Player Notes

S Deon Bush will make his first start since 2016 with Eddie Jackson sidelined. Bush is confident he's a different player than when he was forced to start those six games as a rookie due to injuries in the secondary. "I've been here for three years so I know a lot more than I knew in the past," Bush said. "And I'm just going out there and just playing fast right now."

S Eddie Jackson limped around in the locker room this week with a boot cast on his right foot and ankle. He won't play against the 49ers and most likely against the Vikings in the regular-season finale. The hope is he might be ready for a wild-card round playoff game.

DE Kerry Wynn (thumb) was limited in Wednesday's practice.

S Michael Thomas was excused from practice Wednesday to attend to a personal issue. Head coach Pat Shurmur didn't elaborate as to how long Thomas would be away from the team tending to his personal matter, but it's not believed that Thomas will miss Sunday's game.

LB Alec Ogletree (concussion) didn't practice Wednesday as he was placed in the league's protocol. His status for Sunday is uncertain.

C Spencer Pulley (calf) didn't practice Wednesday. Pulley injured his calf in Sunday's loss and looked to have a heavy limp after the game. If he can't go, then John Greco will likely get the start with rookie Evan Brown, who has been inactive all season, being activated for the first time this year.

WR Russell Shepard (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday and doesn't look as though he'll be a go for this Sunday. Shepard was seen in a walking boot.

WR Odell Beckham Jr. (quad) remains unable to practice due to his ailment, but head coach Pat Shurmur said that Beckham is also continuing to make progress as he recovers from his quad injury. Shurmur also reiterated that there are no plans to shut Beckham down for the rest of the season.

S Eddie Jackson of the Chicago Bears did not practice on Wednesday after sustaining an ankle injury last Sunday in a victory over the Green Bay Packers. Head coach Matt Nagy, who said Jackson sprained his right ankle on a play in which he intercepted a pass by Aaron Rodgers later in the game, told reporters that the Bears' medical team would monitor the injury over the next few days to see if he can ...

QB Taylor Heinicke is expected to get the start versus the Atlanta Falcons. The 25-year-old Heinicke has completed 2 of 4 passes for 46 yards while making five appearances this season. Three of his career passes have come at the end of either half when the Panthers attempted a Hail Mary.