San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall told reporters that he is optimistic about playing this Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. Pearsall said he planned to practice in full.
Pearsall’s gait looks good, and seeing him change direction and get in and out of his breaks without any hitch or issue is a sign that he will play after missing the previous two weeks.
Pearsall had 108 yards in Week 1 against Seattle. In the final two games he played during the regular season, Pearsall had 96 and 85 receiving yards. In those three games, he had at least seven targets. There’s a rapport between him and Brock Purdy and a level of trust that is palpable—almost as if he’s Brock’s security blanket.
Pearsall’s playing would also allow the 49ers to roll with their three best receivers and avoid having Kendrick Bourne, Skyy Moore, or Malik Turner on the field for long stretches at a time. The trickle effect also goes to special teams. Meaning, the 49ers won’t have to activate another wideout and can use that position on a special teamer or another defender.
The big injury news is Fred Warner, who does not look like a player preparing to take this Saturday off:
Warner spoke to the media ahead of Wednesday’s practice, saying, “We’re taking it day by day,” when asked about his availability: “I think they said last week they weren’t going to open my window, and then my window is now open. So yeah, we’re just taking it day by day.”
Warner acknowledged what Kyle Shanahan said: there are still boxes he needs to check before he can be cleared to play. He did not seem worried about the idea that he’s returning prematurely:
“Everything up to this point has been in direct communication with the doctors, the trainers, everybody involved with my surgery,” Warner said. “Nothing up to this point has been done just out of just, ‘Hey man, let’s just go out and do it.’ … Everything is scientifically based, right? So anytime you step out there on a football field … that’s what this game is, a violent game. But at the same time, I’m not going to go out there and put myself at an added risk if I’m not ready.”
It hasn’t been 100 days since Warner’s injury, yet here we are, discussing the possibility of him returning. You can’t help but marvel at the work ethic these professional athletes have.
Warner continued:
“I think obviously when all this happened, I didn’t really think about the possibility of returning in season, but the way things progressed and being able to have this opportunity to be back with my teammates and have a chance at helping them win this week and so on and so forth, that’s my only goal going forward.”
At this point, it would be a surprise if Warner didn’t suit up on Saturday night.
Left tackle Trent Williams was upgraded from limited to a full participant. That is the only change on the injury report from Tuesday to Wednesday, but that’s not a small one. Shanahan said the 49ers were going to “really embrace having him back this week.” His being healthy will allow the offense to do so.
