The 49ers need to be healthy as they can for a potentially crucial Week 5 matchup with the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

And Thursday's injury report made for much better reading going into that meeting of NFC heavyweights.

San Francisco was down two defensive starters at Wednesday's practice, but both now appear on track to play in primetime.

Injury report

Injury report observations

Charvarius Ward's heel problem that has lingered since before the start of the season initially looked as if it might keep him out of the game in which his presence would be most needed.

Though CeeDee Lamb spends much of his time in the slot, Ward will still be crucial in keeping a receiving corps that also features Michael Gallup and Brandin Cooks quiet.

Without their top cornerback, a 49ers defense that has excelled at preventing explosive plays would suddenly look potentially vulnerable to them. If Ward were to miss out, that could potentially inject a Cowboys attack heavily reliant on quick game with more confidence to attack downfield.

But it does not appear as if the 49ers will have such a headache, and San Francisco should also have linebacker Dre Greenlaw available. Greenlaw missed practice on Wednesday last week before practicing in a limited capacity on Thursday and Friday and then playing in the win over Arizona. It appears he will follow the same plan this week.

Deebo Samuel is on course to feature having played against the Cardinals after missing the entire week of practice. Jauan Jennings is clearly in a position to return after being held out of Week 4.

There is no such good news for running back Elijah Mitchell, whose absence from practice likely means a second successive game on the sideline for the 49ers' 2021 leading rusher. Jordan Mason will be expected to again back up Christian McCaffrey with Mitchell out. Veteran backup interior lineman Jon Feliciano remains in concussion protocol.

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