Eleven days, apparently, was not enough time for Desmond King to hop on the proverbial moving train.
But more than three weeks without practicing fully was not a hindrance to Larry Ogunjobi.
King, a veteran cornerback signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 31, was one of four players designated as inactive by the team for its regular-season opener at home against the San Francisco 49ers.
Ogunjobi was not on that list even after practicing sparingly leading into the season because of a foot injury. He had been listed as questionable in the final injury report of the week Friday.
King was joined as inactive by wide receiver Gunner Olszewski, offensive lineman Dylan Cook and defensive lineman Armon Watts.
With Calvin Austin III winning the punt-return job, Olszewski was not needed to be a No. 6 wide receiver. With Ogunjobi able to play, Watts was the odd man out among the defensive linemen.
The 49ers also had a healthy team Sunday. Its two starters who had been designated as questionable — tight end George Kittle and cornerback Charvarius Ward — were in uniform.
That left tight end Brayden Willis, running back Tyrion Davis-Price, guard Nick Zakelj, defensive tackle Kalia Davis and linebackers Jalen Graham and Dee Winters as scratches.
After a decade-long hiatus, the “emergency quarterback” rule is back for 2023, spurred by the 49ers losing both of their active quarterbacks to injury during January’s NFC championship game. San Francisco’s No. 3 on Sunday was Brandon Allen. The Steelers used Mason Rudolph in that role.
The designated No. 3 is in uniform but cannot enter the game unless each of the two quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart is forced the leave the game because of injury or ejection.
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