McDonald is slated to start at tight end for the 49ers in Sunday's game against the Giants

With just two catches for 12 yards in three games to date, McDonald is not a high-percentage play in in Week 5, with fellow TE Garrett Celek also on hand to help fill in for Davis on Sunday.

McDonald left Sunday's preseason game against the 49ers with an ankle injury, Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group reports.

McDonald has been ruled out for the rest of the game, but he probably isn't dealing with an overly serious injury, as he stayed on the sideline with his teammates, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. He's trying to fend off Garrett Celek, among others, for the No. 2 tight end job.

McDonald started for the inactive Vernon Davis (rest) and caught his only target for eight yards in Saturday's preseason loss to the Texans.

McDonald is currently listed second on the 49ers' tight end depth chart, but he will have to fend off a slew of young competition behind him during the preseason.

McDonald (back) has been participating in the 49ers' offseason program, and should be ready to go for training camp, CSN Bay Area reports.

MCDonald suffered a back injury that cut his season short last year, but he has progressed well over the offseason. He is a slight favorite to win the backup tight end role behind Vernon Davis, but he will have to prove that he is better than the six other backup options the 49ers currently have on their roster.

McDonald (back) is out for Sunday's game against Oakland.

McDonald has yet to establish a prominent role as a pass catcher in the San Francisco offense, which isn't surprising when you consider that even Vernon Davis has been reduced to a peripheral role in San Francisco. McDonald's absence shouldn't be hugely important, in other words.

McDonald (hip) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Seahawks.

With McDonald out and Derek Carrier on IR, Garrett Celek and Asante Cleveland will provide depth at tight end for the 49ers on Thursday.

McDonald (hip) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Seahawks, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

McDonald, who missed this past Sunday's win over Washington, provided the 49ers with tight end depth, but he's off the fantasy radar as long as Vernon Davis is healthy.

McDonald (hip) is inactive for Sunday's game against Washington.

McDonald has been targeted just eight times this season, leading to two receptions. Even when healthy, he's pretty far off the fantasy radar.

McDonald (hip) is questionable for Sunday's game against Washington.

McDonald logged limited practices Thursday and Friday, so he seems to have a decent enough chance to suit up. In an offense where even Vernon Davis isn't getting many targets, though, a backup like McDonald is safely off the fantasy radar in nearly all cases, particularly given his ball security concerns.

McDonald only recorded one catch for 21 yards against the Rams on Monday, but he also coughed up the ball on the same play.

McDonald broke free for a big gain on his only catch, but was popped hard and turned the ball over to the Rams. He was later targeted in the endzone on a wide-open pass, but there was confusion between him and his fellow tight end, Vernon Davis, who stepped in to attempt to catch the same ball and neither receiver got the easy touchdown. Now that both he and Davis (back) are healthy, McDonald will return to his usual role as backup tight end for the 49ers going forward.

McDonald (knee) returned to the field Sunday, but did not record a catch against the Chiefs.

McDonald had missed the 49ers' last two games with a knee injury. Despite being able to start in place of Vernon Davis (back), he did not see an increase in usage as the team opted to go to their other receivers with Davis' vacated targets. McDonald has shown big play ability in the past (14.9 YPC in 2013), so it is surprising that they aren't looking his way more often. Davis is likely to return to the field when the team takes on the Rams next week, pushing McDonald back to his usual role as the backup tight end.

McDonald (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.

Vernon Davis (back) is inactive as expected, leaving McDonald as the 49ers' primary tight end. Kansas City is ranked eighth against the pass, but the Chiefs have surrendered four receiving touchdowns to opposing tight ends, so McDonald may have a chance to make some noise in the red zone. If McDonald's knee gives him trouble, Derek Carrier could factor in as well.

McDonald (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against Kansas City.

McDonald thought he'd play last week and was wrong, but this week he logged limited practices for the duration of the week. By contrast, he logged limited practices only twice last week. If he is active, in any case, the 49ers might need to use him more often than usual, as Vernon Davis (back) seems unlikely to play after missing practice all week.

McDonald (knee) was a limited practice participant Thursday, the 49ers' official site reports.

At the moment, the 49ers' tight end situation is a quagmire, as Vernon Davis' lingering back spasms continue to hold him on the sideline. The statuses of both McDonald and Davis are in question, leaving Derek Carrier as the sole healthy option at the position.

McDonald (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Eagles, the Sacramento Bee repors.

Meanwhile, fellow tight end Vernon Davis is active for the contest, with Derek Carrier on hand to back him up on Sunday.

McDonald (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against Philadelphia.

McDonald declared himself ready to play after logging limited practices Thursday and Friday, and the 49ers hope he's right since fellow tight end Vernon Davis (ankle/knee) is also questionable.

McDonald (knee) was limited in Thursday's practice, the Sacramento Bee reports.

McDonald couldn't do as much as his fellow tight ends, including Vernon Davis (ankle), who earned a limited practice showing to McDonald's DNP on Wednesday. As a result, McDonald appears to have more hurdles to cross before active status will be considered, with Friday's injury report relaying the chances he'll don a jersey Sunday against the Eagles.

McDonald (knee) didn't take part in Wednesday's practice, the Sacramento Bee reports.

McDonald continues to sit out due to an injured knee, which resulted in a DNP on Sunday in Arizona. Meanwhile, fellow tight end Vernon Davis (ankle) practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday, forecasting a potential return Sunday versus the Eagles. If Davis is back in action, McDonald's presence, however unlikely at the moment, wouldn't result in many looks in the passing game.

McDonald (knee) hasn't been cleared to practice at this stage, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

McDonald thus remains iffy for Sunday's game against the Eagles, while fellow TE Vernon Davis practiced Wednesday and is trending in a positive direction on that front.

McDonald (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

As is Vernon Davis, with Derek Carrier starting at tight end for the 49ers on Sunday.