49ers Need Their Young Talent to Step Up Down the Stretch - Starting with Ricky Pearsall and Alfred Collins
As the NFL calendar flips to December, the margin for error gets thinner, the games get tighter, and the stars need to shine brighter. For the San Francisco 49ers, who are firmly in the playoff picture, the next month isn’t just about riding the momentum - it’s about elevating. And that means getting more from their young playmakers on both sides of the ball.
Let’s start on offense, where first-round pick Ricky Pearsall is poised to play a pivotal role down the stretch.
Can Ricky Pearsall Recapture His Early-Season Form?
Ricky Pearsall came out of the gates looking like the real deal. Before his midseason injury, he was the focal point of San Francisco’s passing attack - piling up 327 yards on just 29 targets and generating a +20 EPA. He was efficient, explosive, and clearly in sync with Brock Purdy.
But since returning from that injury, the production has hit a wall. In the last three games, Pearsall has just nine targets for 20 yards.
That’s a dramatic dip, and the -11 EPA over that span reflects it. The 49ers have won all three games, but let’s be honest - those weren’t exactly nail-biters.
The offense leaned more on George Kittle and Jauan Jennings, and the game scripts didn’t demand much from Pearsall.
That’s about to change.
The 49ers’ upcoming schedule includes matchups against some of the league’s top cornerbacks - Sauce Gardner could be back for the Colts, Charvarius Ward is still locking down his side, Jaylon Johnson is having a breakout year in Chicago, and Devon Witherspoon is as feisty as they come in Seattle. These aren’t games where you can coast. San Francisco is going to need every weapon firing, and that includes Pearsall.
The good news? The separation is still there.
According to PFF’s raw separation grade, Pearsall ranks ninth in the NFL through 13 weeks. That lines up with what we’ve seen on tape - he’s getting open.
The lack of targets isn’t because he’s struggling to shake coverage. It’s more about opportunity and game flow.
But that window is closing. The 49ers need him to be more than just open - they need him to be impactful.
And he’s got the skill set to do it. Pearsall’s route running, body control, and ability to win at the top of his route make him a natural fit to stretch the field.
That’s something this offense has been missing lately. Since Week 11, Brock Purdy is just 2-for-7 on throws of 20+ yards.
That’s not going to cut it if the Niners want to push deep into January. Pearsall has the juice to change that.
He doesn’t need to post gaudy numbers - but he does need to be a factor.
Alfred Collins: Time for the Rookie to Turn Flashes into Production
On the other side of the ball, the 49ers' defense has quietly stabilized. The safety group is holding up, the cornerbacks have been solid, and the linebacker unit just got a veteran lift with Eric Kendricks. The pass rush rotation is deep and versatile, with Bryce Huff continuing to be a steady presence, and Yetur Gross-Matos returning to inject some interior pressure.
But there’s one name that needs to take that next step: Alfred Collins.
The second-round rookie has shown flashes - especially against the run. Alongside fellow rookie CJ West, Collins has helped shore up the front in early downs.
But flashes aren’t enough anymore. The 49ers need impact plays, and Collins is capable of delivering them.
The tools are there. Collins has the size, athleticism, and motor to disrupt plays behind the line of scrimmage.
But so far, those disruptive moments have been few and far between. He hasn’t logged a tackle for loss this season, and the last time he touched the quarterback was before Halloween.
That’s a stat line that needs to change - and soon.
He’s getting the snaps. Collins played 60% of the defensive snaps against Cleveland in Week 13, but managed just one stop.
That was also the last time he recorded one. For a player with his physical gifts, that’s not enough.
The 49ers need those hustle plays - the kind where he beats a block, knifes into the backfield, and turns a 3-yard gain into a 3-yard loss.
And they’re going to need it against the likes of Jonathan Taylor, the creativity of Ben Johnson’s offense, and a Seahawks team that loves to test the edges. If Collins can start stacking plays, it opens things up for Gross-Matos and Huff to feast on passing downs. That’s the domino effect this defense is built for.
The Bottom Line
The 49ers are a top-tier team with Super Bowl aspirations, but even the best need their young talent to rise when it matters most. Ricky Pearsall and Alfred Collins don’t need to carry the team - they just need to do their part.
Because in December and January, it’s not just about the stars. It’s about who steps up when the lights get brighter.
The schemes are in place. The veterans are doing their jobs. Now it’s time for the rookies to turn potential into production.