Injuries have cast a long shadow over the San Francisco 49ers 2024 season and they enter the Week 8 primetime clash with the Dallas Cowboys with doubt surrounding a number of key players.

The two main concerns to start the gameweek surrounded wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle.

Samuel was only released from hospital on Tuesday having been admitted on Sunday with pneumonia, while Kittle has been dealing with a foot sprain.

They each missed Wednesdays practice but both were on the field on Thursday and Friday. Still, Samuel and Kittle each carry a questionable designation for a crucial Sunday Night Football matchup, with their importance in the offense increased by the season-ending injury to Brandon Aiyuk, which he suffered in the second quarter of last weeks defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said in his final pregame press conference that Samuels stamina had gotten better each day as he has recovered from an illness that limited him to just four snaps against Kansas City.

In addition to Aiyuk, the 49ers will again be without their leading receiver this season, Jauan Jennings, who will miss a second straight game with a hip injury. The 49ers are hoping to have him back after their Week 9 bye.

With Jennings unable to go, rookie first-round pick Ricky Pearsall and fourth-rounder Jacob Cowing could each see extended playing time, the latter in particular having caught the eye last week.

On the defensive side of the ball, interior lineman Kevin Givens misses out with a groin issue while cornerback Deommodore Lenoir is listed as questionable with an illness.

Running back Jordan Mason is good to go, however. He had been limited on Wednesday and Thursday because of a shoulder injury but practiced on Friday without a blue non-contact jersey.

49ers injury report

The Cowboys, meanwhile, will once again be without star edge rusher Micah Parsons because of an ankle injury. Cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) also misses out.