Although they’ll be welcoming back cornerback Jimmie Ward, the 49ers will be without running back Carlos Hyde and nose tackle Glenn Dorsey when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dorsey’s on-again, off-again comeback is on hold again, presumably because of soreness in his reconstructed knee. He sat out a Week 5 loss to Arizona and played only 19 of 79 snaps last Sunday, then was limited in practice Thursday and Friday. Mike Purcell, Quinton Dial and Tony Jerod-Eddie are the most likely options to play nose tackle for the 31st-ranked defense.
Hyde is out with a shoulder issue, presumably a sprain, that he sustained in last Sunday’s 45-16 loss at Buffalo. Mike Davis is expected to start in his place, and practice-squad call-up DuJuan Harris will be the No. 2 back ahead of Shaun Draughn, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s Mindi Bach reports.
Ward’s return is a bit of a surprise if only because the 49ers (1-5) have their bye next week and could give him longer to recover from a Week 3 quadriceps injury. Rashard Robinson has been cleared to return from a concussion, giving them nine defensive backs on today’s active roster.
Also inactive are quarterback Christian Ponder, offensive lineman John Theus, tight end Je’Ron Hamm, wide receiver Keshawn Martin and defensive back Marcus Cromartie.
Headlining the list of Buccaneers inactives were running back Doug Martin and defensive linemen Robert Ayers and Clinton McDonald. Also out are quarterback Ryan Griffin, cornerback Johnthan Banks, offensive tackle Leonard Webster and offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch.
Cecil Shorts will start at wide receiver in place of Vincent Jackson for the Bucs.
