After a brief scare on Wednesday, it appears all is well for the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall.
Pearsall popped up on the Injury Report on Wednesday with a knee injury and did not participate, as head coach Kyle Shanahan said that it came after the game on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
“I’m not sure which play it was on, but he can’t go today,” Shanahan said on Wednesday. “Hopefully, he’ll get better later in the week.”
Pearsall brushed off the severity of the issue, noting that sitting out was more of a precaution than anything after feeling soreness coming out of the weekend.
“It’s feeling good,” Pearsall told reporters Wednesday. “I actually don’t even know when I hurt my knee, to be completely honest. I felt a little bit of soreness after the game, and it wasn’t until later on in the night, I was kind of moving around and felt a little soreness; nothing that I was really concerned about.
“I came in the next day, and was talking to the trainers, and I told them the same thing I’m telling you right now: I’m not really concerned, but I just want to check it out a little bit. And that’s kind of what I’m doing with this. It’s just a little bit of soreness, and I’m not worried about it. If there was a game today, I’d play.”
That seems to be the case as Pearsall was out at practice on Thursday, trending like he’ll be out there Sunday as expected. He has been one of the NFL’s best receivers this season, ranking third in the league in receiving yards (281) and fourth in yards per catch (17.6) thus far.
Pearsall has been an explosive play machine, catching five passes of 20 yards or longer already, which is just one behind the NFL’s leaders (Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Ngijba, Tetairoa McMillan), despite playing with multiple quarterbacks.
Pearsall isn’t the only 49ers receiver returning to practice. Demarcus Robinson was officially activated from the reserve/suspended list after missing the first three games of the season. He was a key piece in the offseason, and should be inserted back into the rotation soon.
“Love getting D-Rob (Demarcus Robinson) back,” Shanahan said. “He was great for us this summer. He’s been around the building the last couple weeks, so it’s been good to have him in here, and excited to see him out at practice today. I know he has been working on his own while he has been away, and excited to get him back involved.”
With Pearsall and Robinson in the fold, the injury to watch is Jauan Jennings, who missed Wednesday’s practice with ankle and shoulder injuries. Jennings was out last week after not practicing, and Shanahan indicated it could be a similar situation this week.
“Hopefully, he can [practice and play] this week,” Shanahan said of Jennings. “He will be similar to last week. He was close to getting in, never was able to make it, and it’ll be the same this week.”
Regardless, the 49ers have their lead wideout back and some reinforcements coming in for Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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