As the 49ers begin their prep for Monday Night Football, they’re keeping a close eye on rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who was held out of Thursday’s practice. Pearsall is working through an ankle injury and a flare-up of a posterior cruciate ligament issue in his knee - not exactly what you want to hear this late in the season, especially with playoff positioning on the line.
But there’s a silver lining: the extra day of rest this week could be just what Pearsall needs. Head coach Kyle Shanahan sounded cautiously optimistic, noting Pearsall is “doing a lot better today than he was on Monday,” and that the additional time gives him “a shot” to suit up. That’s a good sign for a player who’s shown flashes of promise in his limited action.
Pearsall’s availability could be a factor in how the 49ers approach their offensive game plan. While he’s not a primary target yet, his route-running and ability to find soft spots in coverage have made him a useful depth piece in Kyle Shanahan’s system. If he can go, he adds another layer to an already versatile receiving corps.
The injury report didn’t stop with Pearsall. The 49ers also held out several other key players, though not all due to injury.
Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams were both given rest days - standard procedure for two of the team’s most important veterans. No alarms there.
Spencer Burford, who’s been battling both knee and ankle issues, didn’t practice, and his status will be worth monitoring as the week progresses. The offensive line has been a point of emphasis all season, and Burford’s presence helps with continuity up front. Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (knee), linebacker Nick Martin (concussion), and the aforementioned Pearsall rounded out the DNP list.
Meanwhile, a handful of defenders were limited, including linebacker Tatum Bethune (ankle), cornerback Renardo Green (neck), and defensive ends Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) and Sam Okuayinonu (ankle). These names may not be the headliners, but depth matters, especially on the defensive side of the ball where rotations and matchups can swing momentum quickly.
With several days still to go before kickoff, there’s time for movement on this injury report. But as it stands, the 49ers are managing a familiar late-season balancing act - keeping their stars fresh while getting younger contributors like Pearsall healthy enough to contribute. Monday night will be a test not just of game planning, but of roster depth and resilience.