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LB · San Francisco 49ers · week 7 · Sun Nov 8

Luke Gifford

  • ROLE in the rotation
  • EXP 7 seasons
  • AGE 29-31
  • DEPTH SLB2
Call locked

Written and timestamped · not being published at the moment

As of week 7, Luke Gifford was an LB for SF, age 31, 7 seasons of experience. In 2026 through week 6 he was listed at depth rank 2 on his club's depth chart; he had played 6 games on 6% of snaps; his line was 1.4 tackles a game, 0 sacks a game and 0 passes defended a game. Before 2026 he played 94 games (postseason included) over 7 seasons with 1 Pro Bowl. His injury history held 17 episodes (hamstring 7, quad 2, ankle 1), 4 of them reaching OUT, 7 a repeat of an earlier site; the last was a hamstring injury in 2026 week 1.

The full read

In short

Luke Gifford is in the rotation at strong-side linebacker for SF — 30% of the snaps in his best week of 6. His team named him inactive in week 7. His team has not listed him on the final report. We called him PLAY in week 7 and he did not play.

The reader concurs · grade A

Gifford's groin is a current injury that kept him out of practice two days running this week (P6: 'The following players didn't practice for the second day in a row: ... LB Luke Gifford (groin)'), and he was absent from the Thursday open portion as well (P1, P5). The club's Friday ruling settles it: the Niners 'ruled out ... linebacker Luke Gifford (groin)' for Sunday's game (P3), and the published injury report lists him under OUT (P4). Nothing in the passages suggests a reversal, so the SIT call stands.

What the read cites

What was reportedSource
1“The following players didn't practice for the second day in a row:”Niners Nation · 2026-10-22
2“#49ers not participating in early open portion of Thursday practice:”49ers Webzone · 2026-10-22
3“Also out Thursday were Samuel, linebackers Luke Gifford and Garrett Wallow”Mercury News · 2026-10-22
4“The Niners ruled out five other players for the game with defensive end Nick Bosa (calf), receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring), linebacker Garret Wallow (hamstring), linebacker Luke Gifford (groin) and safety Marques Sigle (ankle) all out for the game.”Newsday · 2026-10-23
5“OUT: WR Deebo Samuel LB Garret Wallow EDGE Nick Bosa S Marques Sigle WR Mike Evans LB Luke Gifford”Niners Nation · 2026-10-23
11versions in week 7
9average, every player
29most for one player

How the call moved

COIN FLIP since Thu Oct 22 · 2:10 AM ET · 83 h before kickoff · 48 h before the club. Biggest move: 74% → 53%, Wed Oct 21 · 5:05 PM ET to Thu Oct 22 · 2:10 AM ET, after: joined the injury report (Did Not Participate In Practice).

We have made a call on him in week 7

It is written down and timestamped, and it is not being published at the moment.

How our calls are checked

Our scale

NOT EXPECTEDUNLIKELYCOIN FLIPLIKELYEXPECTED

Where he sits on this scale is published with the call.

No dated practice report for him in week 7

The team has not published one we can date, or the window has not reached it. Not the same as his having practiced.

Stats, with ranges — dot = his average, bar = his game range

  • Tackles / game1.4 range 1.0–2.0

    wk 2–6 · 5 games

  • Sacks / game0.0 range 0.0–0.0

    wk 2–6 · 5 games

  • Passes defended / game0.0 range 0.0–0.0

    wk 2–6 · 5 games

  • Snap share6.3% range 0–30

    wk 1–6 · 6 games

Snaps by week — his larger of the offence and defence share

  1. 0%wk 1
  2. 2%wk 2
  3. 0%wk 3
  4. 0%wk 4
  5. 30%wk 5
  6. 6%wk 6

Missed while on the injury report

SeasonWeeks on the reportMissed while listed
202621

Only the weeks he was on the injury report with a recorded result — not every game of his career.

