49ers’ Brock Purdy back practicing ahead of Bills game Sunday

SANTA CLARA — While Brock Purdy resumed practicing through a shoulder issue and Dre Greenlaw made a much-anticipated debut after an Achilles tear, one name not on the 49ers’ injury list is that of Fred Warner, who revealed Wednesday he has been playing through a lower-leg fracture the past two months.

Warner has not missed a start — or a defensive snap — since a Sept. 29 ankle injury against the New England Patriots.

“It’s something I deal with every game. I get on that table before the game and get it shot up every game just to be able to roll,” Warner said Wednesday. “But it’s not an excuse. it is what it is. That’s the NFL. You’re not going to be healthy. You have to find ways to execute, to play at a high level, and to win every week.”

Warner, a unanimous All-Pro last season, says “we’ll see” whether he can continue to play through this for the 49ers (5-6) with six games left in the regular season.

“It was a fracture when I sprained it, so anytime you fracture a bone, if you just continue to play on it, the bone is usually not going to be able to heal itself,” Warner added. “So you’ve just got to continue to fight through. I probably shouldn’t get too much into it. I probably already made a mistake by even saying all of this. Yeah, back when I hurt it, there was a bone fracture.”

Warner has battled through to lead a defense that found itself overmatched too often this season, and his four missed tackles last game were his most since his 2018 rookie season. Warner’s also had to play without his long-time sidekick, Greenlaw, who was cleared to practice Wednesday for the first time since tearing his Achilles in the Super Bowl.

As for Purdy, he is cleared to resume practicing, having been shut down last Thursday with shoulder soreness and now lending hope he could play in Sunday night’s game at Buffalo.

The 49ers were overwhelmed 38-10 Sunday by the host Green Bay Packers, with Brandon Allen starting in place of Purdy, who had not previously missed a start because of injury through nearly two years in that QB1 role.

A week ago, Purdy did not throw in Wednesday’s practice because of shoulder pain that arose during the 49ers’ Nov. 17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. After some light throwing Thursday, he left practice to undergo treatment, and that continued through the weekend as he traveled with the 49ers for their three-day stay in Wisconsin. On Monday, Purdy reported no pain as he resumed throwing on the side, coach Kyle Shanahan said.

Purdy remains limited, and coach Kyle Shanahan said “we’ll see” regarding what Wednesday’s workload will entail.

Purdy’s status still must be evaluated through this week’s practices, and with so many other 49ers battling injuries, the Bills (9-3) are having to do extra preparation for the 49ers’ contingency plans.

“There’s some moving targets, right, with who we’re expecting to play,” Bills coach Sean McDermott told reporters Wednesday. “We have to prepare for them to be as healthy as they’ve ever been, just because we don’t know. … It makes it a little tougher and you spend a little more time with the prep.”

Although McDermott and Shanahan faced off as NFC South coordinators a decade ago, McDermott has yet to face Purdy.

“I have a lot of respect for his game, how he plays, the way he handles himself with his faith and everything,” McDermott added. “With what he’s done for their team, he has those traits you admire.”

For the second straight week, the 49ers will not make their starting quarterback available to media until Friday, whether that is Purdy or Allen; there is no media access on Thursday.

HEALTH CENTER

Defensive end Nick Bosa (oblique, hip) and left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) remain out of practice, the latter of whom was seen riding a scooter through the locker room to support his wounded leg.

Bosa, after missing his first game of the season, says he’s making progress against oblique and hip injuries. “I still need to get better before I’m ready to go, so this week will be big,” Bosa said. “I’ll know a lot more in the next couple of days.”

Also not practicing were running back Christian McCaffrey (rest), cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (knee), left guard Aaron Banks (concussion), defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (concussion), linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee).

McCaffrey is three games into his season and Shanahan called it “unfair” to criticize McCaffrey for not playing in MVP-type form after missing so much time.

The 49ers have three weeks to evaluate whether to activate him off injured reserve. Greenlaw is to be limited, as are right guard Dominick Puni (shoulder) and defensive Kevin Givens (groin).

BUFFALO INJURIES

Tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) did not practice for the Bills while limited were wide receiver Keon Coleman (wrist) and right tackle Spencer Brown (ankle). Linebacker Matt Milano could come off injured reserve and make his season debut Sunday; defensive tackle DeWayne Carter and left tackle Tylan Grable had their IR evaluation windows opened Wednesday.

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