The San Francisco 49ers might be missing one of their top wide receivers Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs and are eying rookie Ricky Pearsall to step in.
Asked during his weekly appearance on KNBR radio on Friday if there’s a chance Pearsall could be activated for the Chiefs game, general manager John Lynch said, “Absolutely there’s a chance. He’s had a good practice week.”
The 49ers opened Pearsall’s practice window on Monday, a little more than six weeks after he was shot through the chest during a robbery attempt in San Francisco. The first-round draft pick brought a jolt of energy and joy to the practice.
“He’s doing a really good job, obviously being back and just bringing the juice, going really fast in and out of his cuts and creating some really good separation,” quarterback Brock Purdy said Thursday.
Lynch cautioned that team officials will get together and make a decision on whether Pearsall takes the field for the first time this season but said it’s trending in a “good direction.” Pearsall didn’t play in the preseason.
“I can’t say enough about the kid and how he’s handled the whole deal,” he said.
The 49ers might need Pearsall considering receiver Jauan Jennings, their standout player in their Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs, missed the last two practices with a hip injury.
Jennings threw for a touchdown, caught a touchdown and likely would have had a second touchdown grab in overtime in Las Vegas if the 49ers hadn’t busted a protection and given defensive tackle Chris Jones a free run at Purdy. He currently leads the 49ers with 404 receiving yards, followed by Brandon Aiyuk (351 yards) and Deebo Samuel (335).
Lynch, meanwhile, indicated that running back Jordan Mason was trending to play against the Chiefs. Mason sprained his shoulder in the Week 6 win against the Seattle Seahawks but has taken part in every practice this week, albeit in a blue, no-contact jersey.
Lynch also provided an update on running back Christian McCaffrey, who is taking a measured approach to the Achilles tendonitis that plagued him this summer. Lynch said the 49ers are staggering McCaffrey’s workouts as he ramps up his activity level. He’ll work out one day, rest, and then push it a little harder the next day.
Lynch said McCaffrey is “doing incredibly well,” with no setbacks to this point.
“There’s no timeline or anything but he’s doing a little more each day,” Lynch said.
(Photo: Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images)
