after missing time last week with a foot issue.
Thomas, a fourth-year veteran, fractured his right forearm in the second quarter of Saturday’s 17-13 defeat.
That cornerback corps is also without Isaac Yiadom, who could miss another week because of an ankle injury last week. He’s emerged as the No. 3 option behind Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir.
Among those also out of practice: running backs Christian McCaffrey (calf), Elijah Mitchell (hamstring), Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) and Patrick Taylor Jr.; wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk (hold-in) and Ricky Pearsall (hamstring); tight end Brayden Willis (soreness); guards Jon Feliciano (knee), Spencer Burford (finger)and Ben Bartch; and, safety George Odum (attended baby’s birth).
AIYUK, WILLIAMS STILL OUT
Brandon Aiyuk has taken part in meetings during camp but hasn’t worked out on the field with teammates, either in practice or on the side, Shanahan said.
“I trust Brandon knows what he has to do for this year to get ready to play,” Shanahan said. “I’m feeling he’s finding a way to stay in shape, but there’s a football-shape element to get back to. Hopefully he’ll get to that soon.”
Aiyuk was not seen at practice; he’s previously watched from afar in an equipment staff’s cart.
Left tackle Trent Williams has yet to report to camp and has accrued $1.8 million in fines.
NO JOINT PRACTICES
As much as Shanahan enjoys joint practices, the 49ers’ rash of injuries prompted them to scrub their planned sessions Thursday and Friday against the New Orleans Saints at UC Irvine.
“It was not the best thing for our team where we are injury-wise,” Shanahan said. “I love doing (joint practices) but the risk was too much without the reward.”
Lenoir was disappointed, but not because he is a Southern California native.
“We’ve been competing with each other for so long,” Lenoir said. “Being able to unleash that on another team would have been great for two days and to get scrappy out there.”
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Robbie Chosen officially signed, suited up, and participated in warmups. The ninth-year veteran tried out last week and agreed to a deal Thursday, with Shanahan still impressed by his speed and 6-foot-3 frame. In a corresponding roster move, Frank Darby was waived injured.
PLAY OF THE DAY
Lenoir made a practice-ending, acrobatic interception at the goal line of a Purdy long-ball throw to Jacob Cowing. Said Lenoir: “They had got me earlier in camp where (the receiver) crossed my face. This time I held my leverage and I mimicked Jacob’s release, quick hands and ran with him and heard Fred yell ‘Ball’ from far, then I went up and made the play.”
LATEST ON HUFANGA
Safety Talanoa Hufanga will have his surgically repaired knee examined by a doctor on Thursday. “It’s going very well. Hopefully we get good news and get him back sooner than later,” Shanahan said.
PRACTICE NOTES
A one-hour, no-pads practice pitted only first-string units in full-team drills. … Linebacker Fred Warner returned in top form after missing practices last week because of a foot issue. … Brock Purdy completed all seven of his targets to George Kittle. … Cowing had a drop and Danny Gray had a 20-yard pass go through his hands. … Undrafted rookie Jaylen Mahoney and recent acquisition Tracy Walker III saw time at safety next to Ji’Ayir Brown. … Jaylon Moore, the 49ers’ left tackle in place of Trent Williams, returned to action Monday; he did not play Saturday after becoming ill.
