SANTA CLARA — Safety Talanoa Hufanga indeed will suit up today for only the third time this season, bolstering a full-staff secondary against Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams.
It’s yet to be determined whether Hufanga will reclaim a starting spot in place of either Ji’Ayir Brown or rookie Malik Mustapha ahead of the 1:25 p.m. kickoff. Hufanga was on the field two hours before kickoff, resuming his usual pregame routine and doing so without a cast protecting his wrist.
Deommodore Lenoir returns from a one-game hiatus (knee), and fellow cornerback Charvarius Ward will play in his second straight game after a four-game break.
Saturday’s flurry of transactions saw the 49ers activate Hufanga from injured reserve after a right-wrist injury shelved him since the Week 5 loss at Arizona; he missed the first two games this season still recovering from last season’s right-knee injury.
The 49ers (5-7) will look to snap a three-game losing streak while missing defensive end Nick Bosa (oblique), right tackle Trent Williams (ankle), and, left guard Aaron Banks (concussion).
Ward did not practice Friday, being excused for a personal matter while grieving the Oct. 28 death of his daughter, Amani Joy. Ward played last Sunday in Buffalo in his first game since her unexpected passing. He went through today’s warmups wearing a T-shirt with an image of his daughter on it.
Also on Saturday, the 49ers officially placed both running back Jordan Mason (ankle) and safety George Odum (knee) on IR, promoted offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez (No. 60) from the practice squad, and elevated both running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn (No. 49) and linebacker Jalen Graham (No. 41) from the practice squad.
NINERS INACTIVES
Running back Israel Abanikanda, acquired last week off waivers, is inactive, as are cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and No. 3 quarterback Josh Dobbs.
With Christian McCaffrey and Mason both placed on Injured Reserve, the 49ers’ rushing depth chart today offers Isaac Guerenedo, Patrick Taylor Jr. and Vaughn, as well as wide receiver Deebo Samuel and fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
BEARS’ OFFENSIVE HELP
Running back D’Andre Swift and wide receiver D.J. Moore are suiting up for the Bears despite quadriceps injuries keeping them out of two practices last week and making them questionable today.
The Bears deactivated center Ryan Bates (concussion), safety Elijah Hicks (ankle), running back Roschon Johnson (concussion), wide receiver Tyler Scott, defensive lineman Dominique Robinson, defensive back Ameer Speed and offensive lineman Larry Borom.
BEARS HISTORY
The Bears are undefeated at Levi’s Stadium, having won the 49ers’ first-ever game here in 2014 (28-20) and their December 2018 return (14-9). The only other teams undefeated in games here are the Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) and the Indianapolis Colts (1-0); the Buffalo Bills have not lost here, having played in 2020 when the 49ers hosted them in Arizona.
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The Bears are 0-5 away from Soldier Field this season, all but one of those losses coming in a one-score game. Their road games remaining after today’s are at Minnesota next Monday night and at Green Bay in the regular-season finale.
