The San Francisco 49ers will play the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10, as the team continues to push through an abundance of injury problems. Ahead of the game, head coach Kyle Shanahan provided an update on the health of a few players on his roster, including wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who is out with a lingering knee injury.
Ricky Pearsall Injury Update
Ricky Pearsall has not played since sustaining a knee injury in the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The incident occurred when he fell hard trying to make a catch along the sideline.
The initial evaluation suggested a minor PCL injury, with an expected recovery period of two to three weeks. However, more than a month later, Pearsall remains out, and the timetable for his return is unclear.
When asked about Pearsall, Kyle Shanahan said: “It’s just the same as what I said last week. No setback. Just taking longer to heal than we thought.”
While Shanahan’s tone seemed positive, the fact that Pearsall has not practiced since Week 4 indicates that a return in Week 10 was not plausible. Players typically need at least some level of practice participation before being cleared to play, and Pearsall does not appear to have reached that stage.
The 49ers’ decision not to place Pearsall on injured reserve is also in question. If he had been moved to IR earlier in the season, he would now be eligible to return. However, San Francisco opted to keep him on the active roster, suggesting the team believed his injury would be short-term. That has not been the case, as Pearsall’s absence has now stretched into a sixth week.
Before his injury, Pearsall recorded 20 receptions for 327 yards, averaging 16.4 yards per catch through four games. His best outing came in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals, when he tallied eight receptions for 117 yards and earned an 80.2 impact score with a B- grade from PFSN’s WR impact metrics.
Since Pearsall has been out, the 49ers’ receiving depth has shifted. George Kittle has returned from his own injury, while Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne have taken on expanded roles in the passing attack.
San Francisco 49ers’ Insights for Week 10
Team: San Francisco has won 12 of 18 games when Kyle Shanahan has coached against Sean McVay. 11 of the games, including the Rams’ 2021 NFC Championship game win, have been decided by one score.
QB: Mac Jones has a 78.6 (C+) QBi score, which would be a career high for him. He registered a 59.1 (F) in 2023, his final season with the Patriots.
Offense: Christian McCaffrey is ranked 7th on RBi 83.5 (#7) through nine games. He has finished in the top eight every season since 2018.
Defense: San Francisco’s seven takeaways are tied for 23rd in the league.
Fantasy: Not to be outdone, Puka Nacua has scored at least 22.8 fantasy points in every game this season, except for the one in which he sprained his ankle and left early. He is the best wide receiver in fantasy.