Medical history

WhenInjuryWeeks on a reportWorst status
2026 · wk 7groin1Out
2026 · wk 1hamstring1—
2025 · wk 19quad2Questionable
2025 · wk 12hip2Questionable
2025 · wk 8hamstring1Questionable
2025 · wk 2knee1—
2024 · wk 16concussion2Out
2024 · wk 15calf1—
2024 · wk 13hamstring1—
2024 · wk 3back1—
2023 · wk 16hamstring1Out
2023 · wk 11shin4Questionable
2023 · wk 10shoulder1—
2023 · wk 4hamstring4Out
2023 · wk 3quad1—
2022 · wk 4hamstring1—
2020 · wk 1hamstring1—
2019 · wk 1ankle5Out

Every injury episode on file for him, as the record holds it.

Injury history by season · 18 episodes · 31 weeks on a report · same site more than once: hamstring ×7

  • ruled out
  • questionable
  • listed, and played

Each bar is one episode: the week it began and how many weeks he was on a report, coloured by the worst status. One that began after week 18 is in the table above and not drawn here.

Our past calls vs what happened

Wk 7PLAY 74% ✗ missafter his team's announcement; did not play

Season on him: 0 of 1 graded call of ours right. Graded by the record: right or a miss against whether he played. A week we did not call, or his club's own word, is not graded.

The rest of his team's report in week 7

PlayerPosPracticeWhose wordCallChance he playsBand
Trent WilliamsTFULLoursPLAY99%EXPECTED
Mike EvansWRDNPteam's wordOut
Siran NealSLTDteam's wordQuestionable
Christian KirkWRFULLteam's wordQuestionable
Nick BosaDEDNPteam's wordOut
Deebo Samuel Sr.WRDNPteam's wordOut
Austen PleasantsOLUNKteam's word—
Ashtyn DavisSFULLoursPLAY89%EXPECTED
Darrick ForrestSAFUNKteam's word—
Garret WallowLBDNPteam's wordOut
Nate HobbsCBUNKteam's word—
Andrew Farmer IILBUNKteam's word—
Isaac GuerendoRBUNKteam's word—
Nick MartinLBUNKteam's word—
Upton StoutCBLTDteam's wordQuestionable
Marques SigleSDNPteam's wordOut
Kurtis RourkeQBUNKteam's word—
Mykel WilliamsDEFULLoursPLAY96%EXPECTED
C.J. WestDTUNKteam's word—
Jaden DuggerLBFULLoursPLAY99%EXPECTED
Mikail KamaraDEUNKteam's word—
Romello HeightDEFULLoursPLAY96%EXPECTED

The model reads the room: who else is out shifts what his own designation is worth.

The evidence behind his earlier calls

The evidence behind the call made Mon Oct 19 · 10:59 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Tue Oct 20 · 7:02 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Tue Oct 20 · 12:05 PM ET

We read the news; nothing was attributed.

The evidence behind the call made Tue Oct 20 · 5:05 PM ET

We read the news; nothing was attributed.

The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 21 · 7:02 AM ET

We read the news; nothing was attributed.

The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 21 · 12:02 PM ET

We read the news; nothing was attributed.

The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 21 · 5:05 PM ET

We read the news; nothing was attributed.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 22 · 2:10 AM ET

We read the news; nothing was attributed.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 22 · 7:02 AM ET

We read the news; nothing was attributed.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 22 · 12:05 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“LB Luke Gifford (groin)”Niners Nation · Wed Oct 21

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“Here is the list of players who will not practice on Wednesday:”Niners Nation · Wed Oct 21
“Since the 49ers played on Monday, Shanahan said Wednesday's practice will be a walkthrough.”Niners Nation · Wed Oct 21

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 22 · 5:05 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“LB Luke Gifford (groin)”Niners Nation · Wed Oct 21

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“Here is the list of players who will not practice on Wednesday:”Niners Nation · Wed Oct 21
“Since the 49ers played on Monday, Shanahan said Wednesday's practice will be a walkthrough.”Niners Nation · Wed Oct 21

