PLAYER NOTES
–WR Marquise Goodwin remained away from the team Wednesday to tend to private matters. He returned home from Florida after the team arrived on Friday and missed the Week 12 loss to the Buccaneers. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday he has no idea if his top wideout will be available for the Week 13 game at Seattle.
–WR Pierre Garcon (bruised knee, strained shoulder) practiced on a limited basis on Wednesday in his quest to play for the first time since Week 9 against the Oakland Raiders. He had a similar start to his practice regimen last week before not suiting up for the loss at Tampa Bay.
–WR Max McCaffrey was signed to the 49ers’ practice squad on Tuesday. Undrafted in 2016, McCaffrey has one career catch in the NFL. The Duke product is the brother of Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.
–G Joshua Garnett (thumb surgery) returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis, opening the door for a possible return to game action in Week 13 against Seattle. The former first-round pick has not played since Week 10 against the New York Giants.
–MLB Tyrell Adams was signed to the 49ers’ practice squad on Tuesday. The undrafted player in 2015, a 26-year-old who attended West Georgia, has 15 games of NFL experience, including 12 with the Raiders.
–OLB Malcolm Smith (strained Achilles) played through the pain for 26 defensive snaps in the Week 12 loss at Tampa Bay before sitting out the second half. He practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and likely will be able to play in the Week 13 game at Seattle.
–OLB James Onwualu was promoted from the 49ers’ practice squad to the 53-man roster on Tuesday. The Notre Dame product had nine games of NFL experience with the Chargers last season.
–CB D.J. Reed Jr. (strained heel, bruised chest) was injured in the Week 12 loss at Tampa Bay and already has been ruled out of the Week 13 game at Seattle.
–S Godwin Igwebuike was claimed off waivers from the Buccaneers on Tuesday. The undrafted rookie from Northwestern played in one game for Tampa Bay this season.
–FS Jimmie Ward (broken forearm) suffered the injury in the Week 12 loss at Tampa Bay. He has been placed on season-ending injured reserve. Ward finished the season with 23 tackles and one forced fumble in nine games (seven starts).
–SS Jaquiski Tartt (strained shoulder) was in on 65 of 72 defensive snaps in the Week 12 loss at Tampa Bay before taking a blow on his previously injured shoulder late in the game. He wore a no-contact jersey at practice Wednesday, but would have to be listed as probable for the Week 13 trip to Seattle.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: MLB Fred Warner. Lost in the fog created by Reuben Foster’s injuries and, more recently, his release, Warner has been one of the most productive rookies in the NFL this season. But with Foster now gone, the spotlight shifts fulltime to the guy who is now considered the future of the linebacker position for San Francisco. That’s a different kind of pressure.
GAME PLAN: Corral Russell Wilson. The 49ers allowed Jameis Winston to escape the pocket and extend numerous plays that might otherwise have been sacks or incomplete passes in the Week 12 loss at Tampa Bay. Now they face an even more elusive target in the Seahawks’ Wilson, who this season finds himself surrounded by far fewer weapons than ever before. The 49ers must put limits on his one-man show.
On the other side of the ball, it’s hard to expect much from the 49ers’ offense, now that Nick Mullens has been exposed as an NFL journeyman at best. A conservative plan featuring the elusive running back Matt Breida would seem like the best way to go, hoping the San Francisco defense — not Seattle’s — is the one that creates what could be the difference-making turnover.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–49ers WR Dante Pettis vs. Seahawks CB Shaquill Griffin. No doubt, Pettis will have some fans in the stands as he returns to the city of his collegiate success. But he’ll draw a tough matchup in Griffin, who would love to be the first Seahawks defensive player to return an interception for a touchdown this season, and just might be given that opportunity to an error-prone 49ers quarterback.
–49ers K Robbie Gould vs. Seahawks K Sebastian Janikowski. San Francisco Bay Area sports fans are well aware of Janikowski’s powerful left leg, as he put it on display for the Oakland Raiders for several seasons. Seahawks fans, meanwhile, should be familiar with Gould. He did all the 49ers’ scoring in last year’s visit, a surprisingly competitive 12-9 loss, and accounted for 16 of the 22 points San Francisco scored in two games against Seattle last season.
