SANTA CLARA — One player surely can’t flip the 49ers’ morale after Fred Warner’s season-ending ankle injury.

But George Kittle is one who always uplifts the 49ers, and he practiced Wednesday for the first time since what coach Kyle Shanahan called a “big hamstring pull” in the season-opening win at Seattle.

“With Fred going down, I’m sure he’s going to step up in a big way as a leader, and that’s what we needed him to do,” said Jake Tonges, who’s impressed as Kittle’s replacement. “It can’t be understated how great it is to have George.”

Quarterback Brock Purdy also is returning to practice in a limited fashion for the first time in two weeks, since aggravating his Week 1 toe injury in a Sept. 28 loss to Jacksonville.

Those are encouraging strides on a team that was understandably cres

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