The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up to play the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football in Week 16. The 49ers enter the contest with a 10-4 record but are sitting in third place in the tough NFC West.
Ahead of the Monday night matchup, it was revealed that wide receiver Ricky Pearsall would not be playing. What happened to the receiver, and why is he not playing against the Colts?
Ricky Pearsall Out Due to Knee, Ankle Injuries
On Saturday, the 49ers released their final injury report ahead of the Week 16 matchup.
Pearsall was ruled out with knee and ankle injuries suffered in Week 15 against the Tennessee Titans. The receiver had to leave the Week 15 matchup after aggravating a knee injury obtained initially in Week 4 that kept him out for six weeks.
The ankle injury came on a hip drop tackle from Kevin Winston on the 49ers’ first possession last week. Winston ended up being fined over $23,000 for the tackle.
Pearsall has played in only eight games this year, but he’s been a productive weapon when on the field. The Florida product has 31 catches for 443 yards on the season. PFSN’s WR Impact ranking gives Pearsall an 81.6 grade, which is the best grade of any receiver on the team.
Unfortunately, Pearsall has had some bad injury luck in his young career. The receiver was limited to 11 games in his rookie campaign after being shot in an attempted robbery in San Francisco. Pearsall was able to recover and have a solid rookie season, with 31 catches for 400 yards and three scores.
With Pearsall out, the 49ers will likely turn to Demarcus Robinson and Skyy Moore next to Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne.
49ers Having Impressive Season Despite Tough NFC West
Usually, sporting a 10-4 record would mean you are in first place in your division, or maybe second in a tough one. The 49ers, however, are in third place in the NFC West before their Monday Night Football game.
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The team has already clinched a playoff spot; however, by virtue of the Detroit Lions losing on Sunday. PFSN’s Football Playoff Meter gives the 49ers a 16.0% chance of winning the division, but they’d need some help to do so.
In PFSN’s Offense Impact ranking, the 49ers are seventh in the league with an 82.7 grade, and the team is 24th in the league in PFSN’s Defense Impact ranking.
After this Monday night matchup against the Colts, the team will wrap up the regular season with games against the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks.
