Tight end Rob Gronkowski's chest injury will keep him from the New England Patriots' visit Sunday to the 49ers, who've lost eight straight and are widely considered 12-point underdogs.
Niners outside linebacker Aaron Lynch got ruled out for a third straight game after being severely hindered by an ankle injury during practice all week.
Niners wide receiver Torrey Smith (shoulder) and cornerback Rashard Robinson (knee) are questionable, and both were limited in Friday's walk-through practice.
Gronkowski was the only Patriot who did not practice all week. Likely replacing him in the lineup will be Martellus Bennett, who was limited in practice with an ankle injury that has him questionable for Sunday.
Patriots leading receiver Julian Edelman, a Redwood City, Calif., native and former Woodside High quarterback, is questionable because of a foot injury. He's caught a team-high 45 passes for 457 yards and one touchdown.
"It's going to be pretty exciting," Edelman told Patriots reporters Wednesday. "The new place is no Candlestick (Park), but it will be pretty fun to go back and get to play in front of some friends and family. Going to Santa Clara, going to Great America my whole life, it will be cool."
