49ers RB Isaac Guerendo is ready to start against the Lions

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – After missing last week with a hamstring injury, San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo will play Monday night against the Detroit Lions.

Guerendo, who was listed as limited in practice this week due to foot and hamstring problems, had no injury report on Saturday’s injury report.

“It was nice to have him back,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We had a high-speed training session yesterday and he looked good, so it looks like he won’t be held back. He’s ready to go.”

After a series of injuries at running back that placed Christian McCaffrey (knee), Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) and Jordan Mason (ankle) on injured reserve, Guerendo assumed the starting role on December 8 against the Chicago Bears.

Guerendo rushed for 135 yards on 31 carries in those two weeks, but played through the loss to the Los Angeles Rams with a hamstring problem and a sprained ankle.

With Guerendo out last week, the Niners started Patrick Taylor Jr. against the Miami Dolphins. Taylor had eight carries for 24 yards and one catch for 1 yard in the game.

Guerendo’s expected return means the Niners will have Taylor and Israel Abanikanda available as backup players and Ke’Shawn Vaughn can be called up from the practice squad.

The bigger question for the Niners this week appears to be who will block for Guerendo and quarterback Brock Purdy. San Francisco was without guard Aaron Banks (knee) and tackle Spencer Burford (calf) on Saturday after placing starting left tackle Trent Williams (left ankle) and backup Jaylon Moore (quad) on injured reserve earlier this week had set.

Banks is scheduled to join them on injured reserve by Monday afternoon. Right tackle Colton McKivitz is also questionable with a knee injury, meaning the 49ers could play Charlie Heck and Austen Pleasants, both of whom were signed from other teams’ practice squads in the last 11 days, as the starting tackle duo against Detroit.

At least Heck and Pleasants will be active Monday night, which is also the expectation for center/guard Matt Hennessy, who was signed from Atlanta’s practice squad on Thursday.

“Having three guys that were on other teams’ practice squads last week, obviously the continuity isn’t there and it’s a big challenge when they’re not in the building and dealing with words and things like that,” Shanahan said. “They did a good job, got here the day before Christmas, worked on Christmas and tried to catch up and get those things done. They had a solid week of practice.”

“There’s still more time before the game and these guys will work mentally to prepare, but anytime you’re new and haven’t been out there much, it’s always a challenge.”

Elsewhere on the injury report, the 49ers ruled out linebacker Dre Greenlaw (calf) and defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (ankle). Safety Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle), linebacker Tatum Bethune (knee) and cornerback Charvarius Ward (personal) are listed as questionable along with McKivitz. Ward didn’t practice Saturday for personal reasons, but Shanahan suggested it was good news, noting that “nothing bad happened.”