49ers vs. Rams injury report: Deebo Samuel out, along with Kyle Juszczyk, Dre Greenlaw

SANTA CLARA — Deebo Samuel’s physicality and playmaking ability has been ever-present in the 49ers’ duels with the Los Angeles Rams since 2019. That will change Sunday, when he sits out the 49ers’ visit to SoFi Stadium.

Samuel’s hamstring strain kept him from practicing all week, making Christian McCaffrey’s arrival via trade last week even more timely to help fill the offensive void.

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The 49ers have a bye next weekend, but that didn’t necessarily factor into Samuel’s status this game.

“It’s not a precaution. He’s not good enough to go,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “... hopefully he’ll be good with a week off and be ready for the next game.”

The 49ers’ offense also will be without fullback Kyle Juszczyk (finger), while the defense won’t have linebacker Dre Greenlaw (calf) and defensive tackle Arik Armstead (foot, ankle).

Questionable are cornerback Jason Verrett, who was activated to the roster this week amid knee rehabilitation, and wide receiver Jauan Jennings (hamstring).

Without Samuel and possibly Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk will lead a receiving corps whose other options include Ray-Ray McCloud, no-catch rookie Danny Gray and likely a call-up from the practice squad, that being either Malik Turner, Willie Snead IV or Tay Martin.

Of course, Jimmy Garoppolo has two other Pro Bowl-proven targets, too, in tight end George Kittle and new running back McCaffrey.

Garoppolo likes what he’s seen from Aiyuk in his third season, saying: “B.A. has taken some big steps. Really in the last couple weeks, it’s been awesome. It’s been really cool to see. B.A. is a pretty quiet guy overall, but when he gets talking and he’s saying things to younger guys and you see it, just his demeanor, how he carries himself, his presence is felt.”

Aiyuk’s 32 receptions are tied with Samuel for the team lead. When Samuel missed five games in 2020 with a hamstring injury, Aiyuk stepped up and scored in three of those games.

Juszczyk’s six screws

Juszczyk required six screws in Monday’s surgery to stabilize the right ring finger he fractured Sunday, when it got stuck in Justin Reid’s face mask on an 17-yard, third-and-10 reception. “When I hit the ground, it felt loose, so I pulled it back into place, but it wouldn’t stay,” said Juszczyk, who taped up his fingers and went on to make another catch, an 8-yarder with five minutes to go and the 49ers down 44-23.

Juszczyk said this is the first broken bone he’s endured in his 10-year career as a hard-hitting, versatile fullback.

Verrett’s status

Verrett is eligible to make his season debut after getting activated off an injury list Wednesday, but the more likely scenario is the 49ers stick with the last game’s starting unit of Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenior, with Jimmie Ward at nickel back. Shanahan said Verrett may make a cameo, however.

Verrett, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in last year’s season opener, declined to comment Friday. He was limited in practice all week. Shanahan said of ACL comebacks: “The physical part is done with the trainers and all the rehab of just sprinting and hitting time (is) to make sure you’re capable of being the same guy. But when it comes to playing football, reacting, and covering people, it’s a physical and mental thing. Your body has to react to it, which takes time, and you have to be confident to put those feet in the ground and not hesitate.”

Banks’ outlook

Left guard Aaron Banks called it “definitely a blessing” to oppose Rams superstar Aaron Donald, saying: ” He’s a very slippery player. He makes plays. He’s someone you have to game plan for. You know he’s going to make plays, but it’s snap-onto-the-next-play mentality.”

That mentality has served Banks well in his impressive start to the season. His mantra: play fast, play physical, have fun and play with passion to try to bring the juice for this team.

Banks didn’t play an offensive snap in the 49ers’ two visits last season to face the Rams at SoFi Stadium, but he appreciated how the crowd was so pro-49ers that the Rams’ offense required a snap count instead of the visiting team. “I’m hoping it’s the same, that Niner fans and The Faithful show out like they did last year, make (the Rams) go silent (count) and keep us nice and quiet,” Banks said. “It’d be pretty dope.”

Rehab sights

The 49ers figure to bring back several players off short-term injured reserve following next week’s bye, and probably the likeliest candidate is running back Elijah Mitchell, whose knee sprain in the season opener was projected as a two-month injury.

Mitchell was seen rehabilitating on a side field Friday, along with linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and offensive tackle Colton McKivitz, whose knee sprains likely will keep them sidelined a bit longer.

Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw came out to watch practice, two weeks after the went on injured reserve to alleviate swelling in his surgically repaired knee. Kinlaw is eligible to return when the 49ers face the Arizona Cardinals in Mexico City on Nov. 21, but general manager John Lynch has said the defensive tackle likely will skip a couple of games after the bye — the Cardinals game follows the Nov. 13 home affair against the Los Angeles Chargers. A three-game homestand follows against the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay.

Rams injury report

The Rams only ruled out running back Cam Akers, who’s on the trading block. Questionable is wide receiver Brandon Powell. Center Brian Allen and wide receiver Van Jefferson are cleared to return from knee injuries.