Niners face Bucs after bye week

The 49ers visit Tampa Bay on Sunday to open the second half of the season.

It will also be Christian McCaffrey’s opening game of the season as he was brought off injured reserve on Saturday after missing the first eight games with Achilles tendonitis in both legs.

Despite the bye week, the 49ers listed a number of notable players as questionable players: wide receivers Deebo Samuel (oblique, rib) and Jauan Jennings (hip), defensive end Nick Bosa (hip) and safety Malik Mustapha (calf). All four of these players will be active on Sunday. Bosa made headlines on Saturday when he was fined for missing his teammates’ postgame interviews for wearing the “Make America Great Again” hat two weekends ago. NFL rules prohibit wearing clothing that supports political causes on the field.

Mustapha’s status was an incentive for the 49ers to promote former starting safety Tashaun Gipson from the practice squad after he re-signed with the team this week.

The Niners face a Buccaneers offense that has been productive in the passing game (253.4 yards per game, sixth in the NFL) but will miss two of Baker Mayfield’s top targets in Chris Godwin (ankle injury) and Mike Evans (hamstring injury ) both fail.