AP File Photo: Arizona Cardinals’ Mike Iupati (76) gets ready to put a block on Josh Mauro, left, during an NFL football training camp Saturday, July 29, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By Jeremy Harness

 SANTA CLARA–There is certainly progress being made. Now it has to show up in the win-loss column.

 The 49ers showed tons of heart and determination last Thursday night in a 41-39 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and although the loss dropped them to 0-3, there were quite a few positives to draw from.

 First of all, the offense finally showed some life, particularly embattled quarterback Brian Hoyer, who admittedly had a subpar performance at Seattle the week before and desperately needed a bounce-back effort.

 He got that, and had it not been for a highly-questionable pass interference call that stalled a late drive, the 49ers may have very well come away with a sensational comeback win.

 The 49ers will need every bit of that offensive resurgence against an Arizona Cardinals team that is seething from a home loss to the Dallas Cowboys in front of a national Monday night audience.

 The game will be played Sunday afternoon at University of Phoenix Stadium, and the Cardinals will see this as an opportunity to redeem themselves in front of their home crowd, while the 49ers simply need to get a win any way they can at this point.

 The 49ers will need to have a better showing on defense if they are to get their first win of the year, and they will continue to be shorthanded. Linebacker Reuben Foster is progressing, but he is still out of action at this point. He did not practice on Wednesday, and he is not expected to play Sunday.

 The same goes for safety Eric Reid, who suffered a knee injury in the first half at Seattle and has not returned to the lineup since. As was the case with Foster, he did not practice on Wednesday and is expected to miss at least a few more weeks.

 They will see a number of former teammates on Sunday. Guard Mike Iupati, for instance, is expected to be in the lineup, but a triceps injury caused him to have only a limited participation in practice Wednesday.

 Meanwhile, former 49ers guard Alex Boone suffered a pectoral injury and did not practice at all on Wednesday. Furthermore, a report that was released on Wednesday indicated that he is expected to miss up to four weeks because of it.