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 12:11 AM ET

What was reportedSource
“Also out Thursday were Samuel, linebackers Luke Gifford and Garrett Wallow”Mercury News · Thu Oct 22

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“The following players didn't practice for the second day in a row:”Niners Nation · Thu Oct 22
“Here is the list of players who will not practice on Wednesday:”Niners Nation · Wed Oct 21

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 2:10 AM ET

What was reportedSource
“Also out Thursday were Samuel, linebackers Luke Gifford and Garrett Wallow”Mercury News · Thu Oct 22

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“The following players didn't practice for the second day in a row:”Niners Nation · Thu Oct 22
“Here is the list of players who will not practice on Wednesday:”Niners Nation · Wed Oct 21

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 7:02 AM ET

What was reportedSource
“Also out Thursday were Samuel, linebackers Luke Gifford and Garrett Wallow”Mercury News · Thu Oct 22

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“The following players didn't practice for the second day in a row:”Niners Nation · Thu Oct 22
“Here is the list of players who will not practice on Wednesday:”Niners Nation · Wed Oct 21

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 12:02 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“The Niners ruled out five other players for the game with defensive end Nick Bosa (calf), receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring), linebacker Garret Wallow (hamstring), linebacker Luke Gifford (groin) and safety Marques Sigle (ankle) all out for the game.”Newsday · Fri Oct 23
“OUT: WR Deebo Samuel LB Garret Wallow EDGE Nick Bosa S Marques Sigle WR Mike Evans LB Luke Gifford”Niners Nation · Fri Oct 23

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“The following players didn't practice for the second day in a row:”Niners Nation · Thu Oct 22

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 5:02 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“The Niners ruled out five other players for the game with defensive end Nick Bosa (calf), receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring), linebacker Garret Wallow (hamstring), linebacker Luke Gifford (groin) and safety Marques Sigle (ankle) all out for the game.”Newsday · Fri Oct 23
“OUT: WR Deebo Samuel LB Garret Wallow EDGE Nick Bosa S Marques Sigle WR Mike Evans LB Luke Gifford”Niners Nation · Fri Oct 23

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“The following players didn't practice for the second day in a row:”Niners Nation · Thu Oct 22

The evidence behind the call made Sun Oct 25 · 7:05 AM ET

What was reportedSource
“The Niners ruled out five other players for the game with defensive end Nick Bosa (calf), receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring), linebacker Garret Wallow (hamstring), linebacker Luke Gifford (groin) and safety Marques Sigle (ankle) all out for the game.”Newsday · Fri Oct 23
“OUT: WR Deebo Samuel LB Garret Wallow EDGE Nick Bosa S Marques Sigle WR Mike Evans LB Luke Gifford”Niners Nation · Fri Oct 23

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“The following players didn't practice for the second day in a row:”Niners Nation · Thu Oct 22

The evidence behind the call made Sun Oct 25 · 11:50 AM ET

What was reportedSource
“The Niners ruled out five other players for the game with defensive end Nick Bosa (calf), receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring), linebacker Garret Wallow (hamstring), linebacker Luke Gifford (groin) and safety Marques Sigle (ankle) all out for the game.”Newsday · Fri Oct 23
“OUT: WR Deebo Samuel LB Garret Wallow EDGE Nick Bosa S Marques Sigle WR Mike Evans LB Luke Gifford”Niners Nation · Fri Oct 23

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“The following players didn't practice for the second day in a row:”Niners Nation · Thu Oct 22

The evidence behind the call made Sun Oct 25 · 12:05 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“The Niners ruled out five other players for the game with defensive end Nick Bosa (calf), receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring), linebacker Garret Wallow (hamstring), linebacker Luke Gifford (groin) and safety Marques Sigle (ankle) all out for the game.”Newsday · Fri Oct 23
“OUT: WR Deebo Samuel LB Garret Wallow EDGE Nick Bosa S Marques Sigle WR Mike Evans LB Luke Gifford”Niners Nation · Fri Oct 23

