2 Key 49ers Players Clear Concussion Protocol Ahead of Cardinals Game
Posted September 20, 2025
he San Francisco 49ers are getting healthier just in time for their home opener Sunday.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk and cornerback Siran Neal were both cleared from the concussion protocol and are expected to play against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium.
Both Neal and Juszczyk were full participants at the Niners’ practice Friday after each had been limited throughout the week. Each player has played in both of San Francisco’s first two games.
San Francisco (2-0) is eyeing just its second 3-0 start in the past five years.
What Impact Will Kyle Juszczyk and Siran Neal Have Sunday?
Niners fans know Juszczyk as an unsung hero, particularly as the lead blocker for Christian McCaffrey.
With Mac Jones potentially serving as the starting quarterback in a divisional game — against Arizona, who walked into Santa Clara and won — and Jauan Jennings missing practice Friday, having Juszczyk available as both blocker and pass-catcher will be huge.
Juszczyk has three catches for 37 yards this season, including one for five in San Francisco’s 26-21 Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday — which Jones also started.
As for Neal, he has primarily been a special-teams player, since he has only one tackle and has not played a defensive snap this season. Yet, he has played 35 special-teams snaps thus far in 2025.
Yet, Neal is listed as the backup free safety to Jason Pinnock on the 49ers depth chart and has played both cornerback and safety in his career. That means he will be available in case of injury.
Is Brock Purdy Playing Sunday?
Though Mac Jones still took starting-quarterback reps, and franchise quarterback Brock Purdy was slated to miss two-to-four weeks with shoulder and toe injuries according to reports, Purdy still may suit up for the showdown between 2-0 teams Sunday.
“It’s been a day-to-day thing this week, and I feel like I’m happy with the progress that I’ve been making with my foot and toe,” Purdy said. “So more than anything, it’s just going to be a day-to-day thing on how I feel.”
Purdy’s optimism was met with a cold dose of water from 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, who seems more interested in keeping Purdy progressing — and maybe dressing for the game Sunday — rather than shoe-horning him into the team’s starting lineup.
“I thought he had a good week. Hopefully we can get him up for the game,” Shanahan said. “Just see how he does tomorrow. Just talking to him, I think it’s highly unlikely that he’ll start, but just trying to see where he’s at to see if he could be a [backup] or an emergency three (quarterback).”
Whoever plays quarterback for San Francisco will again have his blindside protected by one of the greatest left tackles to ever play. Trent Williams, like Neal and Juszczyk, was elevated to a full practice participant Friday, meaning he is likely to play Sunday.
Williams is battling a knee injury by has started each of the Niners’ first two games and earned the 18th-best rating from Pro-Football Focus among tackles through two weeks (70.6).
Red Wings News: Shutout in Vegas, much-needed homestand coming, Patrick Kane's status
The Detroit Red Wings couldn't capitalize on John Gibson's stellar outing on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights, falling 1-0 in their road trip finale. But don't let that take away from Gibson's 33-save night, giving him a 0.971 save percentage and some momentum as the Wings head back to Detroit.
Gibson held up his end of the deal following a not-so-good performance in his previous outing, a 5-2 loss against his former team, the Anaheim Ducks. Gibson's numbers this season were nothing to write home about, clocking in with just a 0.875 save percentage, a 3.32 GAA, and a 0.429 quality starts percentage across his first seven starts.
He may have an 'L' next to his name following the loss to Vegas, but nobody needed to enjoy a strong performance more than Gibson.
Red Wings have a massive advantage heading into their homestand
The Wings have a four-game homestand coming up, and not a single game on the upcoming slate comprises a playoff team from the 2024-25 season. Should the Wings pick up where they left off at home, where they are 5-1, there's a good chance they can take control of the Atlantic Division. Here's the upcoming slate:
Opponent
Date
Time
New York Rangers
Nov. 7
7:00 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks
Nov. 9
1:00 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks
Nov. 13
7:00 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres
Nov. 15
7:00 p.m.
Not only do the Wings have four straight home games, but they're spread out over nine days. This gives them an ample amount of rest time, especially between their Nov. 9 matchup vs. the Blackhawks and the Nov. 13 grudge match vs. the Ducks.
One thing the Wings can't do here is to play down to their competition. They already lost to Anaheim and Buffalo earlier in the year, so they know what those two squads are capable of. The Blackhawks are also playing much better hockey through the early stages of 2025-26, and the Rangers are no pushover.
Patrick Kane is finally closer to a big return
Patrick Kane has seen time in just five games this season, and he missed the entire road trip. He was averaging a point per game before an upper-body injury took him out of action, but that will be changing soon.
Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press gave an update on Kane's status, writing, "Patrick Kane appears likely to join practice on Thursday, Nov. 6, after being sidelined three weeks with an upper-body injury," after head coach Todd McLellan said, "There's a real good chance he can skate with us on Thursday,"
Keep an eye out for Kane. If he skates with the Red Wings on Thursday, there might be a chance he'll be ready for the Nov. 7 matchup against the Rangers. If he's unable to go, then perhaps he'll make his big return vs. the Blackhawks, the team where he spent most of his career.
