Ricky Pearsall (knee) did not take part in San Francisco’s practice on Wednesday, Cam Inman reported on Twitter. The second-year wide receiver has been out since Week 4 after injuring his right knee attempting a catch, an injury initially described as minor PCL involvement. Despite early expectations for a two-to-three week recovery, Pearsall has now missed three consecutive games.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan stressed that the situation isn’t a setback. “I don’t think it’s a setback,” Shanahan said. “It’s just not going as fast as we want it. But nothing new has happened.” The team continues to monitor Pearsall closely, evaluating his speed, cutting ability, and overall readiness on a day-to-day basis.
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In Pearsall’s absence, the 49ers have leaned on other weapons. Last week against the Atlanta Falcons, Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne carried much of the workload, while Demarcus Robinson, Malik Turner, and Skyy Moore supplemented the rotation. Tight ends were also deployed to stabilize the middle of the field, and the coaching staff relied on size and physicality to maintain offensive rhythm without Pearsall’s route quickness and separation skills.
Shanahan emphasized the team’s cautious approach: Pearsall’s participation level in practice is the first signal toward a return, followed by evaluation of his post-practice response. Limited participation would indicate progress, while full participation typically precedes a game-day decision.
Ricky Pearsall’s Week 8 Status Uncertain
As midweek practices continue, Pearsall’s status for Week 8 against the Houston Texans remains uncertain. If he does not practice at all or experiences lingering discomfort, San Francisco will likely distribute snaps among Jennings, Bourne, and the depth group once again. Should Pearsall pass both practice and medical benchmarks, he could rejoin the rotation, providing the 49ers with improved third-down efficiency and red zone options.
For fantasy managers, Pearsall remains a holdout, and the immediate beneficiaries are Jennings and Bourne. The 49ers are treating his return as a week-to-week situation, keeping the wide receiver’s reintegration cautious to ensure long-term effectiveness rather than rushing him back.