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“The following players didn't practice for the second day in a row:”Niners Nation · Thu Oct 22
The data behind this page — the timeline in words, every call and week on record, about him, and what this page does not show

Profile — as of week 7

RoleLB2 · 6% snaps
Season2026 · 6 games through wk 6
Per game1.4 tackles · 0 sacks · 0 passes defended
Career7 seasons · 94 games before 2026
Honors1× Pro Bowl
Injuries17 episodes · last: hamstring, 2026 wk 1
Bioage 31 · 7 seasons' experience

Where the profile comes from

Built from: honors.db; nflverse injuries_2026.csv; medical.db; nflverse players.csv; profile.db; nflverse roster_2026.csv; nflverse roster_weekly_2026.csv; nflverse snap_counts_2026.csv; nflverse stats_player_week_2026.csv. Every number in it is one those sources hold.

nflverse injuries_2026.csv

About him

About himAs the record holds it
His rolein the rotation at strong-side linebacker — 30% of the snaps in his best week of 6
Listed on the depth chartsecond at strong-side linebacker
Last weekHe did not dress last week
Snaps played6% a week on average over 6 weeks, 30% at his highest, 70% on special teams
Build6 ft 3 in · 242 lb
CollegeNebraska
Draftedundrafted
Age29-31 at the season's start
Experience7 seasons

How our call moved, earliest first

WhenLeadCallChance he playsBandOn what
Mon Oct 19 · 10:59 PM ET134 hPLAY74%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Tue Oct 20 · 7:02 AM ET126 hPLAY74%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Tue Oct 20 · 12:05 PM ET121 hPLAY74%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Tue Oct 20 · 5:05 PM ET116 hPLAY74%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Wed Oct 21 · 7:02 AM ET102 hPLAY74%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Wed Oct 21 · 12:02 PM ET97 hPLAY74%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Wed Oct 21 · 5:05 PM ET92 hPLAY74%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Thu Oct 22 · 2:10 AM ET83 hSIT53%COIN FLIPafter his team's announcement
Thu Oct 22 · 7:02 AM ET78 hSIT53%COIN FLIPafter his team's announcement
Thu Oct 22 · 12:05 PM ET73 hSIT53%COIN FLIPafter his team's announcement
Thu Oct 22 · 5:05 PM ET68 hSIT53%COIN FLIPafter his team's announcement
Sat Oct 24 · 12:11 AM ET37 hhis team's word——his team's Out, as ESPN's injury report carries it (the league's report had not yet)
Sat Oct 24 · 2:10 AM ET35 hhis team's word——his team's own word, restated
Sat Oct 24 · 7:02 AM ET30 hhis team's word——his team's own word, restated
Sat Oct 24 · 12:02 PM ET25 hhis team's word——his team's own word, restated
Sat Oct 24 · 5:02 PM ET20 hhis team's word——his team's own word, restated
Sun Oct 25 · 7:05 AM ET6 hhis team's word——his team's own word, restated
Sun Oct 25 · 11:50 AM ET1 hhis team's word——his team's published inactive list, on the day
Sun Oct 25 · 12:05 PM ET1 hhis team's word——his team's published inactive list, on the day

11 calls in week 7, flipping between PLAY and SIT 1 time. Each lead time is the one that call actually had when it was written — never recounted from now. A call that changes is the record working: new evidence arrived and we said so, in public, before the game.

We went and found out more

Rank 3 (listed third or deeper, or not listed), 5 documents deep, because: llm_unsure. Fetched 5 of 5.

His record this season

WkPracticeChance he playsCallSourcePlayed
7UNK74%PLAYafter his team's announcementno

A blank in Played is a week not yet settled — never a no.

Named inactive in week 7

The team's own list (groin). We held it before kickoff, so it could have informed a call. Matched to him by his player id.