Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Friday that the 49ers will open rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall's practice window next week.
After their 36-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, 49ers players will have three days off before reconvening Monday in preparation for the Week 7 game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi's Stadium. The 2024 first-round draft pick could be active for the Super Bowl LVIII rematch, but Shanahan could not confirm yet.
“Most likely, I would think it’d be a longer ramp-up period,” Shanahan said Friday via conference call. “But health-wise and everything, he’s totally good to go, but I really can’t decide on that stuff until we start watching him in practice.
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"We aren’t going to rush it. If he’s ready, he’s ready, and if not, then we got a few weeks.”
The update on Christian McCaffrey wasn't quite as positive. The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, who has dealt with Achilles tendinitis in both legs, is improving but not enough for the team to open his practice window just yet.
McCaffrey’s return can’t come soon enough for the 49ers, with injuries continuing to pile up each week, especially at running back. Jordan Mason, who not only is the team's leading rusher but tops the league with 609 rushing yards, suffered an AC joint sprain in Thursday’s win and is day to day, Shanahan said.
Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor took over for Mason late in Thursday's game after the veteran suffered his injury, but Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who's on the team’s practice squad, is the only other ball carrier currently under contract.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers also are dealing with another injury to a kicker, after Matthew Wright dislocated his shoulder while making a tackle in Thursday's game. The newly signed kicker took over for Jake Moody, who was injured while also making a tackle the previous week. Moody still is expected to miss multiple weeks.
“We are still waiting for [Wright's] MRI to come back,” Shanahan said. “He did dislocate it, or it came out for a little bit. It went back in, but we got to find out more when we get the MRI. We know he’ll have a chance, but we won’t know for sure until we get the MRI back."
ESPN's Adam Schefter later reported, citing a source, that the MRI came back negative, so Wright is expected to be the 49ers' kicker against the Chiefs.
MRI on 49ers kicker Matthew Wright’s shoulder came back negative today, and he now is expected to be able to kick next week vs. the Chiefs, per source. This means San Francisco is not expected to now have to use three kickers in three games.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 11, 2024
Rookie safety Malik Mustapha, who suffered a low ankle sprain in the game, is considered day to day. After the game, he told NBC Sports Bay Area that he believes he'll be good to go after a few extra days of rest.
Other 49ers injury updates
- DL Jordan Elliott (knee): Will be reevaluated this week
- LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf): The 49ers hope to have him back at practice this week
- CB Charvarius Ward (knee bruise): Day